Australian Long Service Leave 2026: NSW & Victoria Rules Explained
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Long service leave (LSL) rewards long tenure with extra paid leave. Crucially, it's set by each state and territory, so the rules differ across Australia. This guide covers NSW and Victoria.
New South Wales (LSL Act 1955)
- 2 months (8.67 weeks) after 10 years of continuous service.
- 1 extra month for each further 5 years.
- Pro-rata at 5–10 years is only paid if the employer ends it (not for misconduct), you resign for illness/incapacity or pressing necessity, or on death.
Victoria (LSL Act 2018)
- You accrue 1/60th of your total continuous service — about 8.67 weeks after 10 years.
- You can take LSL after 7 years.
- If your job ends after 7 years, the pro-rata balance is paid out regardless of reason.
Worked example
8.5 years' service, $1,500/week ordinary pay:
- Victoria: 8.5 × 52/60 = 7.37 weeks → paid out (7+ years) → 7.37 × $1,500 = $11,050.
- NSW: same 7.37 weeks accrued, but on an ordinary resignation under 10 years it is not payable; if the employer made you redundant, the pro-rata is paid.
Every state is different
Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory each have their own LSL Act with different thresholds. Always check the Act for your state.
Frequently asked questions
How much long service leave do you get in NSW?
In NSW you're entitled to 2 months (8.67 weeks) of paid long service leave after 10 years of continuous service, plus 1 additional month for every further 5 years. Between 5 and 10 years, a pro-rata amount is only payable if the employer ends your employment (other than for serious misconduct), you resign due to illness/incapacity or pressing necessity, or on death.
How is long service leave calculated in Victoria?
Victoria uses a 1/60th rule: you accrue 1/60th of your total period of continuous employment as long service leave (about 8.67 weeks after 10 years). You can take leave after 7 years, and if your job ends after 7 years the pro-rata balance is paid out — regardless of who ended it.
Is long service leave the same in every state?
No. Long service leave is set by each state and territory's own Act, and the thresholds and formulas differ. This calculator covers NSW and Victoria; Queensland, SA, WA, Tasmania, the ACT and NT each have separate rules you should check.
Do I get long service leave paid out if I resign?
It depends on your state and service. In Victoria, yes, once you have 7+ years. In NSW, only at 10+ years for an ordinary resignation; between 5 and 10 years an ordinary resignation doesn't qualify (illness/pressing-necessity resignations do).
What pay rate is long service leave paid at?
Long service leave is paid at your ordinary rate of pay. This calculator applies your weekly ordinary pay to the accrued weeks.