Do You Still Pay Your Nanny When You Go on Holiday? The Australian Guide | Pay The Nanny [ ![Pay the nanny logo](https://assets.paythenanny.nz/images/logo-white.png) ](/) [Parents](https://paythenanny.com.au/For-Families) [Nannies](https://paythenanny.com.au/For-Nannies) [Agencies](https://paythenanny.com.au/for-agencies) [Pricing](https://paythenanny.com.au/pricing) [Contact](https://paythenanny.com.au/contact) [Sign Up](https://paythenanny.com.au/signup) [Log In](https://paythenanny.com.au/app/login) Article ------- Do You Still Pay Your Nanny When You Go on Holiday? The Australian Guide ======================================================================== By Mark Hudson · 09 April, 2026 Planning a family holiday during school holidays? If you employ a nanny, it is not as simple as “pausing” work while you are away. In Australia, employment laws still apply. Here is what you need to know to stay compliant and avoid costly mistakes. ![Do You Still Pay Your Nanny When You Go on Holiday? The Australian Guide](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/201/conversions/YTi4iqWkrCfi7hqBviwi-webp-featured.webp) Australia has one of the highest rates of nanny employment in the world, and a significant chunk of those arrangements are casual. Which makes school holiday periods a genuinely interesting grey area for a lot of families, because the rules aren't quite the same as they are for a regular office job, and the flexibility that makes casual employment appealing can also make it easy to handle things in a way that creates problems later. So let's talk through how it actually works. The short answer ---------------- If your nanny is permanent, you'll almost certainly need to keep paying them unless you've agreed on something else in advance. If they're casual, there's more flexibility, but "more flexibility" doesn't mean "no obligations." Either way, the families who handle this well are the ones who have the conversation early. Permanent nannies: what the Fair Work Act says ---------------------------------------------- Permanent employees, whether full-time or part-time, are covered by the [Fair Work Act 2009](https://www.fairwork.gov.au/)and the National Employment Standards. The core principle is simple: if you've decided to go away and your nanny is available to work, you're the one who's made the call not to need them. That means the financial responsibility generally stays with you. You can ask your nanny to take annual leave during your trip, and often they'll be happy to. A lot of nannies actually appreciate having school holidays free, especially if they have kids of their own. But it needs to be a genuine agreement, raised with enough notice that your nanny can actually plan around it, not a conversation happening the week before you leave. If your nanny doesn't have enough leave, or would rather hold onto it, normal wages apply. That sometimes surprises families, but it makes sense when you think about it from your nanny's perspective. They've organised their life around your arrangement. Consistency of income matters. Casual nannies: more nuance than people expect ---------------------------------------------- This is where it gets a bit more layered, and it's worth understanding properly because casual employment is genuinely common in Australian nanny arrangements. Casual employees don't have guaranteed ongoing hours in the same way permanent employees do, which does give you more room to move around a holiday period. You're not automatically obligated to provide work every week in the same way. However, the Fair Work Act recognises a category of casual employment that is "regular and systematic," meaning your nanny works consistent hours, on a predictable pattern, with a reasonable expectation of ongoing work. If that describes your arrangement (and for many nannies it will), they may have more protections than a purely ad hoc casual worker would. If you're not sure which category your nanny falls into, it's worth getting clear on that before school holidays arrive. The [Fair Work Ombudsman](https://www.fairwork.gov.au) has useful guidance, or we're happy to help you work through it. Beyond the legal side, there's also the practical reality. Good nannies are hard to find and harder to replace. How you treat them during the quieter periods is part of what determines whether they're still around for the busy ones. A note on Payday Super ---------------------- If you're not already across this, it's worth flagging now. From [July 2026](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/superannuation-for-nannies), employers in Australia will be required to pay superannuation at the same time as wages, rather than quarterly. For household employers this is a meaningful change, and school holidays are a good prompt to make sure your payroll setup is ready for it. If you're unsure how this affects your nanny arrangement, [get in touch](https://paythenanny.com.au/contact) and we can walk you through it. What tends to work in practice ------------------------------ The families who navigate school holidays smoothly usually take one of a few approaches. Agreeing on annual leave well in advance is the most common. When there's enough lead time and sufficient leave available, this works well for everyone. Your nanny gets a proper break, you travel without any payroll loose ends, and the arrangement feels fair on both sides. Some families keep their nanny working during the absence with adjusted duties, things like sorting out the children's rooms, organising activities for when you return, or other light tasks related to the household. This works particularly well for shorter trips where a formal leave arrangement feels like overkill. Continuing to pay normal wages is always a straightforward, compliant option that also signals to your nanny that you value the arrangement. For longer-term placements especially, that kind of stability tends to pay off. The thing about planning ahead ------------------------------ None of this is particularly complicated when it's handled early. School holidays are predictable, which means you have weeks, sometimes months, to have a relaxed conversation about what would work for both of you. That's a genuinely useful window. Leaving it to the last week of term is where things get stressful. Your nanny is left uncertain about their income, you're trying to sort logistics while packing, and what could have been a simple agreement becomes an awkward scramble. If you'd like help making sure your leave and payroll arrangements are set up correctly, or you just want to understand where you stand before the holidays arrive, the team at [Pay The Nanny](https://paythenanny.com.au) works with Australian families on exactly these questions every day. We're here to make it straightforward. [ ![](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/31/conversions/rQUGjWbVStS2jYmCAOox-webp-featured.webp) ](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/10-easy-diy-christmas-activities-for-kids)By Mark Hudson · 22 November, 2022 ### [10 Easy DIY Christmas Activities for Kids](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/10-easy-diy-christmas-activities-for-kids) Keep the kids entertained and the holiday magic alive without the stress. These 10 simple Christmas activities will help you create joyful family moments and still leave time to relax. Here's how to make this season one to remember. [Read more...](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/10-easy-diy-christmas-activities-for-kids) [ ![](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/186/conversions/kxo2X3uAcK9ahe0ZMcXn-webp-featured.webp) ](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/leave-for-nannies-in-australia)By Mark Hudson · 29 September, 2025 ### [Understanding Leave Entitlements for Nannies](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/leave-for-nannies-in-australia) When you hire a nanny in Australia, you also take on the role of employer. That means leave entitlements like annual leave, personal leave, and public holidays apply. Here’s a simple guide for families to understand nanny entitlements and stay compliant. [Read more...](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/leave-for-nannies-in-australia) [ ![](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/195/conversions/zQ8MU1YwYuavvbz1PUNl-webp-featured.webp) ](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/casual-or-permanent-nanny-australia)By Mark Hudson · 04 February, 2026 ### [Casual, Part-Time or Fixed-Term? Understanding the different employment types for a Nanny](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/casual-or-permanent-nanny-australia) Hiring a nanny is not just about finding the right person. The way you employ them changes what you legally owe. Casual, part-time and fixed-term arrangements all come with different payroll rules, risks and responsibilities. This guide breaks it down clearly for Australian families. [Read more...](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/casual-or-permanent-nanny-australia) [ ![](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/151/conversions/DIIbsSY2oYI3xxjWzN6A-webp-featured.webp) ](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/2025-guide-to-employment-contracts-for-nannies-in-australia)By Mark Hudson · 20 April, 2025 ### [2025 Guide to Employment Contracts for Nannies in Australia](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/2025-guide-to-employment-contracts-for-nannies-in-australia) Hiring the right nanny is step one; step two is a compliant nanny employment contract. At Pay The Nanny, we offer all our customers a free, up‑to‑date nanny agreement built to 2025 Australian rules, so you can hire confidently with our contract for nannies. [Read more...](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/2025-guide-to-employment-contracts-for-nannies-in-australia) [ ![](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/198/conversions/dkapPBzHGw9DnjLRrNuR-webp-featured.webp) ](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/workers-compensation-insurance-for-nanny-in-australia)By Mark Hudson · 26 February, 2026 ### [Do I Need Workers Compensation Insurance for My Nanny in Australia?](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/workers-compensation-insurance-for-nanny-in-australia) Hiring a nanny is a big step for your family. Alongside payroll, super and leave, there is one obligation many parents overlook: workers compensation insurance. If your nanny is injured while working in your home, you may be legally responsible. Here is what Australian families need to know. [Read more...](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/workers-compensation-insurance-for-nanny-in-australia) ![Pay the nanny](https://paythenanny.com.au/images/logo-white.png)Join Our Community Stay in the loop! Subscribe to receive the latest updates, exclusive content, and special offers straight to your inbox. We dont sell your personal data LINKS [Parents](https://paythenanny.com.au/For-Families) [Nannies](https://paythenanny.com.au/For-Nannies) [Agencies](https://paythenanny.com.au/for-agencies) [Pricing](https://paythenanny.com.au/pricing) RESOURCES [Contact](https://paythenanny.com.au/contact) [FAQ & System Support](https://paythenanny.com.au/faq) [Articles](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles) [Pay the Nanny NZ](https://paythenanny.nz) SOCIAL [ @paythenanny ](https://www.instagram.com/paythenanny) [ @paythenanny ](https://www.facebook.com/PayTheNanny/) [ @paythenanny ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/pay-the-nanny) [![Download Pay The Nanny from the App Store](https://assets.paythenanny.nz/images/web/app-store.png)](https://apps.apple.com/app/pay-the-nanny/id1666380560 "Download Pay The Nanny from the App store") [![Get Pay The Nanny on Google Play](https://assets.paythenanny.nz/images/web/play-store.png)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.caresies "Download Pay The Nanny from the Play store") © All Rights Reserved | Pay The Nanny Pty Limited [Terms](https://paythenanny.com.au/terms-and-conditions) [Privacy](https://paythenanny.com.au/privacy)