Ceremonial and cultural leave is in place to offer unpaid leave to employees to attend culturally significant events.
In diverse workplaces, ceremonial and cultural leave is usually unpaid leave for an employee who is required by Aboriginal tradition or Island custom to attend an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander ceremony. Ensuring this leave is in place may help to lead to improved employee engagement and loyalty.
This employment condition is common in workplace agreements where the work is located in the northern areas of Australia, such as the Northern Territory and regional areas of Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.
Modern awards
Such unpaid leave may be prescribed by a modern award.
For example, clause 32 of the Aged Care Award 2010 provides that an employee who is legitimately required by Aboriginal tradition to be absent from work for Aboriginal ceremonial purposes will be entitled to up to 10 days unpaid leave in any one year, with the approval of the employer.
A similar provision is contained in the Nurses Award 2010.
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