While the festive season brings celebrations, Australians still need to manage their everyday responsibilities. Bills, parcels, and welfare payments don't take a holiday, making it crucial to know when essential services are open.
Services Australia and Centrelink Closures
Services Australia has confirmed closures for its service and call centres on key public holidays. All centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Monday the 29th of December, and New Year's Day. They will, however, remain open on Christmas Eve.
These closures will impact regular reporting and payment dates. Australians who rely on Centrelink payments are strongly advised to check the official Services Australia website for the full list of adjusted payment schedules to avoid any disruption to their income.
Australia Post Trading Hours
Australia Post offices will follow a similar pattern. All post offices will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. They will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
A special note for the busy pre-Christmas period: more than 300 post offices nationwide will extend their opening hours in the month before Boxing Day. Over 450 locations will trade after 5pm on weekdays. Customers should check the specific hours of their local post office online.
Major Bank Holiday Schedules
The opening hours for Australia's big four banks vary by state and branch, but some common closures apply nationally.
Commonwealth Bank branches will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, and Australia Day. Trading on Saturday the 27th of December and in the week between Christmas and New Year will be limited, with many suburban and shopping centre branches closed. A detailed state-by-state list of affected branches is available.
NAB will close all branches on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Monday the 29th of December, and New Year's Day. Most branches will be open on New Year's Eve.
Westpac will have most branches open on Christmas Eve but will close all locations on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Monday the 29th, and New Year's Day. Most will reopen for New Year's Eve.
ANZ presents a slight variation, with all branches closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, but open on Boxing Day. They will also be closed on Monday the 29th of December and open for New Year's Eve.
All banks urge customers to verify the trading hours of their specific local branch via their websites or apps, as hours can vary. Planning ahead for cash needs, in-branch transactions, or business deposits during this period is highly recommended to avoid inconvenience.
