FOR EMPLOYERS IN THE VICTORIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

CEO Welcome

Craig Bell

Chief executive officer , LeavePlus

Member Centre Completed, Landmark Court Ruling For LeavePlus

Welcome to our January-March 2025 edition of LeavePlus News for Employer Members. Off the back off an excellent end to 2024, the first few months of 2025 have seen a flurry of projects coming to completion. Most notably, we have opened our new Member Centre and moved into our newly refurbished office at 478 Albert St.

SHAPE Builders have spent the best part of a year bringing to life the vision designed by FutureSpace to transform the LeavePlus office. The objective was to create compelling experiences in spaces that foster collaboration and community, and ultimately bring people together. We certainly feel that this vision has been expertly executed, and we’re thrilled to share the final result with you and take you through some of the key features of our new Member Centre.

We are proud to share a significant victory in the Supreme Court of Victoria that has ruled in favour of LeavePlus in two key legal cases, Detector Inspector v LeavePlus and EnergyAustralia v LeavePlus. These rulings provide clarity on the broad definition of ‘Construction Industry’ under Victoria’s portable Long Service Leave Scheme, confirming our interpretation of the law, and reinforcing the existing scope of the Scheme.

Our new claim form has now been released, providing a simplified and improved way for our Worker and Working Sub-Contractor members to claim their Long Service Leave Benefit. This latest product release is a major milestone in our Business Transformation project, which is delivering incremental value as we enhance our processes and systems to significantly improve member experience. Our vision is to be the best operator of a portable entitlement scheme. With each major project milestone that is delivered, we take another progressive step in the direction of this vision.

In late 2024, we launched our Workplace Wellness event series. The inaugural event discussed tips and strategies on preventive wellbeing with our panel of leading experts: former AFL player and coach Nathan Buckley, renowned lifestyle medicine expert Dr. Caroline West, and CEO and co-founder of Luxury Escapes Adam Schwab. While there were many insights to take in, we’ve compiled some of our favourites in our feature article for you to take back to your workplace and incorporate into your everyday lives.

LeavePlus has welcomed two new additions to complete our executive team. Natalie Firth has joined as General Manager, People and Culture. Natalie is a passionate people leader with a background in executive roles driving cultural transformation, organisational design, and people transitions in mergers and acquisitions. Michael Smolders has also joined as Chief Product and Experience Officer. Michael has a background of executive roles in financial services, retail banking, education, consumer retail and member-based organisations, applying a customer-focused lens to deliver exceptional customer value. The addition of both Natalie and Michael comes as we enter a new era at our refurbished office. Their influence and expertise will help to drive us forward on our business transformation journey and build even further upon the significant progress made at LeavePlus.

Craig Bell

Chief Executive Officer – LeavePlus

LeavePlus Updates

Let’s take a look at some of the key messages and current talking points from LeavePlus.

Quarterly Returns due 14 April

The January to March 2025 Quarterly Return is now available for Employers to complete on the LeavePlus Portal.

The due date for submission is 14 April 2024.

As the industry regulator and administrator of the Construction Industry Long Service Leave Scheme, LeavePlus applies strict legal and financial consequences for Employers who fail to comply with their registration, reporting, and payment obligations under the Scheme.

If you require assistance or are unable to submit your Return before the due date, please call our Member Services team on 03 9664 7677 or 1300 264 683.

All Employers should familiarise themselves with the requirements as an Employer under the Act and the Scheme Rules and the consequences of non-compliance.

Landmark Court Victory

We are proud to share a significant victory in the Supreme Court of Victoria that has ruled in favour of LeavePlus in two key legal cases, Detector Inspector v LeavePlus and EnergyAustralia v LeavePlus. These rulings provide clarity on what constitutes construction work under Victoria’s portable long service leave scheme.

This decision strengthens workers’ rights, confirms our interpretation of the Act, and reinforces the existing broad definition of ‘construction industry’ that includes sectors like energy, property maintenance, and telecommunications; if your employees perform construction work, regardless of your industry, you must comply with our portable LSL scheme.

We remain committed to educating employers about their obligations, empowering both employers and workers to report and track their service, and ensuring workers receive their well-earned long service leave entitlements. For those employers who persist in failing to comply, we will continue to take enforcement action to uphold fairness and accountability across the construction industry.

We are proud to share a significant victory in the Supreme Court of Victoria that has ruled in favour of LeavePlus in two key legal cases, Detector Inspector v LeavePlus and EnergyAustralia v LeavePlus. These rulings provide clarity on what constitutes construction work under Victoria’s portable long service leave scheme.

New claim form launches 8th April 2025

We’re excited to launch our new and improved claim form on 8th April 2025. When you log in to the LeavePlus Portal to claim a Long Service Leave Benefit to fund your well-earned long service leave break, you will be presented with the option to use the existing claim form or try out the new version.

The new form is designed to streamline the claim process using smarter features. We will continue to make improvements and add new features based on our members’ experiences, and we can’t wait to get your feedback.

+ MODERN LOOK

You will notice a new modern look to the form, complete with updated LeavePlus branding and a cleaner layout.

+ MODERN FEEL

We’ve simplified the process with easy-to-follow steps and user-friendly instructions. Instead of one long form, we’ve now condensed each step into new sections with clear headings and guidance text for ease of use.

+ MODERN FEATURES

We have included new features such as pre-populating your information into the form, real-time checks, pop-up boxes and tool-tips to make your application easier to complete.

+ MODERN LOOK

You will notice a new modern look to the form, complete with updated LeavePlus branding and a cleaner layout.

+ MODERN FEEL

+ MODERN FEATURES

We have included new features such as pre-populating your information into the form, real-time checks, pop-up boxes and tool-tips to make your application easier to complete.

Member Centre Completed

In April 2024, work began on refurbishing the ground floor area at 478 Albert St, East Melbourne. Futurespace was entrusted with design development, working closely with LeavePlus to achieve the objectives of creating compelling experiences in spaces that foster collaboration and community, and ultimately bring people together.

SHAPE was appointed as the contractor responsible for bringing this vision to life, working tirelessly over the last year to deliver a stunning new space. We’re thrilled to share the final result with you and take you through some of the key features of our new member centre.

+ ATRIUM SPACE

We’ve extended the previously recessed ground floor facade of the building to meet the profile of the floors above. This now creates a uniform footprint and facade for the whole building. It has transformed the previously underutilised vertical space to create an inviting atrium. With comfy lounge chairs nestled in amongst lush greenery and natural finishes, members and guests alike can relax in comfort when visiting LeavePlus.

+ MEMBER LOUNGE

We know that not every query can be handled over the phone or online. So we wanted to create an inviting space where our members can come to speak with us directly when they need extra support. The lounge areas and open meeting spaces provide a relaxed setting where LeavePlus staff can sit down with our members and help resolve any queries together.

+ CONFERENCE FACILITIES

Carving out space for windows from the external concrete walls has opened up the space to new possibilities. The rear part of the member centre has now been converted into multi-use conference rooms and function spaces big enough to accommodate education sessions and seminars for our Employer and Worker members. The conference facilities feature retractable projector screens, presenter-tracking cameras, and directional microphones to ensure high quality presentations for both in person and online attendees.

In April 2024, work began on refurbishing the ground floor tenancy of our home at 478 Albert St, East Melbourne. Futurespace was entrusted with design development, working closely with LeavePlus to achieve the objectives of creating compelling experiences in spaces that foster collaboration and community, and ultimately bring people together.

+ ATRIUM SPACE

We’ve extended the previously recessed ground floor facade of the building to meet the profile of the floors above. This now creates a uniform footprint and facade for the whole building. It has transformed the previously underutilised vertical space and create an inviting atrium. With comfy lounge chairs nestled in amongst lush greenery and natural finishes, members and guests alike can relax in comfort when visiting LeavePlus.

+ MEMBER LOUNGE

+ CONFERENCE FACILITIES

Carving out space for windows from the external concrete walls has opened up the space to new possibilities. The rear part of the member centre has now been converted into multi-use conference rooms and function spaces big enough to accommodate educations sessions and seminars for our Employer and Worker members. The conference facilities feature retractable projector screens, presenter-tracking cameras and directional microphones to ensure high quality presentations for both in person and online attendees.

Towards the end of last year, LeavePlus launched its Workplace Wellness event series. Construction Industry Employers and industry peers were invited to join LeavePlus in our inaugural event to engage in conversations about why prioritising prevention may just be the secret to a happier, healthier life.

The breakfast event featured former AFL player and coach Nathan Buckley as MC, guiding a panel discussion on how to promote preventive wellbeing in the workplace, and in everyday life. Nathan was joined by Adam Schwab, CEO and co-founder of Luxury Escapes, and renowned lifestyle medicine expert, Dr Caroline West.

The event featured in-depth discussions around physical and mental health and some of the preventive practices you can put in place to help avoid burnout, become more energised, and take control over your wellbeing at work and in your personal life. While there were many insights to take in, we’ve compiled some of our favourites into bite-size collections that you can take back to your workplace and incorporate into your everyday lives.

Habits and programming

We become what we do regularly. That is to say; our habits have a profound effect on who we are. Visual cues and priming your environment are key to being able to start new beneficial habits or navigating away from negative habits.

Dr Caroline West recommends the best way to reinforce positive habits is by making something so easy to do that you can’t say no to it, even if you start with a putting just a small cue in your environment. It’s much harder to say no to exercising in morning if you have primed your environment the night before by putting out your runners and gym bag ready to go. With sustainable habits embedded in the process and your lifestyle, it becomes easier to be consistent. And with consistency, it’s even possible to train your brain to more resilient to stress. By changing your habits and programming, you can improve your mental fitness and decrease the likelihood of burnout from stress.

Rest before you need to

Rest is a vital part of our lives, but it’s especially important for those who work in physically demanding roles in the Construction Industry. That’s why your portable Long Service Leave through LeavePlus is there to help you take a well-earned break when you need it. But rather than waiting until you NEED to rest, it’s important to be proactive and recharge your battery before it becomes fully drained. Planning in advance and being mindful of what’s on the horizon can go a long way towards keeping your mental and social fitness in good shape, keeping you resilient.

Adam Schwab says that Luxury Escapes wants to inspire people to be proactive when it comes to taking a break. Booking a break BEFORE you feel like you need it means that, in addition to accessing better deals to help your wallet, you will also build more anticipation and positive energy with a longer lead-in time, as you will be working towards something. Booking data reveals that the optimal lead in time is around six months, and that 32% of travel is now based on wellness.

Different types of breaks

Taking a break doesn’t have to be a month-long holiday at some far-off destination. Micro-holidays can offer the chance to reset without taking an extended break or spending big on an international trip. Getting away from your work routine for even a short time can give you the opportunity to reconnect with nature, exercise some mindfulness or meditation techniques, and simply reset your stress levels back to a sustainable level.

Even when you’re at home or taking a quick break on site, preventive wellbeing research has revealed that simply taking a quick nap can boost your energy and productivity and reduce stress. NASA has determined that the ideal nap time is just 26 minutes to maximise effects on job performance and alertness, and minimise the dazed or sluggish feeling commonly experienced from longer naps. Respect break time to recharge and regain focus and reduce decision-fatigue that can lead to poor outcomes.

Prioritisation and motivation

Put health and wellbeing on the agenda. When you prioritise preventive wellbeing practices, you ensure that you are always on the front foot rather than treating your mental and physical health as an afterthought. Nathan Buckley recommends that setting achievable goals can be a huge motivator.

Incorporating supporting practices together with motivational tools can help to reinforce positive outcomes. For example, building rewards systems within both existing and new habits helps to not only make the process more enjoyable, but it also makes it more likely that newly formed habits will stick so you can achieve the goals you have prioritised.

Fun and connection

Having an accountability partner can not only keep you motivated to stick to your commitments, but it’s also an avenue to make new connections or strengthen existing ones. When Nathan Buckley was at his lowest point just a few years ago, he made a commitment to go for a morning run with a mate. He credits this with helping him get out of a rut and start taking control of his life again. A primary motivator to keep going was that he had an accountability partner who he didn’t want to let down, and who would help bring his mood back up by connecting on a social and emotional level on a consistent basis.

Social connection and having fun make us more open to the world around us. In Nathan’s weekly football meetings as Collingwood coach, quirkiness would be built into the process to not only lighten the load and put the team at ease, but to also place them in a better frame of mind to receive instruction and feedback.

Dr Caroline West maintains that laughter is one of the fastest connection points. Belly laughing has been proven to reset hormonal pathways and has huge physiological benefits. Encouraging your team members to come up with creative ideas for fun and inclusion is a great foundation for boosting a sense of connection and friendship.

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.