South Australia: Allowances, travel and reimbursements
Version checked: 29 May 2026; effective first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
Issued on 29 May 2026, this version operates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. It applies to public-service employees and other employment brought within section 16 of the Public Sector Act 2009.
The determination distinguishes allowances from reimbursement of actual expenditure. It addresses travel, meals, accommodation, locality payments, relocation, disability-related transport and government or private vehicle use. Eligibility, approval and substantiation requirements matter as much as the listed dollar amount. Some rates follow the applicable award and its operative date, so the July cover date does not mean every figure changed in July.
For correctional staff travelling between facilities, undertaking training or relocating, establish headquarters, journey purpose, dates, overnight absence and what the employer already paid. Do not assume an ordinary commute attracts an allowance. Private-vehicle business use requires prior approval and appropriate insurance; employees cannot simply be compelled to supply their own car.
Retain approvals, receipts, mileage logs and the applicable payroll calculation. Check the current award where the determination cross-refers to it. This guide does not reproduce the rate tables or replace the detailed conditions for a particular claim.
General information, not advice on a particular case. Check coverage and the current industrial instrument before acting.
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