Worker frequently asked questions
Common questions from workers about the Community Services Industry portable long service leave scheme.
Registration and eligibility
How do I register for the scheme?
From 1 April 2026, your employer will be able to upload your worker details into the Employer Portal.
When this happens, you will receive an email notification outlining the steps you need to take to access the Worker Portal.
You need to complete your registration and confirm your service with each employer so that the service lodged by each employer is included on your record.
You must use your personal MyService NSW account to verify your identity. This is to minimise risk and protect your personal information.
Once you have logged into the Worker Portal, you can check your registration status, view your service record, and update your details.
You can also use the Employer Lookup Tool to confirm whether your employer is registered.
Who is eligible to join the scheme?
Workers who perform eligible community services work in NSW must be included in the scheme. Eligibility is based on the type of work you perform, not just your job title.
How do I know if my job is considered ‘eligible work’?
Eligibility depends on the nature of your duties, the services your organisation provides, and whether the work falls within the definitions of community service work, as set out in the legislation. Eligibility may also depend on if you work for a ‘predominant purpose’ employer. Guidance and case studies are published on this website to help you understand your eligibility.
Do I need to create an online Worker Portal account?
You will be able to create your profile and an individual account when the Worker Portal launches in April 2026. You will receive an email notification to confirm your employer has added you as a worker, and you will need to complete your registration by verifying your identity through your personal MyService NSW account. The Worker Portal will let you view your service history, manage your details, and apply for long service leave (when you have accrued sufficient service).
What if my employer hasn’t registered yet?
Employers who engage workers performing eligible community services work must register with the scheme. If you cannot find your employer using the Employer Lookup Tool, speak with them first. You can also contact us for assistance.
What if I work for more than one employer?
All your eligible service counts no matter how many employers you work for. You will receive an invitation to join the scheme from each of your employers, and it is important to confirm each enrolment as it will establish your service-link in the system. Each employer will lodge a quarterly service return for the days you work for them. Your balance will appear as a single record in the Worker Portal, with your service history confirming the service returns from each of your employers.
What if my employer does not submit my service?
You will be able to review your service record in your Worker Portal from 1 April 2026. If any service is missing , you can request a review, and the Long Service Corporation will work with your employer to resolve it.
Accruing leave
How is long service leave accrued under the scheme?
Leave is accrued based on the number of days you work in eligible employment. You will be entitled to portable long service leave once you reach 7 years of recognised service across participating employers.
Does my past service count?
Only service performed after 1 July 2025 will count toward portable long service leave. However, your employer remains responsible for any prior service under existing laws such as the Long Service Leave Act 1955 or an Enterprise Agreement.
What happens if I take time off or leave the sector temporarily?
The scheme lets you keep the service you’ve already earned for up to 4 years, even if you leave the community services sector. This time can be extended if you take certain types of leave, for example, time off due to injury or illness, because these are counted as ‘non‑service days’.
Do I still accrue service if I am part-time or casual?
Yes. Part‑time, casual, and full‑time workers all accrue service based on the days they work.
How are my service days calculated?
Service days are based on the number of days an employer reports you worked in eligible employment. If you are on the payroll for a 7 day pay cycle, you will receive 7 days' worth of service credits, regardless of the number of hours you work each week.
To ensure your entitlements are accurate, it’s important to regularly log into your worker portal and check that your recorded service days match your actual work.
Accessing leave
When can I access my long service leave?
You can access your portable long service leave once you achieve 7 years of service in the scheme from 1 July 2025.
Workers who receive the Foundation Worker Bonus will receive a credit of 365 service days, which means they may become eligible after only 6 years of actual service.
In addition, workers may also become eligible for long service leave under the Long Service Leave Act 1955 depending on their employment history.
How do I apply for leave through the scheme?
You will be able to apply for leave through the Worker Portal. Your employer will be notified of your application, and leave can be taken at a time that suits both you and your employer’s operational needs.
Who pays me when I take long service leave?
If your entitlement comes from the portable scheme, the Long Service Corporation will pay you directly.
If you are eligible for long service leave under the Long Service Leave Act 1955 or an Enterprise Agreement, your employer is responsible for paying it.
How is my leave payment calculated?
Portable long service leave payments are calculated based on the amount of leave you take and the highest average of your weekly ordinary pay across several possible look‑back periods. This method ensures you are paid using the most favourable average from up to the last 7 years of recognised service.
Can I take portable long service leave if I’ve changed employers?
Your service counts no matter where you work in the community services industry. Even if you change employers, LSC keeps track of all your service and adds it together.
Finding more information
Where can I find updates and official resources?
All information, fact sheets, forms, and updates will be published on this website. Webinars and guidance materials will also be released throughout the rollout of the Scheme and advertised on this website.
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on the new scheme and upcoming events.
Who can I contact if I have a question?
You can contact our customer service team by phone on 13 14 41 or submit an online enquiry.
Understanding the scheme
Where can I read the regulations and legislation?
You can read both the Act and the Regulation on the official NSW Government’s legislation website and linked on this website.
Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Act 2024 No 39 - NSW Legislation
Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Regulation 2025 - NSW Legislation
What is the difference between this portable scheme and my regular long service leave?
Portable long service leave follows you across the sector, so you keep building service even if you change employers.
Traditional long service leave only applies if you stay with the same employer for a long period of time.
Support from us
How is the Long Service Corporation supporting workers to understand the scheme?
We have created a range of tools for workers, including:
- Easy-to-read fact sheets
- Online webinars
- Sector-specific examples
- A Worker Portal to track service and entitlements.
You can also subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
Will workers be contacted directly?
Yes. Eligible workers will receive an invitation from their employer to register for the scheme and access the Worker Portal. Workers will also receive their Annual Statement from the Long Service Corporation after the end of each financial year.
Education campaigns will also help workers understand their rights.
Can I talk to someone about my specific situation?
Yes. You can contact us by phone, email, or through an online contact form. Our outreach officers may also visit communities as part of roadshows and engagement activities.
You can submit an online enquiry if you need any assistance from the Long Service Corporation.
Foundational worker bonus
What is the foundation workers bonus?
Foundation workers in the scheme receive an automatic bonus of 365 days of service credits, allowing them to claim long service leave after 6 years of industry service instead of 7. To qualify, workers must be in the industry between 1 July and 31 December 2025. This bonus helps to acknowledge workers and self-employed contractors who've already been in the community services industry before this scheme's commencement.
Who is eligible for the foundation worker bonus?
Any worker performing eligible community services work between 1 July and 31 December 2025 will receive the bonus.
Workers included on service returns for above mentioned period will automatically receive 365 service days.
Do I need to apply for the bonus?
In most cases, no. If you are working in eligible employment between 1 July and 31 December 2025 and your employer has correctly listed your service record in the Employer Portal, the bonus will be applied automatically.
What form will the bonus take - is it a payment or a credit?
The Foundation Worker Bonus appears as a service credit that helps you reach eligibility for portable long service leave faster, and it is not a payment. This means you will see it recorded in your service credit balance once the online Worker Portal becomes available.
When will the bonus be applied to my record?
The bonus will be added automatically after your employer submits their first 2 quarterly returns for FY25/26. Eligible workers will be able to see their foundational bonus in their service record in the Worker Portal.
Will this affect any other entitlements I receive?
No. The bonus is simply additional service credit in the Portable Long Service Leave Scheme, it is not a substitution for anything you’ve already earned.
