Sick leave calculator
Use this sick leave calculator to work out how much paid personal and carer's leave you have left. It follows the National Employment Standards, which give full-time employees 10 days a year and part-time employees the same 10 days pro-rata to their hours, with unused leave rolling over each year.
Updated 12 November 2026 · Uses 2026-27 figures
Work out your sick leave balance
Enter your ordinary hours, years worked and personal leave already taken.
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.
Looking for steady shifts or a permanent role? TQN Personnel places casual, contract and permanent staff across Australia.
Find workHow to use the sick leave calculator
- Enter your ordinary hours per week, the hours you are contracted to work, not overtime.
- Enter the years worked with your current employer. Decimals are fine, so 6 months is 0.5.
- Enter the personal leave hours taken so far, including carer's leave. Your payslip usually shows this.
- Read your balance in hours and days, and how much you accrue each week and each year.
How sick leave is calculated in Australia
Sick leave is called personal/carer's leave in the National Employment Standards (NES). Full-time employees get 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave for each year of service. Part-time employees get 10 days pro-rata, based on their ordinary hours. Leave builds up progressively and the unused balance carries over every year.
The calculator uses this formula:
- Leave per year = ordinary hours per week ÷ 5 × 10 days, which is the same as 2 weeks of your ordinary hours
- Leave accrued = leave per year × years worked
- Balance = leave accrued − leave taken
| Ordinary hours per week | Personal leave per year | Accrues per week |
|---|---|---|
| 38 (full-time) | 76 hours (10 days) | 1.46 hours |
| 30 | 60 hours | 1.15 hours |
| 22.8 (3 days) | 45.6 hours | 0.88 hours |
| 15.2 (2 days) | 30.4 hours | 0.58 hours |
Another way to say it: you accrue 1/26 of your ordinary hours as personal/carer's leave.
Worked example
Priya works 30 ordinary hours a week and has been with her employer for 2 years. She has taken 22 hours of personal leave.
Leave per year: 30 × 2 = 60 hours (10 of her 6-hour days). Accrued over 2 years: 120 hours.
Balance: 120 − 22 = 98 hours, or about 16.3 days of 6 hours. She accrues about 1.15 hours of leave each week.
These are the default figures in the calculator, so you can change any number and see the result straight away.
How much sick leave do you get per year?
Full-time employees get 10 days a year, which is 76 hours on a 38-hour week. Part-time employees get 10 of their own working days on a pro-rata basis, so the hours depend on how much you work. The entitlement is the same in every state because it comes from the national Fair Work Act.
Does sick leave roll over?
Yes. Unused personal/carer's leave rolls over from year to year with no cap. Over a long career a balance can grow to many weeks, which is useful for a serious illness or caring for a family member.
Is personal leave the same as sick leave?
Yes. Personal leave and sick leave are the same entitlement. Personal/carer's leave covers time off when you are sick or injured, and time off to care for an immediate family or household member who is sick, injured or affected by an unexpected emergency. Stress and mental health conditions are covered in the same way as a physical illness.
Medical certificates, payouts and casual workers
Your employer can ask for evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person, such as a medical certificate or a statutory declaration, even for a single day. Many awards and agreements set their own rules about when evidence is needed, so check yours.
Does sick leave get paid out when you leave?
No. Unused personal/carer's leave is not paid out when employment ends, unless your enterprise agreement or contract says otherwise. That is different from annual leave, which must be paid out.
Do casual employees get sick leave?
Casual employees do not get paid sick leave. Their 25% casual loading is paid instead. Casuals can take 2 days of unpaid carer's leave per occasion and 2 days of unpaid compassionate leave. If you work casual shifts through an agency, the same rules apply. For more detail, see our sick leave in Australia guide.
What to do if you run out of sick leave
If your balance runs out, you can ask to use annual leave or take unpaid leave. Your employer can't dismiss you for a temporary absence because of illness or injury. The Fair Work Act protects absences of up to 3 months in a 12-month period, or longer while you are on paid personal leave. Talk to your employer early and keep your evidence.
Changing jobs? Your personal leave balance does not transfer to a new employer. If you are looking for a role with steady hours, register with TQN Personnel.
Frequently asked questions
How many sick days do you get per year in Australia?
Full-time employees get 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave a year under the National Employment Standards. Part-time employees get 10 days pro-rata to their ordinary hours. Casual employees do not get paid sick leave, but can take unpaid carer's leave.
How much sick leave do you accrue per week?
A full-time employee on 38 hours accrues about 1.46 hours of personal/carer's leave a week, or 76 hours a year. Part-time employees accrue 1/26 of their ordinary hours, so someone on 30 hours accrues about 1.15 hours a week.
Does sick leave accrue during the first year?
Yes. Personal/carer's leave accrues from your first day as you work your ordinary hours. You can use it as soon as it has built up. You don't have to wait until you have worked 12 months.
Does sick leave roll over in Australia?
Yes. Unused personal/carer's leave carries over from year to year and keeps building up for as long as you stay with the same employer. It is not paid out when you leave unless your agreement or contract says so.
Is a medical certificate required for one day of sick leave?
Your employer can ask for evidence for any amount of personal leave, including one day, as long as the request is reasonable. Evidence can be a medical certificate or a statutory declaration. Your award or agreement may set more specific rules.
Can you take sick leave for mental health?
Yes. Personal/carer's leave covers any personal illness or injury, including mental health conditions and stress. The same notice and evidence rules apply as for a physical illness.
Do casual employees get sick leave?
Casual employees don't get paid sick leave. They receive a 25% casual loading instead. Casuals are entitled to 2 days of unpaid carer's leave per occasion and 2 days of unpaid compassionate leave.
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Sources and assumptions
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.