Annual Leave Calculator

ACT Annual Leave Calculator – Smarter Time Off in the Nation's Capital (2025 Edition)

Working in Canberra or the ACT region? Whether you're planning a long weekend in the Snowies or a city break right at home, our ACT Annual Leave Calculator is the perfect tool to help you align your entitlements with public holidays for maximum benefit.

In this guide, you'll learn how annual leave works in the ACT, how to calculate your accrual, and the cleverest ways to use your leave around Canberra's unique public holidays like Canberra Day and Reconciliation Day.

Annual Leave in the ACT – How It Works

Just like every other Australian state, ACT follows the National Employment Standards (NES). This means:

• Full-time employees get 4 weeks of paid annual leave per year (or 152 hours based on a 38-hour week).
• Part-time employees accrue leave proportionally, based on hours worked.
• Casual employees do not earn annual leave but instead get casual loading (usually 25%).
• Leave starts accruing from your first day on the job, even if you're in your probationary period.

ACT Leave Accrual Example

• Full-time (38 hrs/week): ~2.923 hours of leave accrued per week
• Part-time (20 hrs/week): ~1.54 hours/week

That's 152 hours/year for full-timers and about 80 hours/year for part-timers.

Leave Loading in the ACT

Many public sector workers, hospitality staff, and those under award agreements may be entitled to 17.5% leave loading.

Example:

• Weekly base pay: $1,300
• Leave loading: $227.50
• Total leave pay: $1,527.50

Who Qualifies for Leave in the ACT?

• Full-time workers: 4 weeks of annual leave each year
• Part-time workers: Earn leave proportionally to their hours worked
• Shift workers: May get 5 weeks depending on the award or roster structure
• Casuals: Receive casual loading instead of leave

ACT Public Holiday Leave Hacks for 2025

The ACT has a few unique public holidays that provide excellent opportunities to extend your leave. Here are the best dates to target. View the complete list of ACT Public Holidays for 2025.

🏛️ Canberra Day – Monday, 10 March

• Strategy: Take Friday, 7 March off
• Result: Enjoy a 4-day long weekend (7–10 March)

🐣 Easter Weekend – 18 & 21 April

• Strategy: Leave on 15–17 and 22 April
• Result: 10 days off with just 5 days of annual leave used

🕊️ Reconciliation Day – Monday, 2 June

• Strategy: Take Friday, 30 May off
• Result: A peaceful 4-day weekend (30 May – 2 June)

🌺 Anzac Day – Friday, 25 April

• Strategy: Add Monday, 28 April as annual leave
• Result: Another relaxing 4-day break

👑 Labour Day – Monday, 6 October

• Strategy: Leave Friday, 3 October
• Result: 4-day weekend

🎄 Christmas & New Year – 25 Dec to 1 Jan

• Strategy: Take leave on 22–24 & 29–31 December
• Result: 16 days off for 6 days of leave

Example Leave Scenarios

Example 1: Angela, Full-Time Policy Advisor (38 hrs/week)

• Wants to recharge after budget season
• Uses calculator to align Canberra Day with a 4-day weekend using only 1 leave day

Example 2: Josh, Part-Time Barista (20 hrs/week)

• Accrues ~1.54 hrs/week of leave
• Uses calculator to plan a holiday around Reconciliation Day
• Confirms he'll have 46 hours by late May and takes a 4-day trip to the coast

Why Use the ACT Annual Leave Calculator?

• Tailored for ACT-specific public holidays
• Ideal for full-time and part-time staff across public and private sectors
• Accounts for Reconciliation Day and Canberra Day
• Leave loading support for eligible workers
• Accurate, Fair Work-compliant and easy to use

No matter your profession – public servant, tradie, café manager or university student – this calculator gives you clarity and control over your time off.