Worker Newsletter: Edition 3 2025

Your quarterly newsletter to keep workers in the construction industry up to date with the latest developments and news from your construction industry long service leave scheme.

Worker Member Newsletter: Edition 3 2025

Your quarterly newsletter to keep LeavePlus members up to date with the latest developments and news from your Construction Industry Long Service Leave Scheme.

LeavePlus Loop Newsletter

Made For Members

LeavePlus is proud to support members of the Victorian Construction Industry to take their well-earned break using their portable long service leave.

You work in a demanding industry, so you're not just going to want a break, you're going to need one.

Portable long service leave means you can take your leave with you and make use of that benefit when you need it most.

This benefits you, your employer, and the industry as a whole with a workforce that's ready to go again after taking time out to recharge.

LeavePlus Loop Newsletter

Made For Members

LeavePlus is proud to support members of the Victorian Construction Industry to take their well-earned break using their portable long service leave. You work in a demanding industry, so you're not just going to want a break, you're going to need one. Portable long service leave means you can take your leave with you and make use of that benefit when you need it most. This benefits you, your employer, and the industry as a whole with a workforce that's ready to go again after taking time out to recharge.

Checked your service lately?

Your employer reports to LeavePlus the days you have performed construction work in the construction industry in Victoria every three months. Your Jul-Sep 2025 service was due to be reported on 14 October 2025.

Have you checked that your all your recent service reported by your employer?
Now is a great time to log in to the LeavePlus portal and review what's been reported for you.

Checked your service lately?

Your employer reports to LeavePlus the days you have performed construction work in the construction industry in Victoria every three months. Your Jul-Sep 2025 service was due to be reported on 14 October 2025.

Have you checked that your all your recent service reported by your employer?
Now is a great time to log in to the LeavePlus portal and review what's been reported for you.

FY2025 STATEMENTS OF SERVICE

FY2025 STATEMENTS OF SERVICE

You can now download your FY2025 Statement of Service from the LeavePlus Portal.

Your Statement of Service shows the number of service days you have accrued with LeavePlus for the financial year ending 30 June 2025. It’s important that you review your statement carefully to make sure all the days you worked in eligible construction roles in Victoria have been reported and recorded correctly.

If any service days are missing or incorrect, it could affect your future entitlement to a long service leave benefit – so please take the time to check your details in full. You can contact us through the LeavePlus portal if you notice any issues or have questions about your service.

We’ve made it easier than ever to access your statement online, and we encourage you to stay informed about your service history. Keeping your record accurate helps avoid delays when you reach entitlement and want to claim your long service leave benefit from LeavePlus. It also helps us make sure that your employer is doing the right thing and reporting your service to LeavePlus accurately and on time.

Log in to the LeavePlus Portal today to download your FY2025 Statement of Service and check your details.

FUND REPORT 2025

FUND REPORT 2025

In this year’s construction industry long service leave fund report (Fund Report), we’re sharing how we’ve continued to grow and improve on our journey to become a modern, digital regulator. Our goal is simple: to make it easier for workers to get their long service leave entitlements, and to help employers meet their responsibilities under the scheme. This helps support workers’ wellbeing and the vitality of Victoria’s construction industry.

We publish the Fund Report each year to be open about how we manage the Fund and to show the impact of our work. It’s also a way to keep workers, employers, and other construction industry stakeholders informed about what’s changing and what’s ahead for the LeavePlus scheme.

Over the past year, we’ve seen strong financial results, added more types of construction work to the scheme, and improved how we enforce compliance. We’ve also invested in our people and upgraded our office to create a better, more collaborative workplace.

By sharing these updates, we’re showing how we’re building a fairer, more efficient system – one that supports workers, helps employers, and strengthens the future of our industry.

EASIER, FASTER CLAIMS

EASIER, FASTER CLAIMS

We’ve rolled out more updates to the new claims experience that we launched in April. These updates make it easier for eligible workers to claim long service leave benefits from LeavePlus. And now all workers (except working sub-contractors) will automatically see the new experience when they start a claim.

We know workers can’t always complete the claim form in one go. So rather than having to exit and start again later, we’ve added the ability to save what’s been entered. That means you can come back to the form later when you have the time or information you need to finish your claim.

And you no longer need to call us to find out what stage your claim is at. The claims list in your account profile now shows if the claim has been processed or if a payment is on its way.

We’re working on more updates, and we’ll soon make the form available to working sub-contractors too. Thanks for your feedback so far, and we look forward to hearing what you think of the new experience.

IMPROVING SECURITY FOR MEMBERS

IMPROVING SECURITY FOR MEMBERS

We’ve introduced a new online identity verification process that’s quick, safe, and simple.

This streamlined system means faster processing of your long service leave benefits and greater peace of mind that your entitlements are protected.

We’ll need to verify your identity when you request your registration number or claim long service leave.

Here’s how it works

Requesting your registration number:
1. Contact us and we’ll send you an SMS with a secure link
2. Click the link to access a secure form with simple instructions
3. Take a selfie using your phone’s camera and upload photos of your ID
4. Once verified, you can safely interact with LeavePlus

Claiming long service leave:
1. Log in to the LeavePlus portal
2. Follow the instructions to access the identity verification form
3. Take a selfie using your phone’s camera and upload photos of your ID
4. Once verified, you can safely submit your claim

Your Questions Answered

Here are the most common questions that LeavePlus members are asking right now:

Who pays for apprentices?

We answered:

Neither apprentices nor Workers are required to pay anything into the Scheme. All obligations to pay charges rest with your employer.

All charges received to the Long Service Leave Fund come from employers whose workers carry out work covered by the scheme in Victoria. But while you’re an apprentice, LeavePlus won’t charge your employer a single cent. LeavePlus covers the full long service costs of the apprenticeships covered under the scheme.

You then claim your long service leave benefit directly through LeavePlus when you’ve accrued enough service and reached an entitlement.

Can I leave the industry and rejoin later?

We answered:

If you leave the construction industry or move into a non-covered role within the industry (such as site supervisor, project manager or sales etc.) no further service will be recorded for you with LeavePlus.

Your service record will remain open and active for up to 4 years, in case you return to performing covered work again. If you return within 4 years, you can continue to build on top of the service you already had.

If you do not return within 4 years, your service record will be made inactive. This means that if you started building up service again at a later point, you would not be able to build on top of what you previously had. A new block of service would start again from zero.

How has the Fund been performing?

We answered:

The Fund’s investment performance continues to exceed expectations. The Fund delivered a 6.1% year-to-date return at the end of the March quarter.

With $2.26 billion in funds under management and a funding ratio of 126.3%, members can feel confident in the strength of our investment strategy, which continues to grow the Fund on their behalf. 

As we finalise the results for FY2025 over the coming weeks, we look forward to sharing the full outcomes in our Annual Report later this year.

Workplace Wellness

At LeavePlus, we’re all about long-term support. We believe it's vital to take care of both your physical and mental health through preventive wellbeing practices. Here are our top tips to help keep your mental fitness in great shape:

Start your day with a mental check-in

Before the tools come out and the noise kicks in, take a moment to check in with yourself. How are you feeling today – mentally and emotionally?

Even 60 seconds of quiet reflection can help you spot stress early, set your intentions, and feel more in control of your day.

It’s not about fixing everything – it’s about noticing what’s going on and giving yourself a chance to respond, not just react.

Talk it out – it makes a difference

Tough days happen. But bottling things up can make them feel even heavier. Talking to a mate, a supervisor, or a support service can help lighten the load.

You don’t need to have all the answers – just starting the conversation is a powerful step.

Mental health is just as important as physical safety on site. Let’s make it normal to speak up and support each other.

Small wins, big impact

Wellbeing isn’t just about the big stuff – it’s also about the small, positive habits you build into your day.

Whether it’s taking a moment to breathe deeply, ticking off a task, or having a quick chat with a mate – these little wins help boost your mood and keep stress in check.

Celebrate progress, not perfection. Every small step counts toward a healthier, more balanced you.

MELBOURNE BUILD EXPO HIGLIGHTS

MELBOURNE BUILD EXPO HIGHLIGHTS

FESTIVAL OF CONSTRUCTION

The Melbourne Build Expo 2025 recently wrapped up its inaugural event at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Billed as a festival of construction, the event hosted over 200 exhibitors, and more than 15,000 attendees over two days, showcasing a wide range of all things construction in Australia. More than 500 speakers painted a picture of what’s in the pipeline for construction in Australia.

As well as a central networking hub, the venue also hosted several stages, with multiple panel discussions around themes such as digital construction, sustainable building, and diversity equity and inclusion.

From big builds to scaled solutions, the event showcased many innovations from the construction industry that are helping to tackle some of Australia’s biggest challenges.

As well as products, there were plenty of exhibitors for services that aim to improve how construction businesses operate in the digital world. Along with online tools to increase efficiency, and digital systems to ensure OH&S compliance, there were also plenty of services on offer to help supercharge digital media and online presence. With 2025 its first year, you can expect Melbourne Build Expo 2026 to come back even bigger and better this time next year.

Festival Season

Victoria breaks out into vibrant festival season during the late-spring to early-summer months. Both in Melbourne and around the rest of the state, we're spoilt for choice when it comes to music and the arts. Here's our top six picks for your festival fix.

Festival Season

Victoria breaks out into vibrant festival season during the late-spring to early-summer months. Both in Melbourne and around the rest of the state, we're spoilt for choice when it comes to music and the arts. Here's our top six picks for your festival fix.

Queenscliff3

Queenscliff Music Festival

28-30 November 2025

This year’s Queenscliff Music Festival delivers a vibrant celebration of Australian music and community spirit.

Held in the scenic coastal town of Queenscliff, the multi-day event features an eclectic lineup including The Cat Empire, The Waifs, Thelma Plum, and King Stingray. With performances across circus tents, heritage buildings, and open-air venues, the festival blends creativity, sustainability, and inclusivity.

Alongside music, it offers youth programs, silent discos, comedy, and immersive art experiences, making it a dynamic cultural gathering for all ages.

Meredithhh

Meredith Music Festival

05-06 December 2025

Held in the lush surrounds of the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, this year’s festival offers a uniquely immersive experience blending music, nature, and community.

With a genre-spanning lineup including Chet Faker, Perfume Genius, and TV On The Radio, the event celebrated sonic exploration and artistic diversity. Free-range camping, BYO, and a no-commercials ethos kept the vibe relaxed and authentic.

From Tai Chi and cinema to the iconic Meredith Gift and Pink Flamingo Bar, the festival delivered a rare blend of spontaneity, tradition, and joyful chaos.

Meredith1

Wangaratta Regfest

05-06 December 2025

Regfest Wangaratta returns with a high-energy celebration of country music, camping, and community.

Set at the Wangaratta Showgrounds, the festival features performances from The Wolfe Brothers, Adam Brand, Taylor Moss, and more. With a relaxed campground vibe, food trucks, market stalls, and a fully licensed bar, attendees enjoy a weekend of live music and good times.

While the rodeo component is paused this year, the focus remains on delivering an unforgettable music experience, complete with VIP lounge options and family-friendly access.

Gateway

Gateway Festival

06 December 2025

Gateway Festival returns for its second edition at the stunning Heide Sculpture Park, delivering an immersive day of cutting-edge electronic music.

The program features a stacked lineup of local talent and special guests spinning heady house, techno, and electro in a unique outdoor setting.

Surrounded by art and nature, the festival blends music with creative expression, offering a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere for dance music lovers.

With world-class sound and a focus on community, Gateway promises an unforgettable experience in one of Victoria’s most iconic cultural spaces.

Vinehop2

Peninsula Vinehop Festival

22 November 2025

Set across seven picturesque venues on the Mornington Peninsula, the Peninsula VineHop Festival is a vibrant celebration of local craft drinks and live entertainment.

Festivalgoers can sample wines, beers, ciders, spirits, and seltzers from over 30 producers while enjoying live music, DJs, and food trucks.

With hop-on-hop-off shuttles, private bus options, and a central Festival Hub at The Briars, the event offers a flexible, fun-filled day out.

VineHop blends the charm of a wine tour with the energy of a music festival, all in a relaxed, adults-only setting.

Goody

Good Things Festival

05 December 2025

Good Things Festival roars back with its biggest lineup yet, bringing TOOL, Weezer, Garbage, and All Time Low to stages across Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.

As Australia’s premier travelling alternative music festival, it delivers a high-octane mix of rock, metal, and punk, with extended sets, immersive stages, and a 16+ crowd.

With its signature Stage 666 chaos, iconic headliners, and a no-holds-barred atmosphere, Good Things continues to be a rite of passage for fans of heavy music and alternative culture.

CoINVEST Limited as Trustee for the Construction Industry Long Service Leave Fund (trading as LeavePlus) ABN: 35 078 004 985.

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LeavePlus acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.