Leave
As an employee of Flinders University you are entitled to apply for a range of leave.
Most leave is booked through the Workday system, but some leave types require different booking arrangements. See leave types below for further information.
All staff (except casual employees) are entitled to 147 hours or 20 days of paid annual leave (pro-rated for part-time staff).
Clause 30 of the Enterprise Agreement 2023 to 2026.
Academic staff
Annual leave is taken from the end of year closure for 20 consecutive working days and is automatically 'block booked' by Payroll each year.
Professional staff
Annual leave or accrued flexi-leave must be taken to cover the working days during the end of year closure. The balance of annual leave should normally be taken during the year in which it accrues. Annual leave must be booked in advance and be approved by your supervisor.
Fixed term staff
All annual leave should normally be taken before the end of the contract.
Staff who have accumulated annual leave in excess of 294 hours (40 days) (pro-rata for part-time staff) may be directed to take up to one quarter of their accrued leave.
Cash-out of excess annual leave is available subject to certain criteria.
Book leave via Workday.
Long service leave accrues at the rate of 47.78 hours or 6.5 working days per year (pro-rata for part-time staff).
Clause 32 of the Enterprise Agreement 2023 to 2026.
Long service leave can be taken at 7 years' entitlement and paid at half pay or as single days.
Staff may be eligible to apply for recognition of prior service if previously employed by higher education or government institutions. Applications must be submitted within 6 months of commencing with Flinders.
Excess long service leave up to a maximum of 4 weeks can be cashed out subject to certain criteria.
Book leave via Workday.
Personal and carer's leave is available to cover personal illness or injury or to provide care and support for an immediate family member who is ill, injured or affected by an unexpected emergency.
Clause 31 of the Enterprise Agreement 2023 to 2026.
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 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.
Book personal and carer's leave via Workday.
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
Book compassionate leave via Workday.
Book leave via Workday.
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 (5 days per ocassion),
- trade union training leave
- special circumstances approved by Director P&C.
Special paid leave does not accumulate from year to year. A minimum of one hour can be taken.
Clause 36 of the Enterprise Agreement 2023 to 2026.
Book special paid leave via Workday.
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.
Clause 64 of the Enterprise Agreement 2023 to 2026.
- 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.
Clause 64 of the Enterprise Agreement 2023 to 2026.
- 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 notified to People and Culture.
More information on the study assistance scheme.
Leave without pay may be approved in certain circumstances.
Leave without pay on academic or professional grounds will 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.
Clause 37 of the Enterprise Agreement 2023 to 2026.
Request leave without pay via Workday.
Primary carer and adoption leave
52 weeks of primary carer/adoption leave is available which comprises:
- 25 weeks paid leave (after 12 months continuous service),
- 27 weeks unpaid leave (long-service leave and annual leave may be used during this period),
- leave may be extended for a further 12 months unpaid parental leave.
Partner leave
Partner leave comprises three weeks paid leave.
Antenatal leave
Prior to taking parental leave, 8 days paid antenatal leave can be taken for pregnancy related purposes.
Clause 33 of the Enterprise Agreement 2023 to 2026.
Book partner and antenatal leave via Workday.
Book parental leave via Service One.
For more information about services available to staff relating to Parental Leave, click here.
Frequently asked questions
Parental leave is a university entitlement for eligible staff.
For further information on eligibility, please refer to clause 33.1 of the current Enterprise Agreement.
You can submit a request through Service One. You can also submit a request to extend your period of parental leave within 52 weeks and amend your parental leave request through Service One.
A staff member must commence parental leave within six weeks leading up to the expected date of birth.
If you are planning to work within the two weeks prior to the expected date of birth, a medical certificate of fitness for work from a registered medical practitioner or certified mid-wife must be provided, together with written confirmation from your supervisor that your verifying that your workplace and practices meet worker safety requirements.
The same requirement to provide a medical certificate applies if you wish to return to work within the first eight weeks after the birth.
8 days that can be taken in hours to attend medical appointments associated with your pregnancy. It is not to be taken in full days.
No, Parental Leave is 25 calendar weeks.
Yes. You may apply to take paid maternity/adoption/special paid parental leave at half pay. You can also take a period of full-pay and half-pay.
Annual leave, long service leave and personal leave will continue to accrue while on a period of paid parental leave. However, leave entitlements do not accrue whilst on leave without pay for parental leave purposes.
If you have a fixed-term contract of employment with the University which ends during the period of requested parental leave, you are still able to apply for parental leave. If you contract ends during the period of paid parental leave the payment of parental leave will also cease.
Any queries regarding Government Paid leave should be directed to the https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/parental-leave-pay
Your Government Paid Parental Leave Pay will be provided to you by the University in your usual pay cycle on the advice from the Family Assistance Office.
Further information can be found in https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/parental-leave-pay
Entitlement to parental leave does not depend on that leave being continuous. A staff member who, for any reason, returns to work after taking less than the full entitlement for primary carer or adoption leave (either paid or unpaid) may apply to take the balance of the leave later as long as it is within the fifty-two (52) week period from when it was first commenced.
You are entitled to take up to a period of 52 weeks paid/unpaid leave. If you intend to request a period of further unpaid parental leave or leave it can be requested but at the discretion of the employer to approve based on business needs. Aligned to the Fair work Act. For further information please contact People and Culture.
Yes, if the Father/Partner is going to be the primary care giver they can seek paid/unpaid parental leave within the 52 week period from birth/adoption. Any request will need appropriate evidence to show that the previous primary care giver has returned to work/study.
Yes, if the Father/Partner is going to be the primary care giver they can seek paid/unpaid parental leave within the 52 week period from birth/adoption. Any request will need appropriate evidence to show that the previous primary care giver has returned to work/study.
Please refer to clause 33.2 of the Enterprise Agreement.
Where can I get further information?
If you are unable to find the answer you are looking for please contact your People and Culture Business Partner/Advisor.
- Jury service
- Gender affirmation leave
- Blood and plasma donor leave
- Voluntary emergency services.
Clause 34 of the Enterprise Agreement 2023 to 2026.
- Defence force leave
- Witness leave
- Workers compensation
Clause 38 of the Enterprise Agreement 2023 to 2026.
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