Portable long service leave in South Australia
Last reviewed: 14 August 2026. Every figure checked against each scheme's own website. Information only. The scheme is the authority on your entitlement.
South Australia runs two portable schemes under one banner but on two entirely separate websites, which is a common reason people conclude their state has no scheme for them. There is a critical difference between the two: construction service is recognised interstate, and community services service is not.
South Australia also has portable long service leave for community services. Each is set out below.
SA Portable Long Service Leave: Construction
Administered by: SA Portable Long Service Leave (Construction)
| Who it covers | Building and construction |
|---|---|
| Qualifying period | 2,600 service days (equivalent to 10 years full-time employment) [source] |
| Entitlement | 13 weeks, plus another week for every additional 200 service days recorded [source] |
- An agreement exists between schemes to recognise interstate construction service. [source]
SA Portable Long Service Leave: Community Services
Administered by: SA Portable Long Service Leave (Community Services)
| Who it covers | Community services |
|---|---|
| Qualifying period | 120 months of service (equivalent to 10 years) [source] |
| Entitlement | 13 weeks, then a further 1.3 weeks accrued each year after that [source] |
- Currently no agreement exists between schemes to recognise interstate community services work. Unlike the construction scheme, this entitlement does not travel across the border. [source]
Registering and having your service recorded
Employers must make long service leave contributions for eligible workers. It is a legal obligation, not optional. Your employers report your service days (construction) or months (community services) on a regular return.
Construction entitlements grow by a further week for every additional 200 service days recorded beyond the first 2,600 [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 SA 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.