Casual vs Part-Time vs Full-Time Employment in Australia (2026)

Q: Is it better to be part-time or casual?

It depends on what you value. Casual pays a loading of around 25% and lets you accept or decline shifts, but gives no paid leave or guaranteed hours. Part-time gives stable, agreed hours plus pro-rata paid annual and sick leave. Choose casual for flexibility and a higher hourly rate, part-time for stability and benefits.

Q: Is 20 hours a week part-time or casual?

Hours alone do not decide it. 20 regular hours agreed in advance with paid leave is part-time, while 20 irregular hours paid with a loading and no leave is casual. The employment type depends on the agreement and the commitment, not the number of hours.

Q: Do casuals get taxed more than part-time?

No. Tax depends on your total income and the tax brackets, not your employment type. Casuals may notice more tax per pay because the casual loading lifts their gross pay, but the rates are identical. Only claim the tax-free threshold with one employer to avoid a bill later.

Q: Do I have to give 2 weeks notice if I am casual?

Usually not. Because each casual shift is treated separately, casual employees generally do not have to give notice to stop working, unless their contract or award says otherwise. Permanent full-time and part-time staff do give notice when they resign.

Q: Do casuals have to be paid 3 hours minimum?

Many awards set a minimum engagement, often two or three hours per shift, so a casual who is called in is paid for at least that block of time. The exact minimum depends on the specific award or enterprise agreement that covers the job.

Q: How long can you be a casual employee in Australia?

There is no maximum length of time. However, since August 2024 an eligible casual who has worked a regular pattern for at least 6 months, or 12 months in a small business, can choose to convert to permanent employment under the National Employment Standards.

Q: Is 32 hours considered full-time in Australia?

No. Full-time is generally about 38 ordinary hours a week, so 32 hours is part-time. Some awards set slightly different ordinary hours, but 32 falls short of the standard full-time benchmark.

Q: Is it better to work full-time or part-time?

Full-time gives the most income, leave and stability, while part-time offers balance with pro-rata leave and predictable but fewer hours. The better choice depends on your study load, any visa work-hour limits, and your personal commitments.

Q: Is 37.5 hours a week full-time or part-time?

It is effectively full-time. The standard is about 38 ordinary hours a week, and many awards or agreements set full-time ordinary hours at 37.5 or 38, so 37.5 hours is treated as full-time.

Casual vs Part Time vs Full Time Employment in Australia: The Differences

When you start working in Australia, one of the first things to understand is the difference between casual, part-time and full-time employment. It is not just a label on your contract. Your employment type decides your hourly pay, whether you get paid leave, how secure your hours are, how much notice you give to quit, and even how your tax and superannuation feel each payday. For international students and new arrivals especially, picking the right type, and knowing your rights within it, can be worth thousands of dollars a year.

This guide breaks down all three types under Australian workplace law, compares them side by side, and answers the questions workers ask most, like whether casuals are taxed more, what counts as full-time hours, and when a casual can become permanent. Everything here is based on the National Employment Standards and the Fair Work system.

TL;DR: The Three Employment Types

Full-time is about 38 ordinary hours a week with paid leave and stability. Part-time is fewer, regular hours with the same entitlements on a pro-rata basis. Casual has no guaranteed hours and no paid annual or sick leave, but pays a casual loading of around 25% on top of the base rate to make up for it. Permanent means full-time or part-time. Tax rates are the same for all three. Since August 2024, eligible casuals can choose to convert to permanent after 6 months, or 12 months in a small business.

The Three Types at a Glance

Australian law recognises three main employment types. Full-time and part-time are both forms of permanent employment, while casual is a separate category. Here is how they compare on the things that matter most.

Feature	Full-time	Part-time	Casual
Typical hours	About 38 per week	Fewer, regular hours	Irregular, no guarantee
Ongoing commitment	Yes	Yes	No
Paid annual and sick leave	Yes	Yes (pro-rata)	No
Casual loading (about 25%)	No	No	Yes
Notice to end job	Yes	Yes	Usually none
Superannuation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Predictable roster	Yes	Yes	No

Full-Time Employment

A full-time employee works an average of about 38 ordinary hours a week on an ongoing basis. They receive the full set of National Employment Standards entitlements, including paid annual leave, paid sick and carer’s leave, public holiday pay and notice of termination. Full-time suits people who want maximum income and stability, though for student-visa holders it usually only fits during study breaks because of work-hour limits.

Part-Time Employment

A part-time employee works fewer hours than full-time, but those hours are regular and agreed in advance. Crucially, part-timers get all the same entitlements as full-time staff, just calculated pro-rata to their hours. So a part-timer accrues paid annual and sick leave in proportion to the hours they work. This is the sweet spot for many students and parents: steady, predictable hours plus the security of paid leave.

Casual Employment

A casual employee has no firm advance commitment to ongoing work and no guaranteed hours. They can usually accept or decline shifts, which gives real flexibility. In exchange for missing out on paid leave, casuals are paid a casual loading, normally 25%, on top of the base hourly rate. Casuals still get superannuation, two days of unpaid carer’s leave and two days of unpaid compassionate leave per occasion, and most awards set a minimum engagement, often two or three hours, so you are paid for a minimum block each time you are called in. Your employer must also give you a Casual Employment Information Statement.

What counts as full-time, part-time or casual hours?

Full-time is about 38 ordinary hours a week, so 37.5 hours is effectively full-time, while 32 hours is part-time. But hours alone do not decide your type. 20 regular hours with paid leave is part-time; 20 irregular hours with a loading and no leave is casual. The agreement and commitment decide it, not just the number.

Pay and the Casual Loading

On paper, casuals earn more per hour because of the loading. A casual on a 25% loading earns 25% more than a permanent worker on the same base rate. The trade-off is that the extra cash is meant to cover the leave casuals do not get. So a casual who never takes time off can come out ahead, while someone who values paid holidays and sick days may prefer part-time. To check you are being paid correctly, learn to read your payslip, and confirm you are on at least the correct minimum wage for casual and part-time work.

Do Casuals Get Taxed More?

Tax is the same for all three types

Your tax depends on your total income and the tax brackets, not your employment type. Casuals sometimes feel they are taxed more because the loading lifts their gross pay, but the rates are identical. Claim the tax-free threshold with one employer to avoid overpaying, and estimate your take-home with a tax calculator.

If you work more than one job, only claim the tax-free threshold from your main employer to avoid a tax bill later. You can estimate your pay after tax with our Australian income tax calculator, and if you think you have been short-paid, our guide on what to do if your employer underpays you walks through the steps.

Leave, Notice and Ending the Job

Full-time and part-time employees accrue paid annual and personal leave and must give notice when they resign, usually as set by their award or contract. Casuals do not accrue paid leave, and because each shift stands alone, they generally do not have to give notice to stop working, unless their contract says otherwise. All three types are covered by the same protections against unfair treatment, and all get the same public holiday and penalty rate rules, which we cover in our guide to public holidays, penalty rates and weekend loading.

When a Casual Becomes Permanent

There is no maximum time you can stay casual, but you do not have to stay casual forever. Since 26 August 2024, the National Employment Standards include an employee choice pathway. An eligible casual who has worked for at least 6 months, or 12 months in a small business, can notify their employer in writing that they want to change to permanent (full-time or part-time) employment if they no longer meet the definition of a casual. The employer can only refuse for specific, fair reasons. This matters if your casual job has quietly become a regular, predictable roster, because permanent status brings paid leave and more security.

Which Is Better for You?

Casual vs Permanent: Which Suits You

Casual suits you when

You want flexible, choose-your-shifts hours
You value a higher hourly rate now
You are studying with changing availability
You want to try a workplace before committing
You rarely need paid time off

Permanent suits you when

You want paid annual and sick leave
You need predictable, guaranteed hours
You want income stability for renting or loans
You are planning longer term at one employer
You want notice and redundancy protections

Many international students start casual for the flexibility and higher rate, then move to part-time or full-time once their schedule settles. Whatever you choose, remember the student-visa work-hour limit and know your full entitlements, which we set out in our guides to work rights for international students and Fair Work basics for student workers. Do not forget superannuation either, since all three types earn it, as explained in our guide to superannuation for international students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to be part-time or casual?

Is 20 hours a week part-time or casual?

Do casuals get taxed more than part-time?

Do I have to give 2 weeks notice if I am casual?

What does casual employment mean in Australia?

Do casuals have to be paid 3 hours minimum?

How long can you be a casual employee in Australia?

Is 32 hours considered full-time in Australia?

Is it better to work full-time or part-time?

Is 37.5 hours a week full-time or part-time?

Which is better, casual or permanent?

At what point does a casual employee become permanent?

What is casual vs permanent?

Final Thoughts

Casual, part-time and full-time are not just words on a contract; they shape your pay, your leave, your security and your day-to-day life at work. Full-time and part-time give you paid leave and stability, while casual trades that for flexibility and a 25% loading. None is universally better, so match the type to your study load, your visa limits and your goals, and know that a steady casual job can be converted to permanent once you qualify. When in doubt, the official source is the Fair Work Ombudsman, which sets out every entitlement in detail.