South Australia’s New Portable Long Service Leave Scheme for Community Services

What’s Happening?

South Australia is rolling out a portable long service leave (PLSL) scheme specifically for the community services sector, set to commence on 1 October 2025.    

Why Now?

• The Portable Long Service Leave Act 2024 (SA) was passed by Parliament in September 2024, delivering on an election promise to extend this entitlement beyond the construction sector.   

• This addresses the high staff turnover, funding instability, and heavy reliance on casual and short-term contracts that often prevent workers from earning long service leave.  

What the Scheme Means for Workers

• Eligible community services workers (including full-time, part-time, fixed-term, and casual staff) will be able to carry and accrue long service leave entitlements across different employers within the sector.   

• Long service leave entitlements remain unchanged: 13 weeks after 10 years of qualifying service, then 1.3 weeks for each additional year.   

• “Pre-scheme service” (i.e., time worked with a current employer before 1 October 2025) can count—but only under certain conditions, making record maintenance critical.   

What Employers Need to Do

• Register as employers in the scheme within 28 days of it starting. For a 1 October 2025 initiation, that deadline is 28 October 2025.   

• Register all eligible workers by 31 December 2025 via the online portal.   

• Pay a quarterly levy of 2.2% of ordinary wages for each eligible employee, initially set and capped at 3%.    

• First quarterly return covering 1 October - 31 December 2025 is due by 21 January 2026.   

• Maintain accurate records of employee service and entitlements, especially for “pre-scheme service,” to avoid penalty, non-compliance can result in fines up to $10,000 or higher, plus interest.