In Western Australia, an employee covered by the Long Service Leave Act 1958 earns 8.667 weeks of paid long service leave after 10 years of continuous employment, then a further 4.333 weeks for every 5 years after that. If employment ends after 7 years, the employee may be paid for the leave they've built up, and in WA that includes resignation.
Long service leave is a state entitlement in Australia, so the rules depend on where you work. This page covers the WA private sector, using the WA government's own overview of the Act (last updated 2 September 2026), and compares WA with the other states and territories whose rules we checked this month.
Who's covered in WA
Many private sector employers and employees in Western Australia are covered by the WA Long Service Leave Act 1958. The WA government says the entitlement applies to:
- Full-time employees.
- Part-time employees.
- Casual employees.
- Seasonal employees.
That list matters. A lot of people assume casuals don't get long service leave. In WA, a casual or seasonal worker with enough continuous employment builds up the same entitlement. Some workers are covered by a federal award or agreement instead, so check your coverage first. The department has a coverage check for that.
How much long service leave you get
| Continuous employment | Paid long service leave |
|---|---|
| 10 years | 8.667 weeks |
| 15 years | A further 4.333 weeks |
| 20 years | A further 4.333 weeks |
| Every 5 years after that | A further 4.333 weeks |
You can take the leave itself once you've completed 10 years of continuous employment. Continuous employment can include time with a previous employer where the business changed hands, so a new owner doesn't wipe the clock.
The 7-year rule when employment ends
This is the part most people miss. After 7 years of continuous employment, a full-time, part-time, casual or seasonal employee may be entitled to payment for long service leave when their employment ends because of:
- Resignation.
- Dismissal.
- Redundancy.
- The employee's death (the payment goes to the estate).
Resignation is on that list. In several other parts of Australia, walking out between 7 and 10 years only pays if you leave for a specific reason, such as illness or a pressing domestic need. In WA, the department's overview names resignation alongside dismissal and redundancy.
How WA compares with SA, Tasmania, the NT and the ACT
Here's the headline rule in each place we checked against the official source this month. If you work across a border, this is why your colleague's entitlement doesn't match yours.
| State or territory | Full entitlement | After that | Pro rata payout on leaving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia | 8.667 weeks after 10 years | 4.333 weeks per further 5 years | From 7 years, including resignation |
| South Australia | 13 weeks after 10 years | 1.3 weeks per further year | From 7 years, unless serious and wilful misconduct or unlawful termination by the worker |
| Tasmania | 8.667 weeks after 10 years | 4.333 weeks per further 5 years | From 7 years, only in set circumstances |
| Northern Territory | 13 weeks after 10 years (1.3 weeks a year) | 1.3 weeks a year, taken in 5-year blocks | From 7 years, only in set circumstances |
| ACT | Leave accrues from 7 years at 1/5 of a month a year | Each further year adds 1/5 of a month | Accrued credit always paid; pro rata from 5 years in set circumstances |
WA and Tasmania use the same 8.667-week figure at 10 years. South Australia and the Northern Territory give 13 weeks for the same service. For the eastern states, see our guides to long service leave in NSW and Victoria's rules.
Working out an estimate
The WA government runs a long service leave calculator that estimates the number of weeks an employee must be paid for when employment ends. It's the quickest way to sanity-check a final pay. A rough rule of thumb from the figures above: 8.667 weeks across 10 years is a little under 0.87 of a week for each year of continuous employment.
If you think a final payment is short, the department sets out steps for an underpayment complaint, and Wageline answers questions on the private sector rules.
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Mistakes we see on WA final pays
Most disputes aren't about the weekly figure. They're about who counts and when the clock started. Watch for these:
- Leaving casual or seasonal staff out of the calculation altogether.
- Starting the count from a takeover date instead of the original start date.
- Assuming a resignation before 10 years cancels the entitlement.
- Forgetting the estate's claim when an employee dies in service.
If you think you've been underpaid
- Run the WA long service leave calculator with your start date and end date.
- Ask your employer, in writing, how they worked out the figure.
- Call Wageline for general advice on the private sector rules.
- Follow the department's steps for making an underpayment complaint if it still doesn't add up.
Keep payslips and any letter confirming your start date. They're the evidence that settles most arguments about continuous employment, especially after a change of owner. If you're also chasing annual leave or redundancy pay, our National Employment Standards guide lists the national minimums.
The verdict
If you've been with a WA employer for 7 years or more and you're thinking of leaving, check your long service leave before you resign. Unlike some states, WA doesn't make you prove a special reason to be paid out, so the balance is yours to claim. Employers should treat casual and seasonal staff the same way: the Act doesn't exclude them.
One last check: if your workplace is covered by a federal award or agreement with its own long service leave clause, those terms may apply instead of the WA Act. Your payslip or contract usually names the award, and the department's coverage check settles it in a few minutes.
Each state sets its own qualifying period, and our overview of long service leave rules compares them in one place.
Frequently asked questions
How much long service leave do you get in WA?
8.667 weeks of paid leave after 10 years of continuous employment, then a further 4.333 weeks for every 5 years after that.
Do casuals get long service leave in WA?
Yes. The WA government says the entitlement applies to full-time, part-time, casual and seasonal employees covered by the Long Service Leave Act 1958.
Is long service leave paid out on resignation in WA?
After 7 years of continuous employment, an employee may be entitled to payment when employment ends due to resignation, dismissal, redundancy or death.
When can I take long service leave in WA?
Once you've completed 10 years of continuous employment with the employer.
