Unpaid carer's leave
Unexpected emergencies during coronavirus
Find information on taking carer’s leave due to an unexpected emergency on our coronavirus Sick and carer’s leave page.
All employees, including casual employees are entitled to 2 days unpaid carer’s leave.
On this page:
Accessing unpaid carer's leave
Employees get 2 days unpaid carer’s leave each time an immediate family member or household member of the employee needs care and support because of:
- illness
- injury or
- an unexpected emergency.
Full-time and part-time employees can only get unpaid carer’s leave if they don’t have any paid sick / carer’s leave left.
Find out who is an immediate family or household member on the Sick and carer’s leave page.
Taking unpaid carer’s leave
Unpaid carer’s leave can be taken:
- in 1 continuous period (for example, 2 working days in a row) or
- in separate periods as agreed between the employee and employer (for example, 4 half days could be taken in a row).
An employer can’t take negative action against an employee for taking unpaid carer’s leave. To find out more, see Protections at work.
Source reference: Fair Work Act 2009 s.102 
