I borrow the term gap year from what has become the custom of young people for a year of adventure between high school and university, and I see the later gap years as just that, a year for adventure. It would be a year's leave without pay, although long service leave would provide an income for part of the year. Other income may be leasing out the home if travelling, which may cover the mortgage, and it is always possible that the adventure of choice may be another job, one in a different field.

Many adventures don't require much, if any, money, and teaching English overseas is one of them - these teachers are paid at least a subsistence wage and air fares are often covered. One of our regular blog contributors, Suzhousid, is a former Hunter boilermaker who teaches English in China and it is clear that he's having the time of his life (despite his inconsiderate American neighour).

Other possibilities for a gap year are travelling (with children), working as a volunteer overseas (usually with living costs covered), working for charity, writing the great Australian novel and starting and finishing a TAFE course.

Workers could take such a gap year at age 30, 40, 50 and perhaps 60. The inconvenience to employers would be no more than that presented now by maternity leave, and there would often be real benefits.

So, what say you? Isn't it time long-service leave became a gap year?