# Notice Period Australia

> Notice period in Australia under the National Employment Standards: 1 to 4 weeks by length of continuous service, plus a week if you are over 45 with 2 years.

## Key facts

- The NES minimum notice of termination in Australia tops out at 4 weeks, reached after more than 5 years of continuous service; there is no longer band above that.
- An employee over 45 with at least 2 years of continuous service gets one extra week on top of the NES scale, so the practical maximum is 5 weeks.
- At 18 months of service the extra week does not apply, because the over-45 addition requires at least 2 years of continuous service: the notice is 2 weeks whatever the employee's age.

## Key pages

- [Notice period in Australia: how much are you owed?](https://noticeperiodaustralia.com/): the main tool, answer above the fold.
- [Minimum notice period in Australia: the NES scale explained](https://noticeperiodaustralia.com/minimum-notice-period/): The National Employment Standards notice scale from 1 to 4 weeks, the extra week for employees over 45, and two worked examples from Fair Work, reproduced.
- [The extra week of notice for employees over 45 in Australia](https://noticeperiodaustralia.com/notice-period-over-45/): Employees over 45 with at least 2 years of continuous service get one extra week of NES notice. When both tests are met, and what the extra week is worth in pay.
- [Payment in lieu of notice in Australia: what must be included](https://noticeperiodaustralia.com/payment-in-lieu-of-notice/): Paying out notice means paying the full amount the employee would have earned working it: bonuses, loadings, allowances, overtime and penalty rates, not just base pay.
- [Who does not get notice of termination in Australia](https://noticeperiodaustralia.com/who-doesnt-get-notice/): Casuals, employees on a set period, season or task, and dismissal for serious misconduct get no notice under the National Employment Standards. The full list, and why.
- [NES minimum notice of termination by length of service, Australia](https://noticeperiodaustralia.com/#data): original data table, updated 2026-08-15.
- [Full site content as markdown](https://noticeperiodaustralia.com/llms-full.txt)

## Data

- NES minimum notice of termination by length of service, Australia. Methodology: Computed with this page's own formulas from the notice scale published by the Fair Work Ombudsman: 1 year or less, 1 week; more than 1 up to 3 years, 2 weeks; more than 3 up to 5 years, 3 weeks; more than 5 years, 4 weeks; plus one week where the employee is over 45 with at least 2 years of continuous service. The payment in lieu column uses a weekly pay of $1,500 for illustration only.
- Last updated: 2026-08-15. Every figure cites its source inline.
- Source: Fair Work Ombudsman, dismissal and notice of termination: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/ending-employment/dismissal-and-notice
- Source: Fair Work Ombudsman, who doesn't get notice: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/ending-employment/notice-and-final-pay/who-doesnt-get-notice
- Source: Fair Work Ombudsman, resignation and notice: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/ending-employment/resignation

## Citation

Cite as: "NES minimum notice of termination by length of service, Australia", Notice Period Australia, https://noticeperiodaustralia.com/ (updated 2026-08-15).

## About

- Notice Period Australia is an information site. It is not affiliated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission or any government body, and nothing here is legal advice on your matter, confirm your position with the Fair Work Ombudsman, your union or an employment lawyer before acting.
- Operated by noticeperiodaustralia.com. Contact: enquiries@noticeperiodaustralia.com