Portable long service leave in New South Wales
Last reviewed: 14 August 2026. Every figure checked against each scheme's own website. Information only. The scheme is the authority on your entitlement.
New South Wales runs the longest-standing of the construction schemes through the Long Service Corporation, and it is one of only two states that also cover contract cleaning through the same body. Since 1 July 2025 there is a separate scheme for community and disability workers, run independently of the Long Service Corporation. If you have worked in both industries, you are dealing with two different registers.
New South Wales also has portable long service leave for community services, contract cleaning, disability services. Each is set out below.
Long Service Corporation: Building and Construction Industry
Administered by: Long Service Corporation (LSC)
| Who it covers | Building and construction |
|---|---|
| Qualifying period | 10 years of recognised service in the building and construction industry [source] |
| Entitlement | 8.67 weeks of pay [source] |
| How it is funded | Funded by a levy paid on building and construction works of $250,000 or more. It is not deducted from the worker's wages. [source] |
- The scheme recognises that workers move between employers and contracts, which makes qualifying for long service leave with a single employer difficult. [source]
Long Service Corporation: Contract Cleaning Industry
Administered by: Long Service Corporation (LSC)
| Who it covers | Contract cleaning |
|---|---|
| Qualifying period | Not stated on the scheme's site; check with the scheme |
| Entitlement | Not stated on the scheme's site; check with the scheme |
- AUSLEAVE lists NSW's Long Service Corporation as covering both building and construction and contract cleaning. Qualifying period and entitlement for the contract cleaning scheme differ from the construction scheme. Confirm both directly with LSC. [source]
Community Services Industry Portable Long Service Leave Scheme
Administered by: NSW community services portable long service leave scheme
| Who it covers | Community services, Disability services |
|---|---|
| Qualifying period | 7 years of service to the industry (2,555 service credits) [source] |
| Entitlement | 6 weeks of paid long service leave [source] |
- Commenced 1 July 2025 for community and disability workers across NSW. [source]
- Service is tracked in service credits: 7 credits per 7-day pay cycle regardless of hours worked, up to 365 credits per year. 2,555 credits equals 7 years. [source]
- Foundation workers, meaning those employed between 1 July and 31 December 2025, receive a bonus 365 service credits and can access leave after 6 years, provided their employer registered them in the scheme's first six months. [source]
- An online portal for workers to confirm registration, view service history and manage the entitlement has been available since 29 April 2026. [source]
Registering and having your service recorded
Your employer must register with the Long Service Corporation and lodge annual service returns for eligible workers [source]. Workers should register too, so your service is recorded against you rather than sitting unmatched.
Once eligible you can take the entitlement as paid leave or claim a payment [source].
If you have worked in more than one state
Construction service is recognised across every state and territory under a National Reciprocal Agreement, so work in NSW can count towards an entitlement elsewhere, but only if the schemes know about it. Outside construction, portability between states is inconsistent. Read what happens to your entitlement when you move states.