Give us a break’: Aussies want more time off    
Almost half of Aussies have chucked a sickie for a specific reason as the country’s burnout crisis seemingly worsens.


News.com.au
July 27, 2025

An extra day off could help with Australia’s burnout crisis as new research reveals almost half of Aussies have taken a “wellness sickie” to combat the issue.

Burnout is not a virus or a bacterial infection, but something equally insidious and potentially just as devastating.

Simply, burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion.

The World Health Organisation describes it as phenomenon that arises from chronic workplace stress that leaves people feeling exhausted and completely depleted of energy, which can lead to depression and anxiety.

Aussies are exhausted - and most want more public holidays.


According to Mental Health Australia, an alarming 61 per cent reported experiencing burnout in 2023, compared to the global average of 48 per cent with the statistics revealing Aussies to have the highest burnout rates in the world.

In fact, Mudgee Region Tourism today revealed almost half (47 per cent) of Aussies have taken sick leave for a personal break or getaway at least once.

As such, 72 per cent want more public holidays as one way to help combat the issue.

The organisation partnered with Pure Profile to conduct the research in June 2025, surveying more than 1000 Australians.


“These results weren’t surprising to us,” Beau Kassas, chief marketing officer of Mudgee Region Tourism told news.com.au.

“We know Aussies are more stressed and burnt out than ever. Public holidays, particularly long weekends are one of the few guaranteed moments in the year we get a well-deserved break.”

Mudgee Region Tourism today revealed 72 per cent of Aussies want more public holidays as one way to help combat the issue.

The tourism board has today launched a petition calling for a “Mudgee Monday” - a proposed new public holiday for NSW, aimed at fighting burnout, supporting mental health, and levelling the long weekend playing field between states.

Its research revealed 57 per cent of Aussies believe that an extra-long weekend each year would reduce burnout and stress.

‘Give us a break’   

“The Mudgee Region is calling on NSW residents to sign the petition and encourage Premier Chris Minns to give us the break we deserve – namely, a Mudgee Monday,” he told news.com.au.

“Towns like Mudgee, Gulgong, Kandos and Rylstone are becoming more than just a nice option - we’re part of the wellbeing solution. This isn’t just about a day off; it’s about taking rest before wreckage, even if just for a long weekend.”

The organisation revealed almost half (47 per cent) of Australians have taken sick leave for a personal break or getaway at least once.

He said, interestingly, the tourism board’s latest research shows Aussies want to also even the playing field when it comes to standardising public holidays across the country.

New South Wales, alongside Western Australia, receive just 11 public holidays a year compared to Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia with up to 13 - and Tasmania having the fewest at 10.

“This is why we’re calling on the premier to even the stakes and give NSW residents an extra public holiday,” Mr Kassas said.

“We need to start thinking about time off in a more sustainable way. We can’t continue to bank our annual leave for one big, expensive (and exhausting) holiday each year.”   

He said small towns like Mudgee, Gulgong, Kandos and Rylstone remind us how travel is meant to be – slow, unhurried, and deeply personal.

Beau Kassas of Mudgee Region Tourism.

“This style of authentic travel offers a refined refuge from the relentless pace of modern life,” he said.

“Adding a day to the weekend a few times a year may seem like a small solution – but the benefits of slowing down in regions like ours for three days instead of two will drive a big impact.”

Dr Anastasia Hronis, a leading clinical psychologist and researcher, is also backing the campaign, advocating for policy that puts mental health and wellbeing at the forefront of legislative discussions.

“It is a wonderful initiative to help Australians see our beautiful countryside while enjoying some much needed rest and recovery from the grind of daily life and work,” she told news.com.au.

The tourism board has launched a petition calling for ‘Mudgee Monday’ - a proposed new public holiday for NSW, aimed at fighting burnout, supporting mental health.

If you want more time off, ask for more time off. Not sure why you need to legislate it.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 11:31am:


You want to force your friends to not be able to do a day's work on the off chance you want to hang out with them on that particular Monday instead of a Sunday, and you are too poor at planning to organise a group of people in advance?

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 11:39am:


Sure I do. I just don't want to make a new law to force them to not be able to do a day's work on the off chance I want to hang out with them on that particular Monday instead of a Sunday, and I am too poor at planning to organise a group of people in advance.

Not sure how you managed to mangle that one. Are you using the same interpretation skills you used on Gary Stevenson?

If your friends and family don't want to come to your BBQ, the story about the evil boss might just be the excuse, not the reason. More public holidays will not solve your problem.

freediver wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 11:55am:


I'm betting you have that problem a lot

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 12:02pm:


Again, I don't see what this behaviour has to do with forcing everyone to take the day off. There is a huge diversity in how real people manage their time off, and it looks nothing at all like the random rules you make up. It is you who needs to ask around.

Australians typically get 4 weeks of annual leave per year, on top of the existing public holidays. They could be doing a 9 day fortnight, if that is what they actually wanted. The fact that you do not like the choices they make, and see a government mandate as the natural solution to them making the wrong choices, just makes you a control freak.

Or a deluded unionist who thinks this is just another magical way to get something for nothing.

Meister don't you think it is funny that you keep projecting autism, but you are so bewildered by other people not wanting to spend time with you that your only conclusion is the government needs to force them to take another day off work so they can fit you into their busy schedule, and you think that would actually work?

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 12:58pm:


Do you have any evidence for any of this? You project an awful lot of opinions onto other people. Are you just afraid to own your own?

freediver wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 1:08pm:

And you project your resentment of a new public holiday onto neurotypical Australians.

I've had to work with and manage many autistics over the years, one in particular makes me wonder if 'Freediver' is him. He'd go in on weekends, public holidays and, when forced to take accumulated leave, he applied for it, got it approved, and, you guessed it, turned up to work anyway.

Get back when you've done your own research among neurotypical people.

Need need need

You're a very needy guy , white knight 

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 12:58pm:


So you have consulted your therapist...well done.

This is why all the obsession with autistics over the last decade or so was misguided.

While there are a (precious) few who are savants, the vast majority of the ones you'll meet and work with are outright stupid, assuming that if it's in their head, it has to be true.

Even when they've never heard of something topical for weeks or months, if it's not in their head, it didn't happen 'cos they didn't know.

There have been national surveys conducted regarding more public holidays, and they show there is likely a majority support for more public holidays (no surprises there)... the question of what they should celebrate is more debated, but not the idea of more public holidays.

The WA government is currently looking at adding another public holiday to the calendar. "Public opinion appears to favour the addition of a new holiday, with some expressing the view that 'we all love a public holiday,' according to a recent article. The WA Government is actively engaging with stakeholders to gather input on potential changes to the public holiday schedule. "

freediver wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 3:00pm:

For the non-autistic, it's easy to Google.

freediver wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 3:43pm:

Googled it.

freediver wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 3:52pm:

Try 'is there popular support for another public holiday in australia'... see what happens

freediver wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 3:56pm:

You need to learn to achieve simple Google searches.

freediver wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 4:38pm:

You run a politics forum, and you can't Google simple text, then.

John Smith wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 8:08pm:


If you don't like it here Mimo, just F-off then.