What is portable long service leave?

Portable long service leave lets workers in certain industries accrue long service leave based on service to the industry, not to a single employer — so the entitlement follows them when they change jobs. Each state and territory runs its own schemes (for example QLeave in Queensland, LeavePlus in Victoria, MyLeave in WA), funded by an employer levy. Workers pay nothing.

Which industries have portable long service leave in Australia?

Building and construction has a portable scheme in every state and territory. Contract cleaning is covered in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and the ACT. Community services is covered in Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, NSW (from 1 July 2025) and South Australia (from 1 October 2025). Security is covered in Victoria and the ACT. ACT hairdressing and beauty workers join the ACT Services Industry Scheme on 1 January 2027.

How much portable long service leave do you get?

It varies by scheme. Construction: 8.67 weeks after 10 years in NSW, Queensland, WA and Tasmania; 9.1 weeks after just 7 years in Victoria (LeavePlus, 1.3 weeks per year); and 13 weeks after 10 years in SA, the ACT and the NT. Community services schemes typically pay about 6.1 weeks after 7 years (NSW, Queensland) or 1 week per 60 weeks of service (Victoria). The ACT community sector scheme allows a claim from just 5 years (4.33 weeks).

Does portable long service leave transfer interstate?

For building and construction, yes — a national reciprocal agreement between every state and territory construction scheme means recorded service moves with you when you work interstate. For other industries (cleaning, community services, security) there is no national agreement, so check with both schemes before relying on interstate service being recognised.

Do I have to pay to be in a portable long service leave scheme?

No. Every portable long service leave scheme is funded by an employer levy (for example 1.7% of ordinary pay in the NSW community services scheme and 2.2% in the SA community services scheme) or a levy on building work. Workers register, or are registered by their employer, at no cost — but you should check your annual scheme statement to make sure your service is actually being recorded.

Portable Long Service Leave Checker

Construction, contract cleaning, community services and security workers can keep long service leave across employers. Check your state's scheme, when you can claim, and what it is worth.

Last verified: 20 July 2026Jump to calculator ↓

Portable long service leave follows you between employers in the same industry. Construction workers are covered in every state — 8.67 to 13 weeks of paid leave after 7-10 years of industry service. Cleaning, community services and security are covered in some states.

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Portable long service leave schemes by state (July 2026)

State	Scheme	Industries	Claim after	Entitlement
Victoria	LeavePlus (formerly CoINVEST)	Building & construction	7 years	9.1 weeks of paid leave after 7 years of industry service (1.3 weeks per year of service)
Victoria	Portable Long Service Authority (Victoria)	Community services, Contract cleaning, Security	7 years	1 week of leave for every 60 weeks of recognised service; claimable after 7 years (about 6.1 weeks)
Queensland	QLeave (Building & Construction)	Building & construction	10 years	8.67 weeks of paid leave at 2,200 service credits (about 10 years; max 220 credits a year)
Queensland	QLeave (Contract Cleaning)	Contract cleaning	10 years	8.67 weeks of paid leave after 10 years (3,650 service credits), then a further 4.33 weeks each 5 years
Queensland	QLeave (Community Services)	Community services	7 years	6.1 weeks of paid leave after 7 years of recorded service
New South Wales	Long Service Corporation (Building & Construction)	Building & construction	10 years	8.67 weeks of pay after 10 years of recorded service in the industry
New South Wales	Long Service Corporation (Contract Cleaning)	Contract cleaning	10 years	8.67 weeks of paid leave after 10 years (3,650 days) of recognised service
New South Wales	Long Service Corporation (Community Services)	Community services	7 years	About 6.1 weeks of paid leave after 7 years of recognised service (scheme commenced 1 July 2025)
Western Australia	MyLeave (WA)	Building & construction	10 years	8.67 weeks of leave after 10 years (2,200 days) of industry service
South Australia	Portable Long Service Leave — Construction (via Consumer & Business Services SA)	Building & construction	10 years	13 weeks of paid leave at 2,600 service days (about 10 years), then 1 more week per 200 service days
South Australia	SA Portable Long Service Leave — Community Services	Community services	10 years	Registered scheme (commenced 1 October 2025) — leave accessible after 10 years of sector service
Tasmania	TasBuild	Building & construction	10 years	8.67 weeks of leave after 10 years of industry service, then a further 4.33 weeks each 5 years
Australian Capital Territory	ACT Leave (Building & Construction)	Building & construction	10 years	13 weeks of leave after 10 years of recorded service, then 1.3 weeks per year
Australian Capital Territory	ACT Leave (Services Industry Scheme)	Contract cleaning	7 years	6.06 weeks of leave after 7 years of recorded service, then 0.867 weeks per year
Australian Capital Territory	ACT Leave (Community Sector)	Community services	5 years	4.33 weeks of leave after 5 years of recorded service, then 0.867 weeks per year
Australian Capital Territory	ACT Leave (Security Industry)	Security	7 years	6.06 weeks of leave per 7 years of recorded service, then 0.867 weeks per year
Northern Territory	NT Build	Building & construction	10 years	13 weeks of leave after 10 years (6.5 days of leave credit per 220 qualifying days, max 220 days a year)

Coming and gone: ACT hairdressing & beauty (and accommodation & food services) join the ACT Services Industry Scheme on 1 January 2027 (entry deferred on 3 May 2026). The NT's community services portable scheme Act was repealed on 30 May 2025 before it commenced, so NT coverage remains construction only. Figures verified against each scheme's official site, July 2026.

Not in a portable industry?

Most workers still accrue long service leave the standard way — with a single employer over 7-10 years, under state legislation. Use the Long Service Leave Calculator to see your entitlement, including pro-rata rules if your job ends early.

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Portable Long Service Leave Checker

Portable long service leave schemes by state (July 2026)

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