Message from the Chair and Chief Executive Officer
We are pleased to present the 2023-26 Corporate Plan of the Portable Long Service Authority (the Authority).
This is the Authority’s second Corporate Plan and sets out the short- and medium-term priorities of the Authority as it embarks on the journey to build upon the solid foundations created during the first three years of the Authority’s operations.
With over 3,000 registered employers and 280,000 registered workers, the Authority has transformed from being a ‘keen start-up’ to an independent statutory body that manages one of the largest portable long service leave schemes in Australia. Apart from a fast-paced high-volume operations centre based in Bendigo, the Authority is also responsible for the investment management of over $300 million, which will be used to fund future claims for portable long service leave benefits by the current registered workers.
The Authority is pleased that after three years of operation most employers are complying with their obligations to enrol their workers in the Portable Long Service Benefits Scheme (the Scheme) and contribute appropriately on their behalf to our fund to provide portable long service benefits. However, there are a still a number of employers and workers who are not registered. In the next three years, the Authority will direct more resources on identifying and communicating with covered employers and where necessary take action to ensure compliance. This is a complex task and the Authority will be collaborating with a range of stakeholders and other agencies to better identify areas of under-registration.
The Authority will also increase its engagement with workers, both those who are already registered (so that they can better understand their entitlements and the claims process and can be assured that their employer is properly contributing), as well as those that have not been registered by their employer but ought to be so that we can take suitable action against their employer. We will also continue our broader education and engagement process with stakeholders about the portable long service obligations and benefits. The Authority will also make the establishment of an efficient and user-friendly process to manage the increasing number of claims for payment of long service leave benefits a priority as the Scheme matures.
We have learnt through the COVID-19 pandemic the need for our workforce to be agile and responsive to change over time. The Authority supports and encourages all its staff to develop diverse skills and capabilities so that there can be continuous improvement in our service to the public.
Finally, it is a complex and transformative time in Victoria’s and Australia’s history for portable long service leave. As the focus sharpens on insecure work, jurisdictions around Australia continue to explore expanding eligibility of portable long service leave to other industries and sectors. Without taking the focus off our core vision and purpose, the Authority will continue to monitor these developments; contribute to the national discussion where appropriate; benchmark our performance to other comparable portable long service leave schemes; all with the ultimate goal of ensuring that we continue to deliver the most effective and efficient portable long service leave scheme for all stakeholders.
We look forward to implementing the initiatives in the 2023–26 Corporate Plan.
Julius Roe
Chair, Governing Board
Joseph Yeung
CEO and Registrar
Who we are
The Authority is an independent statutory body established to administer the Scheme under the Long Service Benefits Portability Act 2018 (the Act), to provide portability of long service benefits in the community services, contract cleaning and security industries.
The Scheme was created in response to the Victorian Parliament’s Economic, Education, Jobs and Skills Committee inquiry into portability of long service leave entitlements. It enables covered workers to accrue long service benefits based on length of time employed in their respective industry, as opposed to length of time employed by one employer.
The Scheme commenced on 1 July 2019.
Vision
Delivering a quality Scheme to protect the benefits of those who are entitled to them.
Purpose
The Authority administers an effective Scheme through prudent, sustainable investment and supporting all stakeholders – including employers and workers alike – as well as educating and enforcing every stakeholder’s role and interest in the Scheme.
Independence
The Authority is an independent statutory body with an official seal. Under the Act, the Authority may sue and be sued and acquire, hold and dispose of property.
The Authority employs staff who are Victorian Public Service (VPS) employees.
Functions
The Authority has several key functions pursuant to the Act:
- Administering the Scheme in the covered industries.
- Making payments of benefits.
- Keeping registers of employers and workers.
- Resolving disputes as to the timing of taking long service leave.
- Consulting other industries that may be affected by decisions made under the Act in relation to covered industries.
Values
The Authority has adopted the Victorian public sector values, which underpin the behaviours that the government and community rightly expect of it. Acting consistently with these values strengthens the Authority’s capacity to operate effectively and achieve our objectives. These values are:
- Responsiveness - We are approachable and provide timely, useful and accurate information.
- Integrity - We have unbiased and honest interactions.
- Impartiality - We are firm and consistent in our application of the law.
- Accountability - We fulfil our objectives in a clear, transparent and responsible manner.
- Respect - We respect our stakeholders, each other and ourselves.
- Leadership - We seek to have a positive influence and to empower others.
- Human rights - We administer the law and deliver decisions, advice and policy that respect and support everyone’s human rights.
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