Portable Long Service Leave for Support Workers (NSW)

Many support workers move between providers over the years.

Under the old system, that often meant long service leave never built up, even after many years in the industry.

Portable long service leave was introduced in NSW to change that.

Instead of long service leave being tied to one employer, it now builds up across the whole community services sector as you work for different providers.

For a sector where people often work casual shifts, change organisations, or work part-time, this makes a big difference.

When the scheme started

The Community Services Portable Long Service Leave Scheme began in NSW on 1 July 2025.

It covers many roles across community services, including:

Similar schemes also exist in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT, although the details vary slightly.

How long it takes to qualify

Workers become eligible after 7 years of recognised service in the sector.

But the scheme looks at hours worked, not just calendar years.

So the seven-year point usually applies to someone working close to full-time hours. If you work fewer hours, it may take longer to reach the qualifying level.

For example:

In other words, the system is tracking total hours worked in the sector.

Irregular hours still count

Support work rarely runs on perfectly steady hours.

You might work:

All of those hours simply add up over time.

The scheme was designed this way because irregular hours are common in the disability and community services sector.

Working for more than one provider

Many support workers work for multiple providers.

If that’s the case, each employer reports your hours to the scheme.

Those hours are combined into one service record.

For example:

Both sets of hours contribute to the same total.

Who keeps track of everything?

Workers don’t need to track this themselves.

Instead:

That record follows you even if you change employers within the sector.

Checking your balance

Workers can create an online account with the NSW Long Service Corporation to see:

This can be useful if you’ve worked for several providers and want to confirm everything has been recorded correctly.

Roughly how much leave is it worth?

Once a worker reaches the qualifying service level, they can receive up to six weeks of paid long service leave.

The amount depends on average earnings.

As a rough guide, if a support worker earns around $40 per hour, a full-time worker could receive roughly $9,100 before tax.

The exact amount is calculated by the scheme based on your recorded hours and pay.

What if you change roles in the sector?

Your service can still count if you move between roles within community services.

For example, someone might work:

As long as the roles fall within the covered sector, the service can continue building.

However, sectors like aged care are treated separately, so those hours may not combine automatically.

What about contractors?

Portable long service leave generally applies to employees, not independent contractors.

Employers must report hours and pay the levy.

If you are working under your own ABN as a contractor, those hours are usually not reported into the scheme and may not count toward portable long service leave.

What if you leave the sector?

If you stop working in community services, your service is usually held for a period of time in case you return.

If you permanently leave the sector and have already qualified for long service leave, you may be able to apply for a payment instead of taking leave.

Why this matters

Support work is a sector where people often:

Portable long service leave recognises that reality.

Instead of losing progress every time you change employers, your service can now follow you across the sector.

For many workers, it simply means that years spent supporting others can finally count toward the same long service leave people in other industries receive.