Members will receive the October-December 2023 issue of The Handover magazine (inserted into the ANMJ national magazine) in their mailboxes in early October. The back page can be torn off to pin up on your tearoom noticeboard.
It contains information about all the upcoming public holidays over the summer, and the applicable penalty rates for members who work those days. Further detail is below.
There are four more public holidays left during 2023. How will these impact your penalty rates?
Public holidays
Friday before the AFL Grand Final: Friday 29 September 2023
Melbourne Cup: Tuesday 7 November 2023
Christmas Day: Monday 25 December 2023
Boxing Day: Tuesday 26 December 2024
New Year’s Day: Monday 1 January 2024
Australia Day: Friday 26 January 2024
Melbourne Cup public holiday
All of Victoria is entitled to the Melbourne Cup public holiday unless an alternate local holiday has been arranged by a non-metropolitan municipality. As of 4 October 2023, the below alternate public holidays have been arranged:
2023 date |
Municipality |
Details |
| Friday 6 October | Yarriambiack Shire Council | Full day holiday for the township of Murtoa and district |
| Thursday 12 October | Yarriambiack Shire Council | Half day holiday for the township of Warracknabeal and district |
| Tuesday 17 October | Hindmarsh Shire Council | Full day holiday for the localities of Broughton, Yanac, Netherby, Lorquon, Nhill, Glenlee, Kiata, Gerang Gerung and Little Desert |
| Wednesday 25 October | Moira Shire Council | Full day holiday for the Numurkah District |
| Wednesday 1 November | Greater Bendigo City Council | Full day holiday for all areas west of the Campaspe River |
| Tuesday 7 November | Yarriambiack Shire Council | Half day holiday for the township of Warracknabeal and district |
| Wednesday 8 November | Macedon Ranges Shire Council | Full day holiday in the postcodes of 3444, 3446, 3458 and the localities of Cadello and Carlsruhe |
| Friday 24 November | Wodonga Council | Full day public holiday for the municipal district of Wodonga City |
General principles for payment – working on a public holiday
Full-time and part-time employees required to work on the public holiday will receive double time for each hour 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).
Private and aged care employees need to check their current agreements. Some casual employees in the aged care sector will be entitled to 175 per cent for public holidays.
Night duty entitlement on public holidays
A public sector night duty employee (general nursing or midwifery) 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.
Don’t forget that as part of a trial which commenced 1 July 2023, full-time or part-time employees (including fixed term) in the public sector who finish their shift on a Monday after commencing duty on a Sunday will be paid an enhanced Sunday night shift allowance of $154.63 per Sunday night shift.
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.
Employees of public mental health services rostered to work on the night shift commencing on the public holiday will not receive the public holiday penalty rates for that shift.
Private and aged care employees need to check their current agreements.
What if I’m recalled to duty?
If you are recalled to duty, all payment for that recall is in addition to any ‘rostered off’ public holiday benefit.
Holiday office closure
The ANMF office will be closed from 1pm Friday 22 December and re-open 8.45am, Tuesday 2 January 2024. During this time on non-public holiday weekdays, a small number of ANMF staff will be monitor member assistance inquiries, and be on-call for urgent matters only. More details about the Christmas/New Year office closure, plus contact details for support services, are available.
