Australia’s diverse calendar of holidays includes national holidays, state holidays, religious observances, and cultural events. National holidays like Australia Day 2025 are mandatory days off across the country. HR professionals must ensure that all employees are given these days off unless they work in essential services. State holidays, such as the Labour Day or King’s Birthday, vary by region and are equally important for compliance within specific states.

Religious observances (e.g., Easter, Christmas, and Ramadan) may not be mandatory for all, but they are crucial for fostering an inclusive workplace culture. HR teams should consider offering flexible leave options for employees who observe these days. Cultural events, like NAIDOC Week or Harmony Day, are not typically days off but are highly encouraged for recognizing and celebrating diversity within the workplace. While not mandatory, participating in these events can enhance employee morale and demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity.

Significant days like Father’s Day and Mother’s Day also offer opportunities to foster a positive work-life balance. Moreover, understanding the timing of long weekends in 2025 can help HR departments plan for employee leave and ensure business continuity during popular vacation periods.

The 2025 holiday calendar for Australia is as follows:

Date Day Name Type Details
1 Jan Wednesday New Year’s Day National Holiday
2 Jan Thursday New Year Holiday State Holiday A.C.T., N.S.W., S.A., Tasmania
6 Jan Monday Epiphany Christian
20 Jan Monday Martin Luther King Jr. Day National Holiday (USA)
26 Jan Sunday Australia Day National Holiday
26 Jan Sunday Chinese New Year Observance
27 Jan Monday Australia Day Holiday State Holiday
2 Feb Sunday Groundhog Day Observance
14 Feb Friday Valentine’s Day Observance
2 Mar Sunday Clean Up Australia Day Observance
3 Mar Monday Labour Day State Holiday WA
3 Mar Monday Eight Hours Day State Holiday Tasmania
10 Mar Monday Labour Day State Holiday VIC
17 Mar Monday St. Patrick’s Day Observance
17 Mar Monday Canberra Day State Holiday ACT
21 Mar Friday Harmony Day Observance
21 Mar Friday Good Friday National Holiday
23 Mar Sunday Easter Sunday National Holiday
24 Mar Monday Easter Monday National Holiday
25 Mar Tuesday Lady Day Christian
25 Apr Friday Anzac Day National Holiday
1 May Thursday May Day State Holiday NT
2 May Friday Orthodox Good Friday Observance
4 May Sunday Orthodox Easter Day Observance
5 May Monday May Day State Holiday NT
5 May Monday Labour Day State Holiday QLD
5 May Monday Orthodox Easter Monday Observance
9 May Friday Israel Independence Day Jewish holiday
11 May Sunday Mother’s Day Observance
2 Jun Monday Western Australia Day State Holiday WA
6 Jun Friday Orthodox Ascension Day Observance
9 Jun Monday Queen’s Birthday State Holiday ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS, VIC
19 Jun Thursday Corpus Christi Christian
4 Jul Friday Independence Day (USA) National Holiday (USA)
6 Jul Sunday Ashura (Tentative Date) Muslim
6 Jul Sunday First Day of NAIDOC Week Observance
3 Aug Sunday Tisha B’Av Jewish holiday
4 Aug Monday New South Wales Bank Holiday State Bank Holiday NSW
4 Aug Monday Northern Territory Picnic Day State Holiday NT
13 Aug Wednesday Royal National Agricultural Show Day Queensland State Holiday Queensland
15 Aug Friday Assumption of Mary Christian
5 Sep Friday Milad un Nabi (Mawlid) (Tentative Date) Muslim
5 Sep Friday Hari Maulad Nabi State Holiday Cocos and Keeling Islands
7 Sep Sunday Fathers’ Day Observance
23 Sep Tuesday Rosh Hashana Jewish holiday
23 Sep Tuesday September Equinox Season
26 Sep Friday Friday before the AFL Grand Final (Tentative Date) State Holiday Victoria
29 Sep Monday King’s Birthday State Holiday WA
2 Oct Thursday Yom Kippur Jewish holiday
4 Oct Saturday Feast of St Francis of Assisi Christian
5 Oct Sunday Daylight Saving Time starts Clock change/Daylight Saving Time
6 Oct Monday Territory Day State Holiday Christmas Island
6 Oct Monday King’s Birthday State Holiday Queensland
6 Oct Monday Labour Day State Holiday ACT, NSW, SA
7 Oct Tuesday First day of Sukkot Jewish holiday
13 Oct Monday Hoshana Rabbah Jewish holiday
14 Oct Tuesday Shemini Atzeret Jewish holiday
15 Oct Wednesday Simchat Torah Jewish holiday
15 Oct Wednesday International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Observance
21 Oct Tuesday Diwali/Deepavali Observance
23 Oct Thursday Royal Hobart Show State Holiday Tasmania
31 Oct Friday Halloween Observance
1 Nov Saturday All Saints’ Day Christian
2 Nov Sunday All Souls’ Day Christian
3 Nov Monday Recreation Day State Holiday Tasmania
4 Nov Tuesday Melbourne Cup Day State Holiday Victoria
11 Nov Tuesday Remembrance Day Observance
30 Nov Sunday First Sunday of Advent Observance
8 Dec Monday Feast of the Immaculate Conception Christian
15 Dec Monday First Day of Hanukkah Jewish holiday
22 Dec Monday Last day of Hanukkah Jewish holiday
22 Dec Monday December Solstice Season
24 Dec Wednesday Christmas Eve Part Day Holiday NT, QLD, SA
24 Dec Wednesday Christmas Eve Observance
25 Dec Thursday Christmas Day National Holiday
25 Dec Thursday Christmas Day Restricted Trading Day Victoria
26 Dec Friday Boxing Day National Holiday
26 Dec Friday Proclamation Day State Holiday SA
31 Dec Wednesday New Year’s Eve Observance
31 Dec Wednesday New Year’s Eve Part Day Holiday NT, SA

For HR professionals in Australia, keeping track of the country’s holidays and observances is more than just a scheduling task—it’s about fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace. Knowing the details of key holidays throughout the year enables better planning for employee engagement and productivity. 

By anticipating the impact of holidays like Australia Day 2025 and strategically managing long weekends in 2025, HR teams can create a more organized and responsive work environment, benefiting employees and the organization.