Leave

All staff (except casual employees) are entitled to 147 hours or 20 days of annual recreation leave. Recreation leave for part time staff is calculated at pro-rata rates.  

Academic staff

Annual recreation leave is taken from the end of year closure for 20 consecutive working days and is automatically 'block booked' by Payroll each year (Clause A26.3 of the Enterprise Agreement 2014 to 2017).

Professional staff

Annual recreation leave or accrued flexi-leave must be taken to cover the working days during University closure - between Christmas and New Year. The balance of annual recreation leave is to be taken during the year in which it accrues.   Annual recreation leave must be booked in advance using ESS and be approved by your supervisor.

Fixed term staff

All annual recreation leave must be taken before the end of the contract, as such leave is taken in advance of entitlement.

Staff accruing greater than 294 hours (40 days) for full-time staff (pro-rata for part-time staff) can be directed to take leave.

Cash-out of excess annual recreation leave is available subject to certain criteria.

View the Annual recreation leave policy.

Book leave via ESS.

Long service leave accrues at the rate of 47.77 hours or 6.5 working days per year (pro-rata for part-time staff).

Long service leave can be taken at 7 years' entitlement and paid at half pay or as single days.

If you have previously worked for another Federal or State government agency, you may be entitled to have this length of service recognised as part of your long service leave entitlement.  You must apply for recognition of your long service leave within 6 months of your appointment with Flinders University.

Excess long service leave up to a maximum of 4 weeks can be cashed out subject to policy criteria.

View the Long service leave policy.

Book leave via ESS (for full pay)

Personal and carer's leave is available to cover personal illness or injury. It is also available to provide care and support for an immediate family member who is ill, injured or affected by an unexpected emergency.

Personal and carer's leave:

• accrues at a rate of 110.25 hours or 15 days per completed year of service (pro-rata for part-time staff)
• must be recorded on ESS and approved by your Supervisor
• requires a medical certificate after three consecutive days of absence

New staff members may apply for up to 44.1 hours (6 days) of personal and carer's leave in advance of their entitlement (pro-rata for part-time staff). If the entitlement is not subsequently earned, reimbursement is required to the University.

Compassionate leave

Two days compassionate leave is available per occasion of:

• the death of a family member, or when
  
• a family member contracts, develops or sustains life-threatening illness or injury
  

View the Personal/carer's and compassionate leave policy

Special paid leave

You are entitled to five days per calendar year (pro-rata for part-time staff) special paid leave for the following circumstances:

• death of a family member,
• cultural/ceremonial obligations, 
• attendance at unforeseen emergency situations,
• maintenance of kinship/community links by Australian Indigenous staff members to ensure currency of Indigenous knowledge, or
• dealing with family/domestic violence matters.

Special paid leave does not accumulate from year to year.  A minimum of one hour can be taken.

Full conditions of special leave are set out in section A24 of the Enterprise Agreement 2014 to 2017.

Academic staff

There are two types of study leave available:

Outside studies program (OSP) is available for carrying out sustained scholarly activity or gaining professional experience outside university. 

• OSP is not available to research-only academic staff  
• applications are approved by colleges
• transfer of prior qualifying service (where appropriate) must be sought within six months of appointment

Overseas conference leave is available for staff who are invited to make substantial contributions to overseas conferences of significant importance.

• financial support including contribution to travel expenses
• applications are approved by the colleges

Professional staff

Study leave may be granted up to six hours per week for approved courses (pro-rata for part-time staff).  Study leave is negotiated with your supervisor and reported to People and Culture. For more information, visit:  

More information on the study assistance scheme.

Leave without pay may be approved in certain circumstances.

Leave taken without pay may still count towards long service leave entitlement and salary increments provided it meets certain criteria.

Applications for leave without pay for up to two years or up to three years for full-time study in a relevant discipline may be considered.

View the Leave without pay policy.

Maternity, adoption and parental leave

52 weeks of parental/maternity/adoption leave is available which comprises:

• 18 weeks paid leave (after 12 months continuous service)
• 34 weeks unpaid leave
• Leave may be extended for a further 12 months unpaid parental leave

Partner leave

Partner leave comprises one week paid leave plus an additional 51 weeks unpaid partner leave where the partner is the certified primary care-giver.

Additional support options are available to assist with returning to work after parental/maternity/adoption leave.

View the Parental leave policy

Antenatal leave

Prior to taking parental/maternity/adoption leave, 8 days paid antenatal leave can be taken for pregnancy related purposes.

Paid leave may be approved for staff members who are members of the emergency services such as the CFS and are required for emergency duty during working hours.

Flinders University staff who are employed on the 12-hour shift roster can apply for leave of absense.

• Defence force leave
• Jury service leave
• Witness leave
• Workers compensation
• Workplace relations training leave