New Year's Day Public Holiday

On the New Year's Day Public Holiday, Australians mark the start of the new calendar year.

The New Year's Day Public Holiday falls on Wednesday 1 January, 2025. The University will be closed over this time, as it falls over the University Shutdown period. The University will return to service on Thursday, 2 January 2025.

About New Year's Day

New Year’s Day is the first day of the calendar year and is celebrated on 1 January each year. The day is marked by a public holiday in Australia.

The public holiday for New Year’s Day is movable, meaning that if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then the following Monday becomes the public holiday. In most states of Australia, most shops are closed and public transport is reduced significantly.

Although the day of 31 December (New Year’s Eve) is not a public holiday, it is the day most Australians prepare for one of the biggest parties of the year. Each capital city, most towns and many homes put on celebrations to mark the end of one year and the first moments of the next.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

In many places, fireworks at midnight on New Year’s Eve usher in the New Year. People sing, cheer, toast drinks and party into the small hours of the first day of the year. On New Year’s Day many towns and cities run events, though often people are either recovering from the night before, or beginning their “New Year’s Resolutions”.

Popular New Year's Resolutions may include;

Starting a new diet
Taking fitness classes, or achieving a fitness-related goal
Travelling
Reaching a savings goal
Graduating from University
Winning the lottery (and if not, there's always next year!)

What's your resolution?

SUPPORT OVER THE HOLIDAY PERIOD

Service	Description	Contact
	24-hour emergency assistance (police, fire, ambulance)	000 or 112 (GSM mobiles)
	Police service where there is no immediate danger	131 444
	24-hour mental health emergency access & support	1800 629 354 or 6205 1065
ANU Wellbeing and Support Line	Available 24 hours, 7 days a week including public holidays	Phone 1300 050 327 or text 0488 884 170
	24-hour telephone counselling and crisis support	13 11 14
	24-hour crisis line for people aged 5-25 years	1800 551 800
	24-hour crisis counselling and call back	1300 659 467
	24-hour domestic violence crisis assistance	6280 0900
	24-hour national sexual assault & domestic violence crisis counselling line	1800 737 732
	Provides Australia-wide anonymous, LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.	1800 184 527 (3pm to midnight, Monday - Sunday).
Canberra Rape Crisis Centre	Provides free crisis lines, counselling, advocacy and community education for people who have experienced any form of sexual abuse.	(02) 6247 2525 0488 586 517 (SMS only) (7am - 11pm)
	24-hour telephone counselling & support for men	1300 78 99 78
	24-hour medical & health advice line staffed by registered nurses	1800 022 222 or 6207 7777
	24-hour advice by medical professionals on acute or chronic poisoning	131 126