Sporting and cultural leave are discretionary forms of leave and are not granted automatically. The head of agency may grant an employee leave with pay to participate in a recognised sporting or cultural event at national or international level as:
- a participant
- an official of a team or other body, competing or participating in that event
- an official engaged in the administration of that event.
Eligible employees may be granted sporting and cultural leave on the following conditions:
- The employee's application for leave must be accompanied by written evidence from the relevant sporting or cultural body clearly stating the nature of the event, whether the employee will be a paid representative, and the fact that the employee was selected on merit (through competition for sporting events).
- Where the employee will be paid for their representation (by retainer or other means), approval must be sought from the head of agency. Paid representatives are unlikely to be granted approval for sporting and cultural leave unless they can demonstrate financial hardship.
- The employee must be representing Tasmania at a national event or the employee must be representing Australia at an international event.
- Leave will not be granted to allow for participation in selection trials or for training purposes.
- Applications, together with supporting evidence from the relevant association, must be received prior to the date of the sporting or cultural event.
Where the event will extend beyond the leave available under these provisions, a separate application for recreation leave, long service leave or leave without pay should be submitted for consideration. Employees not granted sporting or cultural leave may be eligible for leave without pay.
