If you're starting a teaching position with the department, you may be able to transfer your leave entitlements and be recognised for prior years of service.

Learn about the eligibility requirements and how to apply to transfer your leave.

Eligibility for teaching staff

Teachers new to the department are eligible to apply to have leave balances transferred and/or prior service recognised for the purposes of accruing long service leave and sick/personal leave if:

• your previous employer was federal, state, or local government (in a state or territory other than SA), or prescribed employment with a public university, or TAFE SA
• you have resigned from your previous employer
• there was not more than 3 months between ceasing employment and starting with the department (excluding vacation periods).

See Education and Children’s Services Act 2019 (section 113) for full details.

Other employees transferring to the department may be eligible under the Public Sector Act 2009 to have their leave and years of service recognised. To find out more, please email the People Support Unit education.hr@sa.gov.au or phone on 8226 1356 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).

Teachers transferring between roles in SA Government

Teachers transferring between roles in SA Government will have their leave transferred automatically.

Teaching staff not eligible

You are not eligible to transfer your leave if:

• you are commencing work as a temporary relief teacher (TRT)
• you have ‘permission for outside employment’ (and have not ceased work completely with their previous employer)
• your previous employment was through an employment agency or as a contractor.

Apply to transfer your leave or be recognised for prior service

Before commencing with the department

Consider what eligible leave you would like to be recognised for and discuss this with your employer. Leave which has been paid out by your former employer is not eligible to be recognised. Years of service can be recognised for the purposes of accruing long service leave. See leave types that can be transferred for more information.

How to apply

1. confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria listed on this page
2. ask your eligible employer to supply:
   • completed leave determination form (PDF 142 KB)
   • leave determination statement – must include details of any leave not to count as service, such as leave without pay and AWOL (absent without leave)
   • statement of service – must include employment start and finish dates
   • letter confirming total sick leave balance and whether long service leave has been paid out.
3. complete the recognition of prior service application for teachers form (PDF 229 KB) (staff login required)
4. submit the form via edHR (staff login required).

Your application will then be assessed by our People Support Unit to determine whether you are eligible. Once all information and evidence to determine your eligibility has been submitted, the assessment can take up to 14 days. You will be notified of the outcome, and details of any changes to your eligible entitlements will be provided to Shared Services SA who will adjust your leave balances.

Contact our People Support Unit via education.hr@sa.gov.au if you have any queries or would like to confirm if you are eligible.

Leave types that can be transferred

Leave types that can be transferred are long service leave and sick/personal leave.

Long service leave

If you have long service leave entitlements with your previous employer and your prior service is recognised by the department, you can:

• apply to transfer your long service leave balance
• request that your previous employer pays out your entitlements prior to commencement
• have your previous years of service recognised for the purposes of accruing long service leave.

Regardless of whether you have any long service leave balance that is transferable or payable, you can still apply to have your prior years of service recognised. This applies even if you were paid by your previous employer or haven’t yet accrued the minimum time to be eligible for long service leave in your previous employment. This will allow you to continue accruing years of service with the department, rather than starting with ‘nil’ balance.

Visit long service leave (staff login required to learn more about this type of leave.

Sick/personal leave

You can apply to have sick leave accrued with your previous employer, recognised for the purposes of gaining a sick/personal leave credit with the department.

Any sick/personal leave that you accrue after working with the department will be added to the transferred leave balance.

Visit sick leave for teachers (staff login required) to learn more about this type of leave.