Compassionate, Family Violence and Other Leave You're Entitled To
The National Employment Standards leave beyond annual and sick leave: compassionate, family and domestic violence, unpaid carer's, jury duty and parental leave, and what casuals get.
By the MoneyBackKit AU team · Updated 28 October 2026 · 3 min read
Most people know about annual leave and sick leave. The National Employment Standards (NES) also give every employee other kinds of leave, some paid, that are easy to miss.
The other NES leave
| Leave | How much | Paid? | Casuals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compassionate leave | 2 days each time a family or household member dies or has a life-threatening illness or injury, or for a stillbirth or miscarriage | Yes | Unpaid |
| Family and domestic violence leave | 10 days a year, available in full from day one, doesn't build up | Yes, at full pay rate | Paid |
| Unpaid carer's leave | 2 days each time a family or household member needs care, once paid leave is used up | No | Yes |
| Community service leave (jury duty) | Time needed for jury duty or eligible emergency volunteer work | Jury duty: make-up pay for the first 10 days | Unpaid |
| Unpaid parental leave | Up to 12 months, with a right to ask for 12 more, after 12 months' service | No (government Paid Parental Leave is separate) | If regular and expecting to continue |
What 2 and 10 days of paid leave are worth
| Pay rate | 2 days compassionate leave | 10 days family and domestic violence leave |
|---|---|---|
| $30.00 an hour | $456 | $2,280 |
| $40.00 an hour | $608 | $3,040 |
| $50.00 an hour | $760 | $3,800 |
Good to know
- Family and domestic violence leave mustn't be shown as such on a payslip, to keep you safe.
- Your employer can ask for evidence, such as a death notice or a medical certificate, as long as it's reasonable.
- Compassionate leave doesn't come out of your sick leave or annual leave.