Annual Leave Calculator

SA Annual Leave Calculator – Take Time Off the Smart Way in South Australia (2025 Edition)

Whether you're sipping wine in the Barossa, enjoying a summer break in Glenelg, or just need some downtime, the SA Annual Leave Calculator helps you make the most of your time off in 2025. With a few clever tricks and a good look at South Australia's public holiday calendar, you can stretch your 4 weeks of annual leave into double the value.

This guide covers your leave entitlements, how accrual works, public holiday hacks, and example scenarios to help you lock in some much-needed breaks.

How Annual Leave Works in SA

South Australian employees are covered under the National Employment Standards (NES), meaning:

• Full-time employees receive 4 weeks of paid leave per year (or 152 hours for a 38-hour workweek).
• Part-time employees receive leave on a pro-rata basis, calculated against their weekly hours.
• Casual workers aren't entitled to annual leave but are generally paid a loading in lieu (usually 25%).
• Annual leave accrues gradually from the day you start your job – even if you're still in your probation period.

SA Leave Accrual Example

• 38 hrs/week (full-time): 2.923 hours of leave accrued weekly
• 25 hrs/week (part-time): ~1.92 hours per week

Leave Loading in South Australia

Many South Australian employees, especially in hospitality and retail, receive 17.5% annual leave loading when they take time off.

Example:

• Weekly pay: $1,000
• Leave loading: $175
• Total leave payout: $1,175

Always check your award or enterprise agreement to confirm eligibility.

Who Gets What in SA?

• Full-time workers: 4 weeks of paid leave annually
• Part-time workers: Leave proportional to hours worked
• Shift workers: May be eligible for 5 weeks depending on rosters and award entitlements
• Casuals: No leave accrual, but receive a higher hourly rate

If you're unsure, use our calculator and speak with HR to understand your specific award or agreement.

2025 Public Holiday Leave Hacks in South Australia

South Australia enjoys a spread of public holidays that can be perfectly paired with annual leave days to get extra-long breaks. View the complete list of South Australia Public Holidays for 2025.

🏇 Adelaide Cup Day – Monday, 10 March

• Strategy: Take Friday, 7 March off
• Result: 4-day weekend

🐣 Easter Long Weekend – 18 & 21 April

• Strategy: Leave on 15–17 and 22 April
• Result: 10 days off using just 5 leave days

🌺 Anzac Day – Friday, 25 April

• Strategy: Add Monday, 28 April as leave
• Result: Another 4-day weekend

👑 King's Birthday – Monday, 9 June

• Strategy: Leave Friday, 6 June
• Result: Long weekend (6–9 June)

🧑‍🏭 Labour Day – Monday, 6 October

• Strategy: Take Friday, 3 October
• Result: 4-day break

🎄 Christmas & Proclamation Day – 25 & 26 December

• Strategy: Take leave from 22–24 & 29–31 December
• Result: 16 days off using 6 days of annual leave

Example Leave Scenarios

Example 1: Jordan, Full-Time Admin Worker (38 hrs/week)

• Uses calculator to line up Adelaide Cup Day with 1 day of leave
• Creates a mini-break for a family getaway with just 1 leave day

Example 2: Mia, Part-Time Retail Worker (20 hrs/week)

• Accrues ~1.54 hours of leave/week
• Checks her balance and sees she'll have 62 hours available by October
• Uses 4 days of leave across Labour Day to enjoy a relaxing escape

Why Use the SA Annual Leave Calculator?

• Built for South Australia's public holiday calendar
• Includes Proclamation Day and state-specific strategies
• Provides accurate, up-to-date calculations based on Fair Work rules
• Helps you plan ahead, avoid burnout and use your leave smarter

Whether you're chasing long weekends or planning ahead for festive breaks, our calculator helps you make the most of your time off.