Long service leave is accrued paid time off, based on how long you have been working for the company. After about 7 years, most people have accumulated around 10 weeks or so leave, that they can take and get paid for. It originated in the 1800's so that people who lived in the antipodes could travel back to Europe to visit family but still keep their job. If you leave that job, you generally cash in your leave. Some people don't take it for years - I know someone who had not taken it for 20 years and instead took the money when she left. I'd rather the holiday. What Jamie and I are doing is taking the entire year, but stretching out our 15 weeks or so (each) across the year so we have a little bit of income to last. It is an incredible system and Australia would riot rather than get rid of it. Teachers would not survive without it!