Police leave entitlements in Australia
every force compared

NSW Police

Annual leave entitlement

6 weeks (228 hours) a year for NCOs. Commissioned officers get 5 weeks (190 hours), or 6 weeks if a regular shift worker (cl 17). Leave is to be managed below 9 weeks (342 hours).

Victoria Police

Annual leave entitlement

9 weeks (342 hours) a year: 7 weeks (266 hours) recreation leave plus 10 days (76 hours) accrued time off, credited at the start of each financial year (cl 130.1-130.2). The official site describes it as 5 weeks + 2 weeks in lieu of public holidays + 10 days ATO. Leave loading: 17.5% of the base rate on the first 152 hours of recreation leave per financial year (Superintendents/Commanders on the Superintendent PP1 rate) (cl 131.1).

QPS

Annual leave entitlement

6 weeks a year (0.62466 hours per calendar day); 6 weeks 3 days (0.68712 hours per day) in the Northern and Western parts of the state (north of 22°S and west of 147°E, including Moranbah). Public holidays during leave are not deducted. Accrual capped at 2 years; state target is 304 hours (342 in the North/West) by 30 June (cl 58, 60). Leave loading 17.5% on 4 weeks for non-OSA NCOs; OSA officers keep OSA on leave (cl 59).

WA Police

Annual leave entitlement

240 hours (6 weeks) a year on full pay, calendar-year basis, plus 40 hours a year for service in the North West (cl 30.1). Annual leave loading is 18.75% on a maximum of 5 weeks, paid in December, capped at 17.5% of 5 weeks' salary of a public service Level 8.1 (cl 30.9). Leave can be accumulated only with written permission (cl 30.4).

SAPOL

Annual leave entitlement

6 weeks (30 working days / 240 hours) a year (EA cl 36.5). Annual leave loading is 17.5% for day workers; shift workers get more (Flexible Shiftwork Allowance recipients 20%; REHR loading is calculated on the 23% allowance), with the balance paid at the end of the financial year (cl 37, 30.14, 31.10).

Tasmania Police

Annual leave entitlement

228 hours a year (6 weeks) for officers entitled to the shift and penalty allowance (Police Service Regulations 2023, reg 7); maximum accumulation 2 years' entitlement. The recruitment site says 6 weeks for sworn officers; the entitlement for non-shift officers is not confirmed.

NT Police

Annual leave entitlement

7 weeks a year appears to be the standard (the main salary table is labelled 'Seven weeks leave'; a higher-paying 'Six Weeks Leave' table also exists). The PATD clause setting the base entitlement was not read. PPSOs: 7 weeks (280 hours), confirmed by NTPFES. Extra weeks at isolated localities (Group A and Tennant Creek: +1 week at 24 months, +1 at 36 months and each 12 months after; Group B: +1 week per 12 months) and Katherine (+1 week after 3 years, then +1 per 12 months).

AFP

Annual leave entitlement

228 hours (6 weeks) a year for Bands 1-8 and Technical Specialists; 190 hours (5 weeks) for Executive Level. Credited monthly. No extra shift-worker week. Can be cashed out up to 3 times a financial year (min 19 hours, keeping 152 hours); up to 152 hours a year can be purchased; half-pay option. Balances over 304 hours can trigger a direction to take 76 hours.

NSW

Extra leave

1 to 5 extra working days a year for ordinary shifts worked on Sundays and public holidays (4-10 shifts = 1 day, up to 32+ shifts = 5 days)

Where it comes from

Award cl 17.5; qualifying year from 1 December

NSW

Extra leave

38 hours a year while attached to a station in the Western or Central Division

Where it comes from

Award cl 17.4

Victoria

Extra leave

2 of the 9 weeks are described as in lieu of public holidays

Where it comes from

EA cl 130.1; Victoria Police salary page

Queensland

Extra leave

6 weeks 3 days instead of 6 weeks north of 22°S and west of 147°E (including Moranbah)

Where it comes from

CA cl 58.1, 58.3

Queensland

Extra leave

38-hour special leave credit for OSA officers who work 46 weekend shifts and 7 public holiday shifts in an equity year

Where it comes from

CA cl 43.14

WA

Extra leave

40 hours a year for North West service; 3 paid rest days a year; a day in lieu of Easter Sunday

Where it comes from

Agreement cl 30.1(b), 31, 32

SA

Extra leave

Programmed Hours Off (8 hours every 28 days, up to 96 a year); Police Service Leave of 4 weeks at 20 years and every 5 years after

Where it comes from

EA cl 35, 38

NT

Extra leave

Extra weeks at isolated localities and Katherine after set periods of service

Where it comes from

NT data file (Consent Agreement)

AFP

Extra leave

4 Mandatory Rest Days a year, plus 1 if 304+ hours of annual leave are used (non-EL)

Where it comes from

AFP EA

NSW Police

Senior Constable top (annual)

$139,688

One week

$2,677

Six weeks

$16,063

What the salary includes

incl. 11.5% loading paid as salary

Victoria Police

Senior Constable top (annual)

$118,945

One week

$2,280

Six weeks

$13,677

What the salary includes

ordinary rate, incl. 13% commuted penalty

QPS

Senior Constable top (annual)

$118,127

One week

$2,264

Six weeks

$13,583

What the salary includes

base only; most shift officers add 21% OSA

WA Police

Senior Constable top (annual)

$124,558

One week

$2,388

Six weeks

$14,326

What the salary includes

base; WA rule annual x 12/313 per fortnight

SAPOL

Senior Constable top (annual)

$117,542

One week

$2,253

Six weeks

$13,516

What the salary includes

base salary

Tasmania Police

Senior Constable top (annual)

$107,420

One week

$2,059

Six weeks

$12,352

What the salary includes

base salary

NT Police

Senior Constable top (annual)

$120,539

One week

$2,310

Six weeks

$13,861

What the salary includes

base, calculated by us from the agreement

AFP

Senior Constable top (annual)

$111,861

One week

$2,144

Six weeks

$12,863

What the salary includes

base, calculated by us from the agreement

NSW

Rule

No separate leave loading for NCOs. The 11.5% loading paid as salary includes the loading formerly paid on annual leave (award cl 40).

Worked example (calculated by us)

Built into salary: about $276 of each $2,677 week at Senior Constable L5

Victoria

Rule

17.5% of base rate on the first 152 hours of recreation leave each financial year (EA cl 131.1).

Worked example (calculated by us)

About $1,412 a year at Senior Constable point 12

Queensland

Rule

Non-OSA NCOs: 17.5% on 4 weeks (CA cl 59.2). OSA officers keep the 21% OSA through annual leave instead (cl 58.2).

Worked example (calculated by us)

Loading about $1,585; OSA over 6 weeks about $2,853 (Senior Constable 2.10)

WA

Rule

18.75% on up to 5 weeks, paid in December, capped at 17.5% of 5 weeks' pay of a public service Level 8.1 (agreement cl 30.9).

Worked example (calculated by us)

Up to about $2,238 at top Senior Constable, before the cap

SA

Rule

17.5% for day workers; Flexible Shiftwork Allowance recipients 20%; the balance is paid at the end of the financial year (EA cl 37).

Worked example (calculated by us)

Not calculated: depends on allowance type

Tasmania

Rule

Not captured in our data file.

Worked example (calculated by us)

Check the Police Award with the Police Association of Tasmania

NT

Rule

Not captured in our data file.

Worked example (calculated by us)

Check the Consent Agreement with the NT Police Association

AFP

Rule

Not captured in our data file.

Worked example (calculated by us)

Check the AFP Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027

NSW Police

Sick / personal leave

15 working days (114 hours) a calendar year, cumulative (cl 20.4).

Victoria Police

Sick / personal leave

Personal/carer's leave: 228 hours granted in advance for the first 2 years after initial training, then 114 hours a year; recruits 5.85 hours per 4 weeks of training (the NES applies where better) (cl 113). The official site says 15 days a year.

QPS

Sick / personal leave

15 days a year (0.31233 hours per calendar day). First Year Constables get a one-off 15 days upfront, with accrual starting after year 1. A Sick Leave Bank exists (Schedule 4, cl 61).

WA Police

Sick / personal leave

The Employer may grant paid illness or injury leave of up to 168 days in a calendar year, and further periods on the recommendation of the Health, Welfare and Safety divisional superintendent (cl 38.5). No certificate is needed for 5 days a year (maximum 3 consecutive), plus up to 10 further single days on a health practitioner certificate (cl 38.3).

SAPOL

Sick / personal leave

Ordinarily 12 working days (96 hours) a year, credited in hours (cl 36.2); up to 10 days of it can be used as family carer's leave (cl 32.1).

Tasmania Police

Sick / personal leave

410.4 hours (54 x 7.6-hour days) on full pay per year of service; does not apply to on-duty injury or illness. Medical certificate needed if more than 7 consecutive days or more than 4 occasions a year.

NT Police

Sick / personal leave

Carer's leave 10 days per 12 months (cumulative); up to 4 rostered shifts a calendar year without evidence; medical certificate needed beyond 120 hours in a financial year. The total sick-leave quantum is in PATD Determination No. 1 of 2011, which was not read. PPSOs: 4 weeks (20 days) personal leave on commencement and each year.

AFP

Sick / personal leave

Personal/carer's leave: 136 hours 48 minutes (18 days of 7h36m) a year. The full 18 days is credited on engagement, then accrues monthly after 12 months. Not paid out. Serious Illness Registry leave-donation scheme for non-compensable illness.

NSW Police

Long service leave

Extended leave after 7 years: pro rata of 2 months on full pay per 10 years for the first 10 years, then an additional 5 months per 10 years. Can be taken at half or double pay; pro rata from 5 years on certain terminations (cl 19).

Victoria Police

Long service leave

3 months on full pay or 6 months on half pay after 10 years; pro rata after 7 years (cl 164.1; quantum from the official site).

QPS

Long service leave

1.3 weeks per year of continuous service (13 weeks after 10 years), pro rata after 7 years, under Directive 10/24 (cl 6.1, cl 8), which the agreement applies through cl 64.

WA Police

Long service leave

520 hours (13 weeks) after 10 years' continuous service (appointed on or after 10 Jan 1995; 7 years if appointed earlier), then 520 hours for each further 7 years (cl 33.1).

SAPOL

Long service leave

Set by the Police Regulations/award; the accrual rate was not verified. Payment in lieu of LSL may be applied for if at least 30 days' credit is kept (EA cl 39). The proposed 2026 EA adds LSL cash-out arrangements.

Tasmania Police

Long service leave

Under the Long Service Leave (State Employees) Act 1994 (award cl 15.16): entitlement after 10 years' continuous employment, with pro-rata payout from 7 years in specified circumstances (ill-health, retirement etc.). The amount is not verified.

NT Police

Long service leave

4 calendar months after 10 years' continuous service, then 12 calendar days for each further year; pro-rata on resignation after 7 years (22.5/45/67.5 days at 7/8/9 years).

AFP

Long service leave

Under the Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976; the careers page says paid long service leave after 10 years of continuous Australian Government service. Prior Commonwealth, state, territory, local government and ADF service can be recognised. Minimum 7 calendar days per grant.

NSW Police

Parental leave

14 weeks paid (after 40 weeks' continuous service), plus 2 weeks bonus paid parental leave in some cases, plus 38 weeks unpaid (52 weeks in total), with a right to request a further 52 weeks (cl 22 as varied 12 Sep 2025).

Victoria Police

Parental leave

Primary caregiver: 16 weeks paid plus up to 36 weeks unpaid. Secondary caregiver: 4 weeks paid plus 12 weeks additional paid (with conditions) plus unpaid leave up to 52 weeks. Paid maternity leave (birth, not primary carer): 14 weeks paid with 31 weeks' service. Paid partner leave: 4 weeks (cl 147, 148, 150, 151).

QPS

Parental leave

14 weeks' paid leave for the primary carer and 1 week for the other parent, after 12 months' service, under Directive 08/24 (applied through cl 63). Super is paid for the whole 52-week parental leave period, paid or unpaid, from 1 Jul 2024.

WA Police

Parental leave

52 weeks' parental leave, including 560 hours (14 weeks) paid (cl 35). The partner's 1 week of leave at the birth is taken from the partner's own leave or as unpaid leave, not as extra paid leave (cl 35.25).

SAPOL

Parental leave

Paid maternity, adoption and conforming surrogacy leave: 16 weeks after 12 months' service, 20 weeks after 5 years' service; total paid and unpaid leave up to 104 weeks (cl 32.3). Paid partner leave is also provided (detail not extracted).

Tasmania Police

Parental leave

18 weeks paid primary caregiver leave and 4 weeks paid secondary caregiver leave, each after 12 months' continuous service (award). The recruitment site still says 14 weeks paid maternity leave, which is out of date.

NT Police

Parental leave

Primary caregiver: 14 weeks paid after 12 months' service (pro-rata from 39 weeks), 18 weeks paid after 5 years, up to 3 years in total. Partner leave: 1 week paid after 12 months, 2 weeks paid after 5 years, up to 3 years in total.

AFP

Parental leave

Primary caregiver: 18 weeks paid (or 36 weeks at half pay) within a 24-month parental leave period, from day one. Secondary caregiver: 14 weeks paid from 1 Mar 2026, rising to 18 weeks from 28 Feb 2027 (was 8 weeks to 28 Feb 2025 and 11 weeks to 28 Feb 2026). Super is paid during paid parental leave.

NSW Police

Other leave in our data

Extra annual leave for working Sundays and public holidays (per qualifying year from 1 Dec): 4-10 shifts = 1 day, 11-17 = 2 days, 18-24 = 3 days, 25-31 = 4 days, 32 or more = 5 days.

An extra 38 hours (1 week) of annual leave a year in the Western and Central Division (cl 17.4).

Victoria Police

Other leave in our data

Recruits accrue 5.107 hours of recreation leave per completed week of initial training (cl 132.1).

Hours: full-time (non-recruit) members work 80 hours a fortnight, with 0.0463 of each hour accruing as time off, averaging 76 hours a fortnight. Recruits: 76 hours a fortnight, 7.6-hour days (cl 25.1, 26).

No 4-day week or 9-day fortnight scheme in the agreement. 10-hour shifts exist (PSO transit, some rosters, cl 33.2/35.8); Air Wing may work 12-hour shifts (cl 188.7). Purchased leave (cl 135) and part-time work (cl 34) exist.

From 1 Sep 2025, at least 10 correspondence (paperwork) shifts a year are rostered for full-time general duties members at 24-hour stations (cl 40.1).

PSO transit-safety shifts are 10 hours (cl 33.2), others 8 hours; the PSO site says 8 x 10-hour shifts a fortnight.

QPS

Other leave in our data

Critical Incident Leave: up to 3 days' paid leave after a critical incident (cl 65).

Reproductive health leave: 10 days a year (public-sector rule; from a forgov.qld.gov.au page, unconfirmed for QPS).

Domestic and family violence leave (cl 66) and bereavement leave (cl 67) follow Public Sector Act 2022 directives.

One Programmed Day Off (PDO) per 28-day roster for NCOs (cl 24); no cash in lieu; PDOs cannot be rostered on public holidays.

OSA special leave credit: 38 hours for OSA officers meeting the weekend and public holiday shift threshold (cl 43.14).

WA Police

Other leave in our data

3 paid 'rest days' a year, credited on 31 March in recognition of the rigours of policing, provided the annual leave balance at the previous 31 December was not over 240 hours; must be used within 12 months and is not paid out (cl 31).

A day in lieu of Easter Sunday (cl 32).

Bereavement, carer's, family and domestic violence leave, 42/52 purchased leave, a deferred salary scheme, career breaks, cultural leave and emergency service leave (cl 32-57).

SAPOL

Other leave in our data

Police Service Leave: 4 calendar weeks' paid leave credited at 20 years' service and every 5 years after; maximum 1 week a year; can be cashed out (cl 38).

Programmed Hours Off: 8 consecutive working hours off without loss of pay every 28 days, maximum 96 hours a year, on a 38-hour week (cl 35).

Tasmania Police

Other leave in our data

Family violence leave: up to 10 days paid a year (award).

Disability leave: up to 5 days paid a calendar year (award).

Aboriginal cultural leave, compassionate/bereavement, carer's, defence, foster/kinship, gender affirmation, surrogacy and special leave (award).

Police Accumulated Leave Scheme (salary averaging for extra leave) and reduced-hours work (award).

NT Police

Other leave in our data

Purchased leave: 1-6 extra weeks a year after 12 months' service.

Recreation leave cash-up allowed if at least 4 weeks remain accrued.

Compassionate, defence service, kinship obligation, gender transition, NAIDOC week, health screening, domestic/family/sexual violence, foster and kinship carers, and blood donor leave (clauses 47-55).

AFP

Other leave in our data

Mandatory Rest Days: 4 a year (credited 1 March), plus 1 extra if 304+ hours of annual leave are used in a financial year; non-EL only; must be used within 12 months.

Compassionate leave: 3 working days per occasion.

Bereavement leave: 3 working days per occasion, plus possibly a further 5 working days.

NAIDOC 3 days a financial year; First Nations ceremonial 6 days over 2 financial years; cultural/religious 3 days a financial year.

Defence reservist leave: four weeks paid a financial year (per the AFP ADF transition page).

Extra public holidays: the first working day after Boxing Day and the two normal working days between Christmas and New Year (EA s69(1)(k)-(l)).

Annual leave is paid out on leaving.

NSW

Scheme

Purchased leave agreement, funded by a lower rate of pay over 12 months (award cl 18)

How much

2 weeks (76 hrs) or 4 weeks (152 hrs)

Victoria

Scheme

Purchased leave, used in the same financial year (EA cl 135)

How much

1 to 4 weeks

WA

Scheme

42/52 purchased leave: salary spread over 52 weeks (cl 46)

How much

1 to 10 weeks

WA

Scheme

Deferred salary scheme: 80% of salary for 4 years, then 12 months off (cl 47)

How much

12 months

WA

Scheme

Unpaid career break after 12 years' service, Sergeant and below (cl 49)

How much

Up to 12 months

Tasmania

Scheme

Police Accumulated Leave Scheme (salary averaging)

How much

Not captured

NT

Scheme

Purchased leave after 12 months' service

How much

1 to 6 weeks

AFP

Scheme

Purchased leave

How much

Up to 152 hours a year

NSW

Annual leave cash-out

No general cash-out clause found in the award

Long service leave cash-out

Not found in the award (paid out on termination, cl 19.4)

Victoria

Annual leave cash-out

By written agreement if leave would be carried over or exceeds 7 weeks; at least 4 weeks must remain (EA cl 134)

Long service leave cash-out

Not in the agreement; LSL follows the Long Service Leave Act 2018 (Vic)

Queensland

Annual leave cash-out

Not found in the certified agreement

Long service leave cash-out

Not found

WA

Annual leave cash-out

Up to 50% of leave accrued in previous years, keeping at least 2 weeks; includes loading (cl 30.13)

Long service leave cash-out

Any portion, if you take at least 10 days' annual leave that year (cl 33.4)

SA

Annual leave cash-out

Not captured

Long service leave cash-out

Payment in lieu possible if 30 days' credit is kept (EA cl 39)

NT

Annual leave cash-out

Allowed if at least 4 weeks remain accrued

Long service leave cash-out

Not captured

AFP

Annual leave cash-out

Up to 3 times a year, minimum 19 hours, keeping 152 hours

Long service leave cash-out

Not captured

NSW

The limit

Keep leave below 9 weeks (342 hours); at least 2 consecutive weeks a year

What happens

The Commissioner can direct leave with at least 4 weeks' notice, unless a written conservation agreement is in place (cl 17.7-17.12)

Victoria

The limit

Use the year's recreation leave by 30 June unless a carry-over is approved

What happens

If more than half is unused on 1 January, a leave plan and possibly a direction with a month's notice (cl 133)

Queensland

The limit

Cap of 2 years' leave; state target 304 hours (342 North/West) on 30 June

What happens

Fair and reasonable direction, generally in blocks of at least a week (cl 60)

WA

The limit

Leave can only be accumulated with written permission

What happens

The Commissioner may direct leave (cl 30.4, 30.11); balances over 240 hours on 31 December cost you the 3 rest days (cl 31.4)

AFP

The limit

Balances over 304 hours

What happens

Can trigger a direction to take 76 hours