Updated · Apr 2026
Topic Hub · Personal / sick / carer's

Personal & Carer's Leave Calculator.

Calculate personal/sick/carer's leave under section 96 of the Fair Work Act 2009. 10 days per year combined entitlement for full-time and part-time employees.

✓ Free, no sign-up|Live|Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.96

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Standard FT week is 38 hours.
$
For loading & payout values.

Here's your entitlement

76 hrs
Personal/carer's leave hours accrued.
10.0 days
Days
76 hrs
Hours
$2,667
Value at base rate
See full calculationFair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.96
ComponentFormulaValue
NES entitlement(38h × 52) ÷ 26 (s.96(1))76.00 hrs/yr
Accrual rate76.00 ÷ 521.462 hrs/wk
Hours accrued1.462 × 52 wks76.21 hrs
Days equivalent76.21 ÷ 7.6h10.03 days

ⓘ Calculated under section 96 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). 10 days combined sick + carer's leave per year of service.

Sarah Reid, CAHRI
Reviewed bySarah Reid, CAHRICert IV Payroll · Sydney based
Verified expert

Disclaimer: This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. Results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation or your circumstances. This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. We do not recommend taking actions based solely on these results. The calculator makes assumptions and results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation, modern awards, or your personal circumstances. You use this information at your own risk. We can't guarantee to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong. For official guidance, visit Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au). Fair Work Ombudsman.

Personal / sick / carer's Snapshot

Three numbers that define this entitlement.

Every figure derived from current legislation.

NES Entitlement
4wks/yr
For FT & PT
Set by the relevant statute.
Accrual rate
2.923hrs/wk
For 38-hr FT week
152 hrs over 52 weeks.
Loading
17.5%
On top of base pay
Award-dependent.

Personal leave vs annual leave: what is the difference

Personal leave and annual leave are different entitlements with different rules. Personal/carer’s leave (Fair Work Act s.96) is 10 days per year for when you are unwell or caring for an immediate family member, and it can require evidence such as a medical certificate. Annual leave (s.87) is 4 weeks per year for rest and holidays, taken at a time agreed with your employer. The biggest practical difference: unused annual leave is paid out when you leave a job, but unused personal leave is not. Work out your holiday balance with the annual leave calculator.

Sick leave vs carer's leave

Sick leave and carer’s leave come from the same balance. The 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave each year can be used either when you are ill or injured (sick leave) or to care for an immediate family or household member who is unwell or has an emergency (carer’s leave). There is no separate allocation for each: it is one combined pool of 10 days. Casuals do not accrue paid personal leave but can take 2 days of unpaid carer’s leave per occasion. Separately, every employee can access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave.

Related Calculators

Entitlements that go with personal / sick / carer's.

These come up in the same pay run or calculation. Each has its own calculator.

AL
Annual leave calculator4 weeks/year + 17.5% loading
PP
Parental leave pay calculatorPPL 24 wks (26 from Jul 2026) + 12 months unpaid
LL
Leave loading calculator17.5% on annual leave + casual 25%
Q & A

Personal / sick / carer's questions.

The most-asked questions about this entitlement.

How much paid sick leave do full-time employees get under the NES?
10 days of paid personal/carer's leave per year, accruing from the first day of employment under section 96 of the Fair Work Act 2009. Part-timers accrue pro-rata. Unused balances roll over indefinitely. Run the personal-leave calculator →
Do casual employees get sick leave?
No paid sick leave. Casuals can take up to 2 days of unpaid carer's leave per occasion to look after an immediate family or household member. The 25% casual loading is paid in lieu of paid leave entitlements.
Can my employer ask for a medical certificate?
Yes. Under s.107 of the Fair Work Act, employers can require reasonable evidence (a medical certificate or statutory declaration) before paying the leave. Many employers ask for evidence after a single day; this is reasonable.
Is unused sick leave paid out when I leave?
No. Sick and carer's leave is not paid out on termination. Only annual leave (with loading where applicable) and long service leave (state-dependent) are paid out. See what's included in final pay →
Can I use carer's leave for a sick partner or child?
Yes. Paid carer's leave covers immediate family (spouse, de facto partner, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling) or a member of your household experiencing a personal illness, injury or unexpected emergency.
Does sick leave accrue during probation?
Yes. The NES applies from day one, and probation has no effect on accrual. The only thing probation changes is the simpler dismissal process during the qualifying period.
How does sick leave interact with unpaid carer's leave?
Once paid sick/carer's leave is exhausted, FT/PT employees can take up to 2 days of unpaid carer's leave per permissible occasion. Casuals get the 2 unpaid days per occasion regardless.
Personal / sick / carer's Methodology

Built on Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.96.

Every personal / sick / carer's calculation on this page is built directly from Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.96 and the relevant modern award where applicable.

Reviewed by a registered HR practitioner.

Last reviewed25 Apr 2026
ReviewerSarah Reid, CAHRI
Primary sourceFair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.96
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