In certain industries workers frequently move between organisations more so than in other comparable employment sectors. PSA CPSU NSW members in the disability sector will now become eligible for up to six weeks of paid long service leave after seven years of service within the industry, regardless of how many employers they’ve had during that time, making the long service leave ‘portable’. This applies to full-time, part-time and casual employees. The scheme is managed by the Long Service Leave Corporation, a NSW Government body established under the Long Service Corporation Act.

Eligible workers do not need to do anything to register. It is the responsibility of the employer to register you in the scheme, and there are fines for the employer if they do not do so. The scheme enables eligible workers to claim up to six weeks of paid leave after seven years of service to the industry. However, foundation workers will receive one year of bonus service credits, meaning they may claim their long service leave a year earlier. Foundation workers are registered workers who were employed in the first six months of the scheme’s commencement (1 July to 31 December 2025).

Unfortunately, only service performed after 1 July 2025 will count toward portable long service leave. However, employers remain responsible for any prior service under existing laws. Members do not ‘lose’ any previously accrued long service leave entitlements.

At present, in NSW portable long service leave is available to workers in the non-government building and construction, contract cleaning, and CPSU NSW members in the disability sector in the federal system. Workers in these sectors can accrue long service leave based on their total service within the industry, regardless of how many different employers they work for after 1 July 2025. Other sectors will negotiate long service leave entitlements with the NSW government and employers through their respective unions.