WA Police leave
every entitlement in the 2024 agreement

Leave for WA police officers is in Part VI of the Western Australia Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024, registered by the WA Industrial Relations Commission. It's one of the more detailed leave sections of any Australian police instrument, running from clause 30 to clause 57.

Annual leave

Entitlement

240 hours a year; +40 hours in the North West

Clause

30.1

Leave loading

Entitlement

18.75% on up to 5 weeks, capped, paid in December

Clause

30.9

Rest days

Entitlement

3 paid days a year, credited 31 March

Clause

31

Day in lieu of Easter Sunday

Entitlement

1 day a year

Clause

32

Long service leave

Entitlement

520 hours after 10 years, then every 7 years

Clause

33

Bereavement leave

Entitlement

Up to 3 days paid

Clause

34

Parental leave

Entitlement

52 weeks, including 560 hours (14 weeks) paid

Clause

35

Illness or injury leave

Entitlement

Up to 168 days paid a calendar year, extendable

Clause

38

Carer's leave

Entitlement

40 hours a year, plus 40 hours from illness leave

Clause

39

Family and domestic violence leave

Entitlement

10 days paid a year

Clause

40.5

Purchased leave

Entitlement

1 to 10 weeks (42/52); deferred salary; career break

Clause

46, 47, 49

Public health emergency leave

Entitlement

20 days a year, credited 1 January

Clause

56.2

Emergency service leave

Entitlement

Paid leave for emergency volunteering

Clause

57

Leave	Entitlement	Clause
Annual leave	240 hours a year; +40 hours in the North West	30.1
Leave loading	18.75% on up to 5 weeks, capped, paid in December	30.9
Rest days	3 paid days a year, credited 31 March	31
Day in lieu of Easter Sunday	1 day a year	32
Long service leave	520 hours after 10 years, then every 7 years	33
Bereavement leave	Up to 3 days paid	34
Parental leave	52 weeks, including 560 hours (14 weeks) paid	35
Illness or injury leave	Up to 168 days paid a calendar year, extendable	38
Carer's leave	40 hours a year, plus 40 hours from illness leave	39
Family and domestic violence leave	10 days paid a year	40.5
Purchased leave	1 to 10 weeks (42/52); deferred salary; career break	46, 47, 49
Public health emergency leave	20 days a year, credited 1 January	56.2
Emergency service leave	Paid leave for emergency volunteering	57

The pay figures on this page come from our WA Police salary tables from 1 July 2026. For the status of the next agreement see the WA Police pay deal page.

Clause 30.1(a) gives "annual leave of 240 hours on full pay for each year of service". WA counts a 40-hour week, so that's 6 weeks. Leave runs on a calendar year from 1 January.

Officers stationed in the North West get an extra 40 hours a year (cl 30.1(b)). The agreement also has travel concessions for officers in remote and special areas taking annual leave, such as a refundable return economy airfare to Perth for you and your dependants, and set travelling time each way (cl 30.10). The WA Police force guide covers the other regional incentives.

Taking leave in pieces

With the Commissioner's consent, leave can be taken in more than one period, including single days or parts of days. You're debited the ordinary hours you were rostered for that day (cl 30.1(c)). Travel time under the concessions applies to one period of leave a year only (cl 30.1(d)).

The WA agreement has its own formulas: fortnightly pay is the annual salary × 12 ÷ 313, and the hourly rate is the annual salary ÷ 313 × 12 ÷ 80 (cl 10.13). The table uses them on the rates from 1 July 2026.

Constable, 1st year

Annual salary

$94,651

One week

$1,814

240 hours

$10,886

Loading (18.75% x 5 weeks)

$1,701

Constable, 5th year

Annual salary

$102,263

One week

$1,960

240 hours

$11,762

Loading (18.75% x 5 weeks)

$1,838

First Class Constable, base

Annual salary

$107,977

One week

$2,070

240 hours

$12,419

Loading (18.75% x 5 weeks)

$1,940

Senior Constable, base

Annual salary

$115,722

One week

$2,218

240 hours

$13,310

Loading (18.75% x 5 weeks)

$2,080

Senior Constable, Increment V

Annual salary

$124,558

One week

$2,388

240 hours

$14,326

Loading (18.75% x 5 weeks)

$2,238

Sergeant, base

Annual salary

$127,619

One week

$2,446

240 hours

$14,678

Loading (18.75% x 5 weeks)

$2,293

Sergeant, Increment IV

Annual salary

$135,005

One week

$2,588

240 hours

$15,528

Loading (18.75% x 5 weeks)

$2,426

Senior Sergeant, Increment IV

Annual salary

$151,652

One week

$2,907

240 hours

$17,442

Loading (18.75% x 5 weeks)

$2,725

Inspector, base

Annual salary

$173,361

One week

$3,323

240 hours

$19,939

Loading (18.75% x 5 weeks)

Check payroll

Rank and increment	Annual salary	One week	240 hours	Loading (18.75% x 5 weeks)
Constable, 1st year	$94,651	$1,814	$10,886	$1,701
Constable, 5th year	$102,263	$1,960	$11,762	$1,838
First Class Constable, base	$107,977	$2,070	$12,419	$1,940
Senior Constable, base	$115,722	$2,218	$13,310	$2,080
Senior Constable, Increment V	$124,558	$2,388	$14,326	$2,238
Sergeant, base	$127,619	$2,446	$14,678	$2,293
Sergeant, Increment IV	$135,005	$2,588	$15,528	$2,426
Senior Sergeant, Increment IV	$151,652	$2,907	$17,442	$2,725
Inspector, base	$173,361	$3,323	$19,939	Check payroll

Calculated by us with cl 10.13. Loading shown before the Level 8.1 cap in cl 30.9, which we haven't checked; it may reduce the figure at higher salaries. Commissioned officers' salaries include an allowance for extra hours, and their loading treatment wasn't checked. Shift allowances are flat amounts per shift and aren't included.

WA salaries for Constable to Senior Sergeant are base pay only. Shift allowances are paid as flat dollar amounts per shift on top, so a leave week pays less than a working week with night or weekend shifts. Our overtime calculator helps you see how much of your usual pay comes from extras.

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Choose WA and your increment to see your fortnightly take-home pay on base salary, which is what you're paid on annual leave.

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Clause 30.9 pays a loading of 18.75%, higher than the usual 17.5%, on a maximum of 5 weeks' annual leave. It's calculated on the agreement's rate of pay and paid in December of the calendar year in which the leave accrues, not when you take it.

There's a ceiling. The loading can't exceed 17.5% of 5 weeks' salary of a Level 8.1 employee under the Public Sector CSA General Agreement 2024 or its replacement, as at 1 January that year. We haven't checked the Level 8.1 salary, so we can't say exactly where the cap bites. Part-time officers get loading in proportion to their average hours (cl 30.9(b)).

Clause 31 is unusual in Australian policing. It gives 3 paid rest days a year "in recognition of the unique working environment and associated rigours of policing", so you can take a short break when you need one.

1. 1

   Keep your balance at or under 240 hours on 31 December

   cl 31.4

   Full-time officers qualify only if their annual leave balance on 31 December wasn't more than 240 hours. North West leave is excluded from the count.

2. 2

   Get 3 rest days on 31 March

   cl 31.2, 31.4

   Part-time officers get them pro rata.

3. 3

   Use them within 12 months

   cl 31.3, 31.6, 31.7

   Take them singly or up to 3 in a row, but not with annual leave. Apply as early as you can.

4. 4

   They lapse if unused

   cl 31.3, 31.8

   Rest days don't carry over and aren't paid out when you leave.

If the Commissioner asks you to cancel approved leave in November or December and that pushes you over 240 hours, you still get the rest days, provided your balance would have been under the limit without the cancellation (cl 31.5). Three rest days at top Senior Constable are worth about $1,433, calculated by us at the agreement's daily rate.

The day in lieu of Easter Sunday

Clause 32 gives everyone an extra day of leave on full pay in lieu of Easter Sunday, whether or not you'd normally work that day. It accrues on 1 January, needs 4 weeks' notice to your Officer in Charge, can be added to annual leave or taken alone, and must be used that calendar year or it's forfeited. It isn't paid out on leaving.

WA runs an annual leave roster, so planning ahead pays off. The agreement sets the process.

1. 1

   Nominate dates by 30 June

   cl 30.2

   Give your preferred start and finish dates for the following year by 30 June. NCOs apply to their Officer in Charge; commissioned officers to the Commissioner's office.

2. 2

   Leave is rostered

   cl 30.3

   You take leave on your rostered dates unless they're changed. The Commissioner or your OIC can change them for you or generally.

3. 3

   Older leave is yours to take

   cl 30.12

   Where you and the Commissioner haven't agreed, you can't be refused leave that accrued more than 12 months earlier, if you give at least 2 weeks' notice.

4. 4

   Directions are possible

   cl 30.11

   The Commissioner may direct you to take accrued annual leave and set the start date.

Yes. Clause 30.13 allows an employee-initiated cash-out of accrued annual leave, with conditions designed to make sure you still take a break.

Long service leave can also be cashed out, in any portion, with approval, as long as you take at least 10 days' annual leave that calendar year (cl 33.4). Cashed-out leave is taxed as income in the pay you receive it.

42/52 purchased leave (cl 46)

You can agree to spread a reduced salary over 52 weeks and buy up to 10 weeks of extra leave. Applications for 5 to 10 weeks get priority for officers with caring responsibilities (cl 46.3). If you buy 9 or 10 weeks, you're expected to take 1 or 2 weeks of annual leave first, though you can ask to skip that (cl 46.4-46.5).

48 of 52

Leave bought

4 weeks

Salary over the year

$114,977

Cost

$9,581

46 of 52

Leave bought

6 weeks

Salary over the year

$110,186

Cost

$14,372

42 of 52

Leave bought

10 weeks

Salary over the year

$100,605

Cost

$23,953

Salary spread	Leave bought	Salary over the year	Cost
48 of 52	4 weeks	$114,977	$9,581
46 of 52	6 weeks	$110,186	$14,372
42 of 52	10 weeks	$100,605	$23,953

Calculated by us as salary × weeks paid ÷ 52, using the cl 46.7 table. Overtime is still paid at the full ordinary rate (cl 46.10). Untaken purchased leave is paid out at the rate it was bought (cl 46.8).

Deferred salary scheme (cl 47)

With written agreement, you take 80% of your salary for 4 years and then have the fifth year off, paid at 80%. At top Senior Constable that's about $99,646 a year across all five years, calculated by us. The year off counts as service, and you can withdraw early and be paid the salary you've forgone.

Career break (cl 49)

After 12 consecutive years' service, officers at or below Sergeant can apply for an unpaid career break of up to 12 months. You get a decision within 4 weeks, with written reasons if refused, and you must use up your other leave at the start.

WA doesn't give a fixed bank of sick days. Clause 38.5 lets the Commissioner grant paid leave for illness or injury of up to 168 days in a calendar year, and further periods on the terms recommended by the Health, Welfare and Safety divisional superintendent. That reflects WA police's historic position outside the ordinary workers' compensation scheme.

Notify

Detail

Tell your Officer in Charge and the divisional superintendent as soon as possible

Clause

38.2

No certificate

Detail

5 days a calendar year, up to 3 in a row; or if you're hurt on duty

Clause

38.3(c)

Health practitioner certificate

Detail

Enough for up to 10 more single days a year

Clause

38.3(c)(iii)

Remote stations

Detail

A registered nurse's certificate, or your OIC's certification, if there's no doctor

Clause

38.3(b)

Allowances

Detail

Special allowances keep being paid unless the incapacity was your own fault

Clause

38.6

Over 4 weeks off

Detail

Medical evidence of fitness before you return

Clause

38.10

War caused illness

Detail

15 working days a year special leave, accumulating to 45

Clause

38.13

Rule	Detail	Clause
Notify	Tell your Officer in Charge and the divisional superintendent as soon as possible	38.2
No certificate	5 days a calendar year, up to 3 in a row; or if you're hurt on duty	38.3(c)
Health practitioner certificate	Enough for up to 10 more single days a year	38.3(c)(iii)
Remote stations	A registered nurse's certificate, or your OIC's certification, if there's no doctor	38.3(b)
Allowances	Special allowances keep being paid unless the incapacity was your own fault	38.6
Over 4 weeks off	Medical evidence of fitness before you return	38.10
War caused illness	15 working days a year special leave, accumulating to 45	38.13

Carer's leave is separate: 40 hours a year to care for a family member, plus up to 40 more hours drawn from illness leave, not cumulative (cl 39). If you're dealing with a work injury or a psychological injury, talk to the WA Police Union early. Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Clause 33.1 gives 520 hours (13 weeks) of long service leave on full pay after 10 years' continuous service for officers appointed on or after 10 January 1995. Officers appointed before then qualify after 7 years. You then get another 520 hours for each further 7 years.

Clause 35 sits alongside the unpaid parental leave rules in the Fair Work Act, with the better benefit applying. An eligible officer who's the pregnant employee, or the primary care giver after a birth or adoption, gets 52 weeks of parental leave (cl 35.5).

Parental leave

Entitlement

52 weeks: 560 hours (14 weeks) paid + 38 weeks unpaid

Clause

35.5(a)-(b)

Half pay

Entitlement

The paid part can be taken at half pay for twice as long

Clause

35.5(d)

Eligibility for pay

Entitlement

12 months' continuous WA public sector service when the leave starts

Clause

35.7

Without 12 months' service

Entitlement

52 weeks, all unpaid

Clause

35.5(c)

Partner leave

Entitlement

1 week, taken from annual or long service leave, TOIL or unpaid; extendable to 8 weeks unpaid

Clause

35.25

Grandparental leave

Entitlement

Available under the agreement

Clause

35.27-35.28

Leave	Entitlement	Clause
Parental leave	52 weeks: 560 hours (14 weeks) paid + 38 weeks unpaid	35.5(a)-(b)
Half pay	The paid part can be taken at half pay for twice as long	35.5(d)
Eligibility for pay	12 months' continuous WA public sector service when the leave starts	35.7
Without 12 months' service	52 weeks, all unpaid	35.5(c)
Partner leave	1 week, taken from annual or long service leave, TOIL or unpaid; extendable to 8 weeks unpaid	35.25
Grandparental leave	Available under the agreement	35.27-35.28

Partner leave is the weak spot. Unlike Victoria or the AFP, WA's 1 week of partner leave isn't extra paid leave: it's taken from your annual leave, long service leave or time off in lieu, or unpaid. Government Parental Leave Pay through Services Australia may help fill the gap.

Bereavement leave

What you get

Up to 3 days paid (not necessarily in a row) on the death of a partner, child, parent, sibling, in-law or household member

Clause

34

Compassionate leave for early pregnancy loss

What you get

Set out in the agreement

Clause

36

Foster carer's leave

What you get

Set out in the agreement

Clause

37

Family and domestic violence leave

What you get

10 days paid a year, not cumulative, then up to 2 days unpaid each time

Clause

40.5-40.6

Cultural leave

What you get

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander officers, and cultural or ceremonial leave

Clause

44-45

Blood and plasma donor leave

What you get

Set out in the agreement

Clause

50

Defence reserve training leave

What you get

Set out in the agreement

Clause

55

Public health emergency leave

What you get

20 days a year, credited 1 January, not cumulative

Clause

56.2

Emergency service leave

What you get

Paid leave, including usual allowances, to volunteer with an emergency management agency

Clause

57

Leave	What you get	Clause
Bereavement leave	Up to 3 days paid (not necessarily in a row) on the death of a partner, child, parent, sibling, in-law or household member	34
Compassionate leave for early pregnancy loss	Set out in the agreement	36
Foster carer's leave	Set out in the agreement	37
Family and domestic violence leave	10 days paid a year, not cumulative, then up to 2 days unpaid each time	40.5-40.6
Cultural leave	For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander officers, and cultural or ceremonial leave	44-45
Blood and plasma donor leave	Set out in the agreement	50
Defence reserve training leave	Set out in the agreement	55
Public health emergency leave	20 days a year, credited 1 January, not cumulative	56.2
Emergency service leave	Paid leave, including usual allowances, to volunteer with an emergency management agency	57

If you need help with family and domestic violence, 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) is available at any hour. Use of this leave doesn't affect your increment dates (cl 40.7).

You can retire from age 55 with the right notice (cl 43.1). Here's what the agreement says about leave when you go.

1. 1

   Long service leave you've earned

   cl 33.5(a), 33.6

   Paid as a lump sum on application if you resign, retire, are retired or are dismissed, at your salary on the day you leave.

2. 2

   Pro-rata long service leave

   cl 33.5(b)

   Paid if you retire at 55 or over, or on ill health, with at least 12 months' service; if you're retired by the employer for another reason with at least 3 years' service; or on death with 12 months' service.

3. 3

   Annual leave

   cl 30.9(c)

   Pro-rata leave paid on resignation doesn't attract leave loading.

4. 4

   Leave that isn't paid out

   cl 31.8, 32.5(f)

   Rest days and the day in lieu of Easter Sunday are never paid out.

5. 5

   On death

   cl 43.4

   Accrued and pro-rata annual and long service leave, plus loading, can be paid to dependent relatives.

Leaving to join another force? Read our interstate transfer guide first. Long service leave counts only continuous service with WA Police, so leaving before 10 years can cost you the entitlement unless one of the pro-rata cases applies.