Leave

As an employee of The University of Adelaide you are entitled to apply for a range of leave. 

Applications for most types of leave are submitted through Staff Services Online, but some leave types require different booking arrangements. See leave types below for further information and consult the Enterprise Agreement for eligibility and conditions.

  • Annual Leave

    A staff member is entitled to full pay at the rate of 20 working days per year. Part time employees will be prorated.

    Annual leave will accrue progressively during a year of service and will accumulate from year to year. If a staff member is part-time the staff member will accrue annual leave on a pro-rata basis. 

    Clause 4.1.1 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021

    A staff member is in excess leave balances if they have a balance of  30 working days or 35 working days for shift workers (pro rata for part time staff)
    Automatic scheduling of Academic leave applies as per clause 4.1.6 of The University of Adelaide Enterprise Agreement (as amended or replaced)

    Cashing out of Annual leave is not available

    Book leave through 

    Staff Services Online

    Annual Leave FAQ's

  • Long Service Leave

    Long Service Leave accrues at the rate of 6.5 working days for each year of service and pro-rata for a part of a year of service with the University from the first day of January 1966; 

    Long service leave can be taken at 7 years' entitlement and paid at half pay or as single days.

    Staff may be eligible to apply for recognition of prior service if previously employed by higher education or government institutions.

    Clause 4.11.1 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021

    Please refer to clause 4.11.6 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021 for Prior Service eligibility.

     

    A staff member is in excess leave balances if they have a balance of  80 working days - this must be reduced to 30 working days over a 2 year period (pro rata for part time staff)
    One full-time day is equal to 7.35 hours

    If the staff member has an entitlement to at least 65 days long service leave the staff member may apply to receive a payment in lieu of their long service leave entitlement (i.e. cashing out). 

    Please complete the Cashing out of Long Service Leave form

    Book leave through 

    Staff Services Online

    Long Service Leave FAQ's

  • Personal Leave/Compassionate Leave

    Personal Leave

    A staff member is entitled to leave of absence with full pay at the rate of 15 working days per year and this leave shall be cumulative without limit. Part-time staff members shall be entitled to 15 working days per year paid on a pro rata basis.

    Clause 4.2 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021

    Staff members are entitled to personal leave:

    (a) if they are unfit for work because of a personal illness, or personal injury that affects them; or

    (b) to provide care or support to a member of a staff member’s family, or a member of their household, who requires care or support because of: i. a personal illness, or personal injury; or an unexpected emergency.

     

    Compassionate Leave

    Staff members are entitled to a maximum of three (3) paid days of compassionate leave for each occasion when a member of their family, or a member of their household:

    (a) contracts or develops a personal illness that poses a serious threat to his or her life; or

    (b) sustains a personal injury that poses a serious threat to his or her life; or

    (c) dies.

    Clause 4.3 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021

     

    Book leave through 

    Staff Services Online

    Personal Leave/Compassionate Leave FAQ's

  • Special Studies Program Leave

    All academic staff members (except casuals) are eligible to participate in the University’s Special Studies Program (SSP) provided their contract of employment extends beyond the period of special studies for at least an equal period.

    clause 5.7 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021

    The accrual of SSP days is not an entitlement to take SSP, which will be subject to consideration and approval process as outlined in this procedure. SSP is accrued in calendar days, not hours. 

    To apply for SSP please visit the Special Studies leave webpage

  • Leave without Pay

    Staff members may apply for a period of leave without pay. Approval will be at the discretion of the Area Manager who will determine the conditions under which it will be taken.

    Leave without pay will not normally be granted for a period exceeding two (2) years. 

    Clause 4.10 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021

     

    Book leave through 

    Staff Services Online

     

    Leave without Pay FAQ's

  • Parental Leave

    A staff member is eligible to apply for paid parental leave may apply for the relevant type of leave specified in the table below, subject to the specific eligibility rules and requirements specified in the table for the type of paid parental leave. 

    Clause Type of leave Entitlement Eligibility and requirements
    4.5.2.1 Paid Maternity Leave Up to 26 weeks

    Available to mother of the Child

    Eligibility
    Available to the birth mother of the child.
    Requirements
    The staff member must commence maternity
    leave within six (6) weeks leading up to the
    expected birth date.
    A medical certificate of fitness for work is
    required if the staff member wishes to remain at
    work within the two (2) weeks leading up to the
    expected birth date or return to duties within the
    first eight (8) weeks after birth.


    A minimum of 14 weeks paid leave must be
    taken.

    4.5.2.3 Paid Adoption Leave Up to 26 weeks Eligibility
    Available to a staff member who will be the
    primary carer of a child aged five (5) years or less
    placed for adoption with the staff member.
    Requirements
    Adoption leave must start on the day of the
    placement of the child.
    A minimum of 14 weeks paid leave must be
    taken.
    4.5.2.4 Special Paid Parental Leave

    Up to 26 weeks.


     

     

     

    Note: Approval is at the
    discretion of the University

    Eligibility

    available to a staff member:
    • not otherwise eligible for paid maternity
    leave or paid adoption leave; and
    • who becomes the primary carer of a
    child less than one (1) year of age.

    Requirements
    Leave must not start prior to the date on which
    the staff member becomes the primary carer of
    the child, unless approved otherwise.
    A staff member must apply to their Head of
    School (or functional equivalent).
    A staff member's application must state their
    case in order for the Head of School (or
    functional equivalent) to fully understand the
    circumstance which gives rise to the staff
    member being the primary carer of the child. The
    staff member may be required to provide
    evidence to the satisfaction of the University that
    they are the primary carer of the child at the time
    of their leave.
    Approval is at the discretion of the University.

    4.5.2.5 Shared Paid Parental Leave

    A combined total of 26
    weeks

     

     

     

    Note 1:
    14 of these 26 weeks must
    be taken by the staff
    member eligible for paid
    maternity or paid adoption
    leave;
    Note 2:
    Concurrent Partner Leave
    (see clause 4.5.2.6) may be
    taken at the same time as
    the first 14 weeks of leave.

    Eligibility
    Available only to employee couples. An
    employee couple is defined as two (2) staff
    members who are either the spouse or de facto
    partner of the other.
    At least one staff member of the employee
    couple must be eligible for paid maternity leave
    or paid adoption leave
    Both staff members must be fixed-term or
    continuing staff members with at least 12 months
    continuous service immediately prior to the
    expected birth date or expected date of
    placement of the child.
    Requirements
    The first 14 weeks of leave must be taken by the
    staff member eligible for paid maternity leave or
    paid adoption leave.
    The other staff member’s leave must commence
    immediately after the end of the first staff
    member's period of leave.
     

    Clause 4.5.1 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021

     

    Forms and other resources 

     

    FAQ's

    Parental Leave

    Special Paid Parental Leave

  • Family and Domestic Violence Leave

    The family and domestic violence leave entitlement for all staff members will increase to 10 days of paid leave per year as of 1 February 2023.

    The legislative changes in the National Employment Standards (NES) include:

    • All staff members including casuals receive access to 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave within a 12 month period
    • The entitlement is not pro-rated for part-time or casual staff
    • It renews annually on the anniversary of the staff member’s first day of work
    • It doesn’t accumulate from year to year

    This will replace the current entitlement for full-time and part-time staff to access 5 days of paid family and domestic violence leave under the University of Adelaide’s Enterprise Agreement (2017-2021).

    Information regarding the leave entitlement, support and how to submit a leave request is available on our Family and Domestic Violence webpage.

     

    Book leave under 'Special Leave - Other' through

    Staff Services Online 

    or through a timesheet for casual staff.

  • Community Service Leave

    Jury Service Leave

    If a staff member is required to attend for jury service, they will be granted leave at ordinary pay for the purpose of doing so but will forfeit to the University any jury fee received other than daily incidentals. This leave includes necessary travelling.

    Witness Leave

    If a staff member is required to appear as a witness in any case they will be granted leave at ordinary pay for the purpose of doing so, but will forfeit to the University any witness fee received other than daily incidentals. This leave includes necessary travelling.

    Voluntary Emergency Management Leave

    Staff members are entitled in any one (1) year period to take up to five (5) days paid leave for the purpose of undertaking voluntary emergency management activities, such as emergency or natural disaster.

    Clause 4.6 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021

     

    Book leave under 'Community Service Leave - Jury Service' or 'Witness Services' or 'Emergency Management' through

    Staff Services Online

    Other leave FAQ's

  • Defence Leave

    Staff members will be entitled to an annual maximum paid period of leave of 20 working days to enable them to engage in training as a member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reserve and it is recognised that additional leave may be required for special instruction.

    Clause 4.12 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021

     

    Book leave under 'Community Service Leave - Defence Force Service' through 

    Staff Services Online

  • Cultural Obligation Leave

    Staff members are entitled in any one (1) year period to take up to a total of three (3) working days paid leave for absences for the purpose of fulfilling cultural requirements and obligations that are a recognised part of their identified or adopted culture or one with which the staff member’s partner, family and/or community group identifies.

    Clause 4.7 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021

     

    Book leave under 'Special Leave - Cultural Obligation' through 

    Staff Services Online

    Other leave FAQ's

  • Trade Union Training Leave

    A staff member may take up to ten (10) working days leave over any two-year working period:

    a) to attend short trade union training courses or seminars 

    b) to allow an elected work site union representative to conduct official union business that requires their personal attendance.

    Clause 4.9 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021 

     

    Book leave under 'Special Leave - Trade Union Training' through

    Staff Services Online

  • Moving House Day

    Staff members are entitled in any one (1) year period to take one (1) working day paid leave for the purpose of moving from their primary residence.

    Clause 4.8 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021

     

    Book leave under 'Special Leave - Moving House Day' through 

    Staff Services Online

  • Special Leave

    Staff members may be entitled to take up to a total of three (3) working days as special paid leave in each calendar year for absences caused by emergency circumstances.

    Clause 4.8 within the Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021

     

    Book leave under 'Special Leave - Other' through 

    Staff Services Online