As we head towards the end of the year there are multiple days – including the start of daylight saving (see below) and various public holidays – that may impact your pay and entitlements.
Public holidays
Melbourne Cup Tuesday 4 November 2025*
Christmas Day Thursday 25 December 2025
Boxing Day Friday 26 December 2025
New Year’s Day Thursday 1 January 2026
Australia Day Monday 26 January 2026
*All of Victoria is entitled to the Melbourne Cup public holiday unless an alternative local holiday has been arranged – which several regional municipalities often do. At time of print, some of the major regional replacement holidays include:
| Municipality | Replacement date | Applies in following areas |
| Mildura Rural City Council | Wednesday 8 October | The area westerly from and including Bonika and south of Murray Sunset National Park |
| Greater Geelong City Council | Wednesday 22 October | The City of Greater Geelong |
| Greater Bendigo City Council | Wednesday 29 October | All areas west of the Campaspe River |
| Wodonga City Council | Friday 28 November | Wodonga City |
Please check with your employer if your municipality is not listed or you are unsure about your workplace’s arrangements.
Working on a public holiday
Full-time and part-time public sector employees required to work on a public holiday Monday to Friday will receive double time for time worked.
Casual employees are usually entitled to double the casual rate for time worked on a public holiday Monday to Friday (125 per cent + 125 per cent = 250 per cent).
For private acute and aged care employees, please check your current agreement as entitlements will vary.
On-call on a public holiday?
The on-call rates for a Monday to Friday public holiday in the acute public sector are $146.20, and for weekend public holidays are $219.30 per on-call period.
For private acute and aged care employees, please check your current agreement as entitlements will vary.
Night duty entitlement on public holidays
A public sector nurse or midwife who works a night duty shift is entitled to be paid at the appropriate public holiday rates for each hour worked on that part of the shift that falls on the public holiday, and at the pro rata public holiday ‘rostered off benefit’ for that part of the shift that falls on the public holiday that you are not rostered to work and do not work.
Private and aged care employees? Check your current agreement.
Night duty entitlement for public mental health members
Employees of a public mental health service rostered to work on the night shift ending on the public holiday are entitled to receive the public holiday penalty rates for the entire shift (paid the entire shift, even if 2100-2400hrs is not a public holiday, at public holiday rates). For example, if you are working night duty on Wednesday 24 December 2025, your entire night duty will be paid at public holiday penalties.
Employees working a night shift commencing on the public holiday will only receive the public holiday penalty rates for the time worked on the public holiday.
