Scheme registration for self-employed contractors
Self-employed contractors can opt into the scheme by registering as a worker to accrue long service leave. Learn about your obligations and how to register.
On this page
Contractor registration in the scheme
Contractor or employee
How to register
Contractor obligations
Service credits
Work outside of NSW
Breaks in service
Related information
Contractor registration in the scheme
As a self-employed contractor who performs community service work, you can register for the Community Services Portable Long Service Leave Scheme (the scheme) as a worker. Once you have 7 years of recorded service, you can apply for a long service payment.
You will need to:
- register with the Long Service Corporation
- submit a service return every 3 months
- pay a levy on the same day you lodge your return
- keep accurate records.
Scheme registration is not mandatory for self-employed contractors. If you employ people to perform community service work, you must register as an employer and register all eligible workers into the scheme. See information for Employers.
Foundation worker bonus
Foundation workers will receive 1 year of bonus service credits. They may claim their paid leave a year earlier, after 6 years of service to the industry.
Foundation workers are self-employed contractors who opt into the scheme as workers and were doing paid community service work in the first 6 months of the scheme's commencement (1 July to 31 December 2025).
To qualify as a foundation worker, you must keep a record of your service from 1 July 2025. This will ensure you’re ready when the online portal launches in April 2026, enabling worker registration, service return submissions, and levy payments.
Contractor or employee
Workers need to decide whether they are an employee or a contractor. You should take into account all of your working arrangements including how you’re paid and who provides your work equipment.
If you are unsure about your employment status contact ATO or Fair Work.
How to register
Worker registration will be available from April 2026 through an online worker portal.
If an employer registers you as a worker
If you are already registered with the scheme as a worker by an employer, you have the option to:
- stay in the scheme and lodge contractor returns and pay levies
- stay in the scheme and choose not to lodge contractor returns or pay levies. In doing so, you would enter a break in service period for up to 4 years
- voluntary cancellation of registration – choose to unregister (opt-out) of the scheme.
Contractor obligations
Contractor returns
If you are a self-employed contractor and choose to register in the scheme, you must submit a service return with the Long Service Corporation every 3 months.
The first 3 service returns (Jul to Sep 2025, Oct to Dec 2025, and Jan to Mar 2026) and levy payment are due in April 2026. We will advise of the due date once it is confirmed.
After this first return period, you will be required to submit service returns and levy payments on a quarterly basis.
Your service return must show the:
- number of days you worked
- total gross ordinary wages for the work done.
Gross ordinary wages, also known as ordinary remuneration, is the amount payable to you as a contractor for community service work performed during a return period.
Gross ordinary wages does not include any amounts reimbursed to you for costs - such as materials, equipment or travel allowance - or GST.
Contractor levy
When you lodge your return, you also have to pay a levy to the Corporation.
The levy is calculated at 1.7% of your gross ordinary wages for the return period, as reported on your service return.
Record keeping
Contractors who are registered as a worker must keep a written record of:
- description of the community service work performed
- when you worked and for whom
- your ordinary remuneration for each return period
- the number of days you worked in each return period.
You must keep these written records for 7 years after the day the record is made.
Service credits
You’re allocated a service day credit for each calendar day you are:
- engaged in eligible work during a return period, or
- have reported being on leave without pay or receiving payments from Government paid parental leave or insurer paid workers compensation.
Your service credits are tallied and are used to calculate your total long service leave.
Work outside of NSW
The Long Service Corporation covers community service work you do in NSW.
Victoria, ACT, Queensland and South Australia have similar portable long service schemes for the community services industry.
Service recorded with another portable long service scheme may be used to maintain your NSW registration and calculate your entitlement for long service payments.
Breaks in service
You do not have to stay in the community service sector to maintain your service record. You can have a break from the industry for up to 4 years without affecting your entitlements.
Related information
Accruing portable long service leave entitlements
Manage service returns
Paying the levy
