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Fixed term contracts under the Fair Work Act
Recent amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (introduced through the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth)), place new restrictions on the use of fixed term contracts.
These rules limit both:
- the duration of the fixed term contract, and
- the number of consecutive contracts an employer can offer to an employee to perform the same, or substantially similar, work
The changes to fixed term contracts apply to contracts entered into from 6 December 2023. However, the limitations will still apply to consecutive contracts to a fixed term contract entered before 6 December 2023.
For more information, read our fact sheet, which covers:
- what a fixed term contract is
- what a maximum term contract is
- limitations on fixed term contracts
- exceptions to the fixed term contract provisions
- what if your organisation breaches the requirements?
Case studies and a list of steps your organisation can take to comply with these changes are included in our fact sheet.
More information
See the fact sheet on limiting the use of fixed-term contracts published by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the Fair Work Ombudsman webpage ‘New rules for fixed term contracts’.
The content on this webpage was last updated in October 2025 and is not legal advice. See full disclaimer and copyright notice.
