Personal Leave Calculator
Rules checked October 2026 · No signup — nothing you enter leaves your browser.
In Australia, sick leave and carer's leave are one single entitlement called personal/carer's leave, and this calculator tracks that combined pool: sick hours taken plus carer's hours taken, deducted from one balance. If you only want your sick balance, use the Sick Leave Calculator; if you have taken both kinds of leave, you are in the right place. Under the National Employment Standards (NES), full-time employees get 10 days a year, part-time employees get a pro-rata amount, sick and carer's leave share one pool, unused leave carries over from year to year, and unused leave is not paid out on termination.
At a glance
| Full-time | 10 days a year |
|---|---|
| Part-time | Pro-rata, based on ordinary hours |
| Sick + carer's leave | One pool |
| Carry-over | Carries over year to year; no cap stated |
| On termination | Not paid out |
| Casuals | Unpaid-only |
One pool, two uses
Personal/carer's leave is a single entitlement with two uses: your own illness or injury, and caring for an immediate family or household member who is sick, injured or has an unexpected emergency. Both draw down the same balance. For a sick-leave-only view, see the Sick Leave Calculator.
Worked examples
Full-time, 1 year, nothing taken. 38 hours a week × 2 = 76.00 hours a year. Accrued 76.00 hours = 10.00 days (7.6-hour days); at $40/hour the value if taken as leave is $3,040.00.
Full-time, 2 years, sick 15.20 h + carer's 7.60 h. Accrued 152.00 hours; taken 22.80 hours; balance 129.20 hours = 17.00 days = $5,168.00 if taken as leave.
Full-time, 3 years, 76.00 h taken, employment ended. Balance that would have been available: 152.00 hours = 20.00 days, worth $6,080.00 if taken as leave. Payout on termination: $0.00.
Casual employee. No paid balance and no dollar figure. Entitled to 2 days of unpaid carer's leave per occasion and 2 days of unpaid compassionate leave per occasion.
Frequently asked questions
How much paid personal leave do I get each year?
Full-time employees get 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave each year under the National Employment Standards. Part-time employees get a pro-rata amount based on their ordinary hours. In hours, that is your ordinary weekly hours multiplied by 2, for example 76 hours a year for someone working 38 hours a week.
Are sick leave and carer's leave separate entitlements?
No. Sick leave and carer's leave are one single entitlement called personal/carer's leave. Time off for your own illness or injury and time off to care for an immediate family or household member are both deducted from the same balance.
Does unused personal leave carry over, and is there a cap?
Yes. Unused personal/carer's leave carries over from year to year, and this calculator applies no cap or expiry to your balance.
Is unused personal leave paid out when employment ends?
No. Unused personal leave is not paid out on termination, unless your award, agreement or contract provides otherwise.
Do casual employees get paid personal/carer's leave?
No. Casual employees don't get paid personal/carer's leave under the NES. They are entitled to 2 days of unpaid carer's leave per occasion and 2 days of unpaid compassionate leave per occasion.
What if I have used all my paid personal leave?
If you have used all your paid personal leave, you may take 2 days of unpaid carer's leave per occasion.
What rate is paid personal leave paid at?
Paid personal leave is paid at your base rate of pay for the ordinary hours you would have worked. Loadings, penalties, allowances and overtime are not included in the base rate.
What notice and evidence can my employer ask for?
You need to tell your employer as soon as practicable that you are taking the leave and how long you expect to be away. Your employer can ask for evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person, such as a medical certificate or statutory declaration.
Can I take personal leave in hours or days?
The leave is deducted in hours. A day is one of your own ordinary days, worked out as your weekly hours divided by your days per week, and this calculator accepts either hours or days.
Does personal leave build up during paid and unpaid leave?
Personal leave builds up progressively with your ordinary hours of work, including while you are on paid leave. It does not build up during unpaid leave (unpaid annual, sick/carer's, parental, or family and domestic violence leave). This calculator assumes you worked your ordinary hours for the whole service period, so if you had a period of unpaid leave, check your accrual with your employer or the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Notes
Public holidays falling during personal leave are treated as public holidays, not deducted. Most WA private-sector employees are under the national system; a small minority are under the WA state system with broadly similar minimums. An award, agreement or contract may be more generous, never less, than the NES minimum.
Sources
- Fair Work Ombudsman: paid sick and carer's leave
- Fair Work Ombudsman: sick and carer's leave overview
Rules checked October 2026 · No signup — nothing you enter leaves your browser.
Related tools
General information and estimates only, not legal advice. Confirm with your employer or the Fair Work Ombudsman.