UNSW year-end break dates finalised

Staff can start making plans for the summer shut-down as campus closure dates are announced.

UNSW will shut down its operations during the Christmas and New Year period from 5pm on Tuesday 21 December 2021 and will reopen on Tuesday 4 January 2022.

The year-end break incorporates:

• Shutdown annual leave days: 22, 23 and 24 December 2021
• Public holidays: 27, 28 December 2021 (in lieu of Christmas and Boxing days) and 3 January 2022 (in lieu of New Year’s Day)
• University holidays: 29, 30 and 31 December 2021.

During the year-end break, professional staff on continuing/fixed term/contingent funded research contracts will need to take three days of annual leave on 22, 23 and 24 December. The three annual leave days will be deducted automatically, except in approved circumstances where staff are required to perform essential work during this time.

Academic staff who have already taken the required amount of annual leave during the course of the year may work from home on these days.

Staff are encouraged to review their current leave entitlements, consider what additional leave they may wish to take over the holiday period and talk with their manager about year-end leave arrangements. Any leave applications, in addition to the automatically deducted days, should be submitted via myUNSW.  

Due to the impacts of COVID-19 and continuing domestic and international border restrictions, we understand that people may not be able to travel extensively over the holidays, however it is still important for staff to take a break for their mental health and wellbeing, so we encourage everyone to take a proper break over this time.

To view your leave balance, forecast future balances and apply for annual leave, please sign on to myUNSW and navigate to My Staff Profile > Absence Information in the Manage my Profile section.

In recognition of the current restrictions, this year’s annual leave management process will be adjusted to provide some flexibility for 2021 and 2022.  We understand once borders re-open a large number of staff will wish to travel to see family and friends, and we are currently exploring how we best balance operational and teaching requirements with the expected number of leave applications.

More details about the year-end break and requirements to take leave will be shared with relevant individuals and managers by Human Resources shortly.