Feeling sick, burnt out or needing to care for someone at home?
In Australia, many workers are entitled to take paid personal leave, also known as sick leave or carer’s leave, but the rules can be confusing, especially for international students working casual jobs.
A recent article by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation highlighted that personal leave can be used for much more than just staying home with the flu.
Here’s what international students should know about how personal leave works, and why your employment type matters.
What is personal leave?
Under Australia’s National Employment Standards (NES), full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid personal/carer’s leave. This includes:
- Sick leave when you’re ill or injured
- Carer’s leave when you need to support a sick family or household member
- Leave for unexpected emergencies involving someone you care for
Full-time workers receive 10 days of paid personal leave per year, while part-time workers receive a proportional amount based on the hours they work. Any unused leave rolls over into the next year.
Importantly, this leave is separate from annual leave.
What can you actually use it for?
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, paid personal leave can be used if you:
- Have a physical illness or injury
- Need time off for mental health reasons, such as stress or burnout
- Need to care for an immediate family or household member who is sick or injured
- Need to respond to an unexpected emergency involving someone in your household
The ABC article also pointed out that many workers don’t realise “household members” can include housemates, not just family. For example, if your roommate has an emergency and you need to help them get medical care, you may be able to access carer’s leave if you’re a permanent employee.
The big thing international students need to know
Here’s the catch: most international students work casual jobs in industries like hospitality, retail or delivery driving.
Casual employees do not receive paid sick leave or paid personal leave under the NES.
That means if you miss a shift because you’re sick, you usually won’t be paid for that time off.
Casual workers can access:
- Two days of unpaid carer’s leave when needed
- Unpaid compassionate leave in some situations
This is one reason casual workers receive “casual loading” - a slightly higher hourly pay rate intended to compensate for not receiving paid leave entitlements.
Can your boss ask for proof?
Yes. Employers can ask for evidence that you were genuinely unable to work.
This could include:
- A medical certificate from a doctor
- A statutory declaration
- Other reasonable evidence
You should also notify your employer as soon as possible if you can’t attend work.
Why this matters for students
Many international students continue working while sick because they worry about losing income or shifts. But understanding your rights is important, especially if you’re working permanent part-time hours rather than casually.
If you’re unsure what type of employee you are, check:
- Your employment contract
- Your payslip
- Whether you receive annual leave or sick leave accruals
You can also use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s free tools and resources to check your workplace rights in Australia.
