Some clever little-known hacks can transform 23 days of annual leave for Aussie workers into 48 days off over the coming year.
For the tricks to be successful, a worker needs to be in a job that doesn’t require them to work any national or state public holidays.
Public holiday dates will vary from state to state across the country.
To maximise time off in 2024, follow the tips below for each public holiday period.
Aussie workers can enjoy extra days off over 2024 by following some little-known hacks (stock image pictured)
January 2024
Holiday length: Nine days
Annual leave used: Four days
In January, you can score an extended break of nine days at the end of the month thanks to the January 26 Day holiday falling on a Friday.
To secure time off from Saturday, January 20 to Sunday, January 28, book annual leave for these dates:
- Monday, January 22
- Tuesday, January 23
- Wednesday, January 24
- Thursday, January 25
March/April 2024
Holiday length: 16 days
Annual leave used: Eight days
To score 16 days off from eight days of leave between Saturday, March 23 until Sunday, April 7, book annual leave for:
- Monday, March 25
- Tuesday, March 26
- Wednesday, March 27
- Thursday, March 28
- Tuesday, April 2 (Tasmanians can skip this day thanks to their Easter Tuesday holiday)
- Wednesday, April 3
- Thursday, April 4
- Friday, April 5
For the tricks to be successful, a worker needs to be in a job that doesn’t require them to work any national or state public holidays (stock image pictured)
June 2024
Holiday length: Nine days
Annual leave used: Four days
For time off in June around the King’s Birthday public holiday from Saturday, June 8 until Sunday, June 16, book leave for these dates:
- Tuesday, June 11
- Wednesday, June 12
- Thursday, June 13
- Friday, June 14
Those in Queensland and Western won’t be able to take advantage of these dates but can use the same configuration for their state’s King’s Birthday holiday in October for Queensland and September for Western .
For an extended Christmas break this year, workers can book in seven days of annual leave (stock image pictured)
December 2024/January 2025
Holiday length: 14
Annual leave used: Seven
At the end of the year for the Christmas period, workers can enjoy 14 days off by booking seven days of leave over December and early January.
To secure time off from Saturday, December 21 until Sunday, January 5, book annual leave for these dates:
- Monday, December 23
- Tuesday, December 24 (part public holiday applies in the Northern Territory and South from 7pm to midnight on this day)
- Friday, December 27
- Monday, December 30
- Tuesday, December 31 (part public holiday applies in the Northern Territory and South from 7pm to midnight on this day)
- Thursday, January 2
- Friday, January 3
Workers can utilise four days annual leave to gain an enjoyable nine days off for most public holidays that fall on a Monday or Friday.
You can check your state public holidays on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.