Leave Without Pay
Public Service
Leave without pay may be granted to a VPS employee for any purpose taking into account the personal needs of the staff member. Leave without pay would normally not exceed a continuous period of twelve months at a time. Leave without pay may be an alternative where paid leave is not approved (eg. study leave).
Leave without pay may be granted following a period of parental leave. Additional leave of up to one year at a time and not more than a maximum of seven years' absence in aggregate may be granted to a VPS employee during the course of employment. This seven-year entitlement includes any maternity, paternity/partner and adoption leave. An employee will not have an entitlement to paid parental leave while on leave without pay under the parental leave provisions.
Applications should specify the reason for leave and, where appropriate, include copies of any relevant material (eg. employment offer or acceptance of course enrolment). A VPS staff member wishing to extend leave without pay must make a new application for leave. Leave without pay should not be extended where there is no clear reason given for a further period of leave or the employee is simply deferring a decision on his or her future with the Department.
Unless otherwise approved by the Secretary leave without pay shall not break the employee's continuity of employment but does not count as service for leave accrual or other purposes. When a VPS employee is on approved leave without pay (including personal leave (sick/carers) without pay), there is no entitlement to any payment for public holidays that occur during the period of leave providing the employee is on leave without pay both sides of the public holiday.
Important Note Concerning Superannuation
An employee who is a member of the New or Revised superannuation funds is advised to contact the Emergency Services & State Super (ESSSuper) office to seek advice concerning their superannuation while on leave.
Teaching Service | Public Service
Other Resources
Procedures and Forms
The following applies in relation to applying for leave:
- Applications for leave should be submitted through Employee Self Service (ESS). Select the following link for more information ESS eduPay
- An application will need to be made in writing where an employee is unable to access or use ESS or wishes to amend/delete leave submitted through ESS and approved on eduPay
- VPS Leave Amendment Form (Word - 280Kb) (use where approved leave needs to be changed)
Legislation
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