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.