Long service leave calculator, Australian Capital Territory
See how much long service leave you have earned in Australian Capital Territory, and what it is worth if it is paid out — under the Long Service Leave Act 1976 (ACT).
The calculator
Long service leave in Australian Capital Territory is set by the Long Service Leave Act 1976 (ACT), not by the national system — so the qualifying period and the amount you accrue differ from other states.
Unbroken service with the same employer. Approved leave usually counts; check the exceptions below.
Your ordinary hours, excluding overtime. Most states use your pay at the time you take the leave.
This is an estimate, not financial or legal advice.
Full rate table
The ACT entitlement in full
| Governing Act | Long Service Leave Act 1976 (ACT) |
|---|---|
| Qualifying period | 7 years of continuous service |
| Leave at the qualifying point | 6.0667 weeks |
| Accrual after that | 0.86667 weeks for each further year |
| Pro-rata on resignation | Resignation: from 5 years. Between 5 and 7 years, section 11C requires a pro-rata payment where the employee ends the employment because of illness or incapacity, or a domestic or other pressing necessity of such a nature as to justify it. Completed months count, not just whole years. |
| Pro-rata when the employer ends it | Termination: from 5 years. Between 5 and 7 years, section 11C requires a pro-rata payment where the employer ends the employment for a reason other than the employee's serious misconduct, or where the employee dies. The employer must pay within 90 days of the employment ceasing. |
Worked example
Seven years of continuous service — 6.0667 weeks
7 years of continuous service in Australian Capital Territory earns 6.0667 weeks of long service leave (30.33 working days). At $1500 a week that is $9,100.05 before tax.
Checked against https://www.worksafe.act.gov.au/laws-and-compliance/long-service-leave. This figure is re-computed from the rule file on every build, so a page that no longer reproduces its own source example never ships.
How it’s worked out
How long service leave is worked out here
Under the Long Service Leave Act 1976 (ACT), you reach the qualifying point at 7 years of continuous service with the same employer, and that earns 6.0667 weeks of leave. Each further year adds 0.86667 weeks. Accrual is continuous — the qualifying point is when the leave becomes payable, not when it starts building up, which is why a pro-rata payment before that point is worked out on the same per-year rate.
The ACT reaches its entitlement at 7 years, like Victoria, granting 6.0667 weeks — one fifth of a month for each year of service. It is the only jurisdiction here where a pro-rata payment can arise as early as 5 years, under section 11C. Payment is due within 90 days of the employment ending, and failure to pay is a strict liability offence. This calculator covers private sector employees under the Act; it does not model the portable schemes administered by ACT Leave for construction, cleaning, security and community sector work.
Leaving before 7 years
- If you resign: from 5 years. Between 5 and 7 years, section 11C requires a pro-rata payment where the employee ends the employment because of illness or incapacity, or a domestic or other pressing necessity of such a nature as to justify it. Completed months count, not just whole years.
- If your employer ends the job: from 5 years. Between 5 and 7 years, section 11C requires a pro-rata payment where the employer ends the employment for a reason other than the employee's serious misconduct, or where the employee dies. The employer must pay within 90 days of the employment ceasing.
Read before you rely on this
What this does not account for
- Continuous service is a legal test, not just elapsed time. Unpaid leave, casual gaps, transfers between related employers and periods of industrial action can each affect it, and this calculator assumes unbroken service.
- Ordinary weekly pay excludes overtime, and several Acts require averaging where your hours or pay have changed — a recent change from full-time to part-time in particular.
- An enterprise agreement, award or contract can give more than the Long Service Leave Act 1976 (ACT), but never less. If yours does, the better entitlement applies and this figure will be low.
- Portable long service leave schemes cover building and construction, contract cleaning, security and community services work in several states. Those schemes have their own registers and rules, and are not modelled here.
- Whether a resignation qualifies as illness, incapacity or pressing necessity is a judgement the relevant authority makes, not something a calculator can decide.
- Long service leave paid out on termination is taxed differently to leave taken while employed. This shows the gross amount only.
Questions
Common questions
- How much long service leave do I get in the Australian Capital Territory?
- The ACT reaches its entitlement at 7 years, granting 6.0667 weeks — one fifth of a month for each year of service. Accrual continues at 0.86667 weeks a year, so 10 years is 8.6667 weeks. Enter your service above for the exact figure.
- Can I be paid out if I leave before 7 years?
- The ACT is the only jurisdiction here where a payment can arise as early as 5 years. Section 11C requires a pro-rata payment between 5 and 7 years where the employer ends the job for a reason other than serious misconduct, where you die, or where you leave because of illness or incapacity or a domestic or other pressing necessity. Completed months count, not just whole years.
- When must an ACT employer pay long service leave out?
- Within 90 days of the day the employment ceases. Failing to pay is a strict liability offence under the Act, carrying a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units. That deadline is specific to the ACT — most states leave the timing to the general rules about final pay.
- What counts as continuous service?
- Continuous service means unbroken employment with the same employer, and it is a legal test rather than just elapsed time. Paid leave normally counts. Unpaid leave, casual gaps, industrial action and transfers between related businesses can each affect it, and the Long Service Leave Act 1976 (ACT) sets out which absences break service and which merely pause it. This calculator assumes your service is unbroken, so check the detail with WorkSafe ACT if you have had a significant gap.
- Is long service leave paid at my current wage?
- Generally yes — it is paid at your ordinary weekly pay, excluding overtime, at the time you take the leave or when the employment ends. Where your hours or pay have changed, several Acts require an average to be used instead, which matters most if you have moved between full-time and part-time work. The figure above uses the single weekly pay you enter, so if your hours have changed materially treat it as approximate.
- Does my enterprise agreement override this?
- An award, enterprise agreement or contract can give you more than the Long Service Leave Act 1976 (ACT), but it can never give you less. If yours has a better long service leave clause, that one applies and the figure above will understate what you are owed. Check your agreement first. Portable schemes for building and construction, contract cleaning, security and community services work also sit outside this calculator and have their own registers.
Across the country
The same service in every state
10 years of continuous service, under each state and territory’s own Act.
| State | Weeks at 10 years | Qualifying period |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Territory | 13 | 10 years |
| South Australia | 13 | 10 years |
| Australian Capital Territory | 8.6667 | 7 years |
| New South Wales | 8.6667 | 10 years |
| Queensland | 8.6667 | 10 years |
| Tasmania | 8.6667 | 10 years |
| Victoria | 8.6667 | 7 years |
| Western Australia | 8.6667 | 10 years |
Where this comes from
Source
WorkSafe ACT — Long Service Leave Act 1976 (ACT), s 11 and s 11C
https://www.worksafe.act.gov.au/laws-and-compliance/long-service-leave
Checked on .
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