International, National and State Sporting Event Leave for State Government employees

• Special leave with pay may be granted by the employer to an officer chosen to represent Australia as a competitor or official, at a sporting event, which meets the following criteria:
  • it is a recognised international amateur sport of national significance
  • it is a world or international regional competition
  • no contribution is made by the sporting organisation towards the normal salary of the officer.
• The employer shall make enquiries with DLGSC in regard to:
  • whether the application meets the above criteria
  • the period of leave to be granted.

WA TAFE Lecturers General Agreement 2021 Clause 65 — International, national and state sporting events

65.1. Leave with pay not exceeding ten days in any one year may be granted by the College to a staff member chosen to represent Australia or his/her State as a competitor or official at a sporting event, provided that:

• it is a recognised sport of national significance at state level
• it is a recognised international amateur sport of national significance or
• it is a world or international regional competition and
• no contribution is made by the sporting organisation towards the normal salary of the employee.

65.2. The Managing Director shall make enquiries with DLGSC in regard to:

• whether the application meets the above criteria
• the period of leave to be granted.

Commonwealth Government agencies

The Public Service Award 1992 and the WA TAFE Lecturers General Agreement 2021 only applies to public servants that work for a Western Australian State Government department/organisation, not employees of Commonwealth agencies.

Definition of terms

International Regional Competition — is an event where there is a minimum of four countries competing. This does not include test series between two countries or tri-nation events.

World / International Competition — may include, but not limited to, Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships or World Cups.

National Sporting Organisation (NSO) — recognised by the Australian Sports Commission as the pre-eminent body for the development of a sport in Australia, has sufficient standing within its sport and has adequate governance.

National Sporting Organisation for people with a Disability (NSOD) — recognised by the Australian Sports Commission as the pre-eminent body for the development of a sport in Australia, has sufficient standing within its sport and has adequate governance.

State Sporting Association (SSA) — recognised by DLGSC as the pre-eminent representative organisation that is responsible for the development of a sport in Western Australia.

Application process

• To apply for international, national and state sporting events leave, the applicant must complete the application form below.
• The applicant must ensure that all relevant documentation is attached to the application.

Applicant required documentation

• A letter from the NSO/NSOD will be required for applicants seeking international leave.
• A letter from the SSA will be required for applicants seeking national/state leave.

The letter should be written on the organisation’s letterhead and confirm:  

• the applicant’s selection on the national/state team
• the role the applicant has been selected to perform e.g. athlete/coach/official/manager
• competition details including travel dates
• that the applicant will receive no financial contribution for their selection.

The application will not be assessed without this letter.

Period of leave

The period of leave to be recommended will depend on the location of the sporting event.

Sporting events based internationally/overseas:

• up to 5 days allowing for travel, acclimatisation and mandatory training prior to the competition
• the period of the competition
• up to 2 days to return to place of residence.

Sporting events based in Australia, but outside of Western Australia:

• up to 2 days allowing for travel, acclimatisation and mandatory training prior to the competition
• the period of the competition
• up to 2 days to return to place of residence.

Sporting events based in Western Australia:

• up to 1 day allowing for travel, acclimatisation and mandatory training prior to the competition.
• the period of the competition.
• up to 1 day to return to place of residence.

 For those applicants applying through the WA TAFE Lecturers General Agreement 2021, leave will not exceed ten 10 days in any one year.

Assessment criteria

A list of the assessment criteria required to be approved for international, national or state sporting events leave is provided below. If the applicant is unable to sufficiently address all criteria, the application will not be recommended to receive leave.

Public Service Award 1992 - Clause 40 - International sporting events leave

1. The NSO NSOD is recognised by the Australian Sports Commission.
2. The applicant has written confirmation from NSO/NSOD that they have been selected to participate as an athlete/coach/manager or official.
3. The applicant has written confirmation from the NSO/NSOD that they will receive no contribution to their normal salary.
4. It is a world or international competition with a minimum of four countries competing.

WA TAFE Lecturers General Agreement 2021 – Clause 65 – International, national and state sporting events

International leave: 

1. The NSO/NSOD is recognised by the Australian Sports Commission.
2. The applicant has written confirmation from NSO/NSOD that they have been selected to participate as an athlete/coach/manager or official.
3. The applicant has written confirmation from the NSO/NSOD that they will receive no contribution to their normal salary.
4. It is a world or international competition with a minimum of four countries competing.

National/state leave

1. The sport has an NSO/NSOD that is recognised by the Australian Sports Commission.
2. The SSA is recognised by DLGSC.
3. The applicant has written confirmation from the SSA that they have been selected to participate as an athlete/coach/manager or official.
4. The applicant has written confirmation from the SSA that they will receive no contribution to their normal salary.
5. It is a national competition with a minimum of four Australian state and/or territories competing.

Assessment process

The DLGSC will assess the application against the Assessment Criteria and provide a recommendation via email to the applicant and employer. The DLGSC will advise the employing agency of the recommended period of paid leave to be granted to the applicant by the employing agency.

Leave is not recommended if the applicant has chosen to represent Australia in a competition where they have qualified or nominated for the event but have not been selected by the NSO/NSOD to represent Australia, or their SSA to represent Western Australia.

The employing agency of the applicant determines and approves the amount of leave which will be granted within the parameters stipulated by DLGSC.

More information

Project Support Officer Sport Business Engagement
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
Telephone 61 8 9492 9729
Email sport.business@dlgsc.wa.gov.au