SCHADS Award Leave Entitlements
Employees covered by the SCHADS Award are entitled to various forms of leave under the National Employment Standards (NES), with some specific additional provisions in the Award itself.
Quick Facts
- Annual Leave
- 4 weeks (5 weeks for shift workers)
- Personal Leave
- 10 days per year (cumulative)
- Ceremonial Leave
- Up to 10 days unpaid for Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander employees
- Leave Loading
- 17.5% on Annual Leave
Tools & Resources
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SCHADS AI Assistant
Get instant answers to award questions.
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Timesheet Validator
Check timesheets for compliance.
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Free Payslip Check
For workers: compare your payslip to the award minimums.
Annual Leave & Shift Workers
Standard full-time employees get 4 weeks of paid annual leave per year. However, **shift workers** under the SCHADS Award may be entitled to **5 weeks**.
For the extra week, clause 31.2 defines a shift worker as an employee who either works more than 4 ordinary hours on **10 or more weekends** in the year their leave accrues, **or** works at least **eight 24-hour care shifts** (cl.25.8) in that year.
For the extra week, clause 31.2 defines a shift worker as an employee who either works more than 4 ordinary hours on **10 or more weekends** in the year their leave accrues, **or** works at least **eight 24-hour care shifts** (cl.25.8) in that year.
Annual Leave Loading
For most employees, annual leave is paid at ordinary pay plus a flat **17.5% loading** (cl.31.4(a)).
For **shiftworkers** (cl.31.4(b)), the entitlement is the greater of:
1. Their ordinary pay plus the **17.5% loading**; OR
2. The weekend/shift penalties they would have received if they had worked during the leave.
For **shiftworkers** (cl.31.4(b)), the entitlement is the greater of:
1. Their ordinary pay plus the **17.5% loading**; OR
2. The weekend/shift penalties they would have received if they had worked during the leave.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do casuals get annual leave under SCHADS?
- No. Casual employees receive a 25% casual loading on their hourly rate instead of paid leave entitlements like annual leave and sick leave.
- What is Ceremonial Leave in the SCHADS Award?
- Clause 35 allows an employee who is legitimately required by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander tradition to be absent to take up to 10 working days of unpaid ceremonial leave per year, with the employer's approval.
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