Long service leave for part-time employees in South Australia
SafeWork SA's guidance has part-time workers accruing long service leave at the same rate as other workers, with their leave worked out from hours averaged over the period in the table. A worker who has worked both full-time and part-time has their hours averaged over a period of the same length.
- By Book Keeping Pros
- Sources checked 15 Oct 2026
The rules in South Australia
| What it is | Value | When it applies | Where it is set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time workers can be entitled to long service leave | Yes | As published on 20 September 2026 | Who is entitled: employment status |
| Part-time workers accrue long service leave at the same rate as other workers | Yes | As published on 20 September 2026 | Accrual: employment status does not affect the rate |
| Years of hours a part-time worker's leave is averaged over | 3 years | As published on 22 April 2022 | Part-time worker calculation |
| Years of hours averaged for a worker who has worked both full-time and part-time | 3 years | As published on 22 April 2022 | Mix of full-time and part-time worker calculation |
Each rule is read from the source and provision shown; the sources are listed below. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
What it means for your books
- With the accrual rate unchanged by employment status, what sets a part-time worker's leave apart is the hours averaged, so the books need the hours worked each week over the averaging period rather than contracted hours alone.
- For a worker who moved between full-time and part-time work, the date of each change, with weekly hours on both sides of it, supplies the hours that SafeWork SA's mixed calculation averages.
- Weekly hours kept for at least the length of the averaging period let the average be worked out and checked later. Whether a worker is entitled, or what their leave comes to, is for your accountant or SafeWork SA.
General information
Sources
- Long service leave: who is entitled to long service leave
SafeWork SA (Government of South Australia). Page last updated 20 September 2026, released 20 September 2026. Checked 16 October 2026.
© Government of South Australia, licensed under CC BY 3.0 AU Licence: CC BY 3.0 AU.
- Long service leave: accruing leave
SafeWork SA (Government of South Australia). Page modified 20 September 2026, released 20 September 2026. Checked 15 October 2026.
© Government of South Australia, licensed under CC BY 3.0 AU Licence: CC BY 3.0 AU.
- Long service leave: calculating long service leave
SafeWork SA (Government of South Australia). Page last updated 22 April 2022, released 22 April 2022. Checked 16 October 2026.
© Government of South Australia, licensed under CC BY 3.0 AU Licence: CC BY 3.0 AU.
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