Ausleave Conference 2024

The National Conference of Portable Long Service Leave Authorities concluded its two-day event on 2 February 2024, bringing together representatives from all nine state and territory-based authorities. Hosted at the Galkangu Government Building in Bendigo, where the Victorian Portable Long Service Leave Authority is based, this marked the first such face-to-face conference since 2019.

Over two million workers from multiple industries working in building and construction, community services, contract cleaning and security are encompassed by state-administered portable long service schemes across Australia.

The conference provided a unique platform for leaders of Australia’s portable long service leave authorities to engage in knowledge-sharing and discussions on common challenges. Key themes included the effective administration and growth of the schemes, the development and futureproofing of information technology (IT) systems, and maturing compliance and enforcement as regulatory authorities.

Concurrent online sessions saw the active participation of senior authority staff from finance, legal, compliance and IT. The discussion covered a wide array of relevant topics, fostering collaboration and mutual exploration of challenges and opportunities.

Authorities at the conference reaffirmed the importance of collective efforts, emphasising the need to leverage skills, knowledge, and expertise to support the work of their respective jurisdictions. Chairs and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) reached a consensus to conduct future conference meetings twice a year – one in person and the other online. The Chair position and hosting will be rotated by a different Authority each calendar year.

This conference has set a strong precedent for ongoing collaboration and shared efforts among Portable Long Service Leave Authorities across Australia. All the Authorities look forward to the continued success of this conference and the shared initiative in supporting the rights and benefits of over two million workers covered by these schemes.

Joseph Yeung, CEO/Registrar of Victoria's Portable Long Service Authority

Background:

CEOs and senior leaders attending the Ausleave National Conference 2024:

• Joseph Yeung, CEO of Portable Long Service Authority (Victoria’s community services, contract cleaning and security industries)
• Craig Bell, CEO of LeavePlus (Victoria’s construction industry)
• Kathy Skuta, Director of Long Service Corporation NSW (New South Wales construction and contract cleaning industries)
• Cassandra Webeck, Deputy Registrar of ACT Leave (Australian Capital Territory’s construction, contract cleaning, community and security industries)
• Jason Buckley, CEO of MyLeave WA (Western Australia’s construction industry)
• Anthony Mackay, CEO of Portable Long Service Leave (South Australia’s construction industry)
• Jim Laouris, Registrar of NTBuild (Northern Territory’s construction industry)
• Rebecca Sampson, Director of Operations of QLeave (Queensland’s construction, contract cleaning and community services)
• Mark Williams, CEO of TasBuild (Tasmania’s construction industry)