Purchase of additional leave (46/52, 48/52 or 50/52)

Academic and general staff

To support staff with family or other commitments there are options available for full-time staff to adopt a 46/48/50-week year for a negotiated 12-month period. The salary paid to them will be 46/52, 48/52 or 50/52 of their full-time salary.

Within the nominated 12-month period staff are able to apply to have two weeks (50/52) or four weeks (48/52) additional annual leave, with a proportionate reduction in salary spread over the full year. All six (50/52) or eight (48/52) weeks leave must be taken during the 12-month period for which approval has been given.

In specific circumstances, an employee and the University may agree to a more flexible employment cycle arrangement, provided it does not extend beyond a 46/52 week employment cycle for a 12-month period. A 46/52 week arrangement would allow a staff member to have six weeks of additional leave.

During the period of a 46/48/50-week scheme annual, sick and long service leave will continue to accrue at the normal full-time rate.

Employees can choose to have their superannuation contributions reduced to the applicable rate, or elect to maintain both their employee and employer UniSuper contributions at the full-time rate (this would be an additional cost deducted from your fortnightly pay).

Download the calculator to view the effect purchasing leave will have on your salary (xlsx, 49kb).

How to apply

Academic and general/professional staff

• Fully understand your 46/48/50-week employment cycle entitlements and options.
• Consider seeking advice from your financial planner and/or superannuation provider to understand the implications of additional leave for your personal finances.
• Login to Workday to submit your 'purchased leave' request.

--> To extend your current 46/48/50-week arrangements you must re-negotiate with your supervisor annually.

TAFE teaching staff

No 46/48/50-week entitlements are available for TAFE teaching staff.

More information

For detailed information on leave entitlements and conditions for different staff categories, please refer to the Federation University Australia Union Enterprise Agreement | Academic and General Staff Employees | 2023-2026 (pdf, 1.77MB).

Please note the 'provisions/entitlements' above do not apply to casual or sessional staff members.