The Victorian Government is helping more casual, contract and self-employed workers access sick and carer’s pay, by increasing the number of jobs covered by the Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee and extending the pilot until March 2025.
More than 400 new jobs – including more than 100 in the arts and creative industries – are now eligible for the Victorian Government’s Sick Pay Guarantee.
From musicians to make up artists, sound and lighting technicians, camera operators, actors, writers, dancers, museum and gallery attendants, ushers, ticket collectors and many more, the initiative will provide vital support for people who power our creative sector.
Newly eligible workers can apply for sick and carer’s pay from the day they sign up, and workers who were eligible in the first phase of the pilot will benefit from an additional year of the pilot.
The Australia-first initiative gives eligible workers access to up to 38 hours a year of sick and carer’s pay at the national minimum wage ($23.23 per hour) to workers in certain jobs. It aims to reduce workplace illnesses and keep workplaces safer and more productive.
Creative workers can check their eligibility and sign up online at vic.gov.au/sickpayguarantee or in the Service Victoria app. Please note, eligible creative workers appear under multiple categories on this page. When checking your eligibility refer to the following:
- the Arts workers list in the Arts and creative industries section
- the Sales support workers list in the Retail sales and supermarkets section, and
- the Sports and personal service workers list in the Beauty, fitness and outdoor recreation section.
Since the pilot launched in March 2022, more than 76,000 casual and contract workers have signed up. In that time, the Sick Pay Guarantee has covered more than 1.8 million hours of sick and carer’s pay, giving workers the financial security to stay home when they’re sick or need to care for loved ones.
Neighbourhood Houses can also help people to sign up and access the scheme – visit www.nhvic.org.au to find a participating Neighbourhood House.
Information is available in 19 languages on the Sick Pay Guarantee website. To speak to an interpreter, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask for the Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee hotline.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee?
The Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee is an Australia-first initiative that gives eligible casual and contract workers access to 38 hours a year of sick and carer’s pay at the national minimum wage ($23.23 per hour) to workers in certain jobs.
The initiative aims to reduce workplace illnesses and injuries and keep workplaces safer and more productive.
Who is the Sick Guarantee for?
The Sick Pay Guarantee is for casual and contract workers who are not able to work because they are ill, injured or caring for someone, and do not have access to paid leave entitlements. This includes people who are self-employed with no other employees, such as a sole trader or an independent contractor.
You can sign up if:
- you have the right to work in Australia
- you're 15 or older
- you go to work in Victoria
- you're working an average of 7.6 hours or more each week in at least one eligible job
- you do not have access to paid leave entitlements at any job.
For full detail on eligibility requirements, including the list of eligible jobs, visit: vic.gov.au/sickpayguarantee
What does the Sick Pay Guarantee aim to do?
By supporting a range of contract and casual workers when they need to take time off work because they’re sick or caring for loved ones, the Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee aims to reduce workplace illnesses and injuries and keep workplaces safer and more productive.
How many new jobs have been added, and how many creative jobs have been included?
More than 400 new jobs are now eligible for the Victorian Government’s Sick Pay Guarantee. This includes many jobs in arts and creative industries.
What kinds of creative and arts workers are included?
The Sick Pay Guarantee now includes more than 100 jobs in the creative industries. Eligible roles include musicians, actors, writers, dancers, make up artists, sound and lighting technicians, camera operators, and many more.
Arts and creative industries workers can check their eligibility and sign up online at vic.gov.au/sickpayguarantee
How do workers check their eligibility and sign up?
Arts and creative industries workers can check their eligibility and sign up online at vic.gov.au/sickpayguarantee or in the Service Victoria app.
What’s the application process?
Workers can check their eligibility and sign up online at vic.gov.au/sickpayguarantee or in the Service Victoria app.
Steps to get sick pay:
- Check you're eligible and sign up
Start by answering a few questions about yourself and your job.
- Proof of identity
Choose 2 identity documents such as passport and driver licence.
- Proof of work
Tell us about your work and upload supporting documents such as a payslip.
- Add your bank details
Link the bank account where you'd like payments made.
When your application is approved, you can start claiming sick and carer’s pay from the date you signed up.
Further information can be found atvic.gov.au/sickpayguarantee or in the Service Victoria app.
More information, including additional frequently asked questions about the initiative, can be found at vic.gov.au/sickpayguarantee