New commencement date announced for South Australia Portable Long Service Leave with 2.2% levy rate

Australian Services Union South Australia and Northern Territory (ASU SA+NT) supports the decision to push the commencement date of the South Australian Portable Long Service Leave (PLSL) to 1 October 2025.

After a decade long campaign for this win in South Australia, we understand the decision has been taken to avoid adding additional pressure to an already busy period for organisations, giving the sector more time to plan, prepare and adjust whilst handling end of financial year reporting, new award rates and NDIS pricing.

What does this mean for workers in the sector?

  • Long Service Leave will continue to be accrued with workers current employers until 1 October 2025.

  • Workers will not lose any leave

  • All long service leave entitlements accrued with a workers current employer as at 1 October will be recognised by the CSPLSL Scheme.

  • Once eligible to take long service leave, the Scheme will pay out a workers leave in full and then invoice their employer for any entitlements accrued before the scheme commenced.

  • Employers will be required to register with the scheme from 1 October 2025. They will then lodge quarterly returns and pay a levy.

Additionally, the Community Sector Board has announced the initial levy rate has been set at 2.2% of staff wages.

What is the levy rate?

Due to South Australia’s more generous LSL scheme in comparison to other states, the levy rate has been set higher (SA workers are entitled to 13 weeks after 10 years; other jurisdictions have 13 weeks after 15 years).

For NDIS workers, the cost modelling and the majority of government funding agreements provide for base salary costs as well as on-costs (superannuation, annual leave, personal leave, long service leave and employee allowances).

For ASU members working in disability, the NDIS cost model specifically states “that workers accrue Long Service Leave (LSL) entitlements when they work and that again providers need to accrue the revenue to meet the costs of this leave accrual during the billable hours of the DSW. The Cost Model assumes that workers accrue 4⅓ days of long service leave each year. The Cost Model assumes that all long service leave entitlements are drawn on. This reflects the rollout of portable LSL schemes in some jurisdictions.”

Next steps - for workers

At this stage, workers do not need to do anything as your employer will register for the scheme.

Keep up to date with updates on the Website and Facebook page.

Next steps – for self-employed contractors and working directors

If you are a self-employed contractor or a working director, you can still register for the PLSL scheme and accrue long service leave by making voluntary contributions.

You can access more information here.

Next steps – for employers

From 1 October 2025

  • Businesses employing eligible workers in the community services sector in South Australia will be required to complete an online Employer Registration form to register within 28 days of commencement of the scheme.

Between 1 October 2025 and 31 December 2025

  • Employers will register their eligible workers via an Employer Portal

By 21 January 2026

  • Employers are to complete and lodge quarterly reports for 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025 period via an online form

  • Employers will be required to pay any applicable levies for the quarter

Representing ASU members on the Board
Your representatives on the Community Services Portable Long Service Leave Board are ASU Secretary Abbie Spencer and current Assistant Secretary Scott Cowen.

Zoe Stangoulis