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Up to 250,000 community sector workers would see their leave rights expanded under a landmark draft bill released today by the NSW Government for consultation.

The reforms will allow community sector workers to access long service leave sooner and accrue leave based on time employed in the sector, rather than time employed by a single employer.

Workers in disability care, family and domestic violence services, homelessness services and many other essential services will benefit from the reform.

The move responds to the rise of insecure work in the disability and community sectors and forms part of the government’s commitment to attract and retain key workers in NSW. Community services workers across NSW are known for their dedication to promoting social inclusion and wellbeing.

However, many workers face issues such as stress, burnout, and job insecurity, with high levels of casualisation. Information provided by employers suggests a portable leave scheme will help to address these issues.

And 75% of the 250,000 strong social services workforce in NSW are women.

Key elements of the scheme include:

• offering paid long service leave after 7 years, rather than 10 years
• allowing workers to accrue long service leave across multiple employers within the sector (leave is portable). Under existing rules, community service workers lose their long service leave if they change employer, despite the nature of the sector seeing workers frequently shift between employers or working for multiple employers.
• having 1 central agency administer long service leave, including records and leave payments.

Our plan will bring NSW in line with other jurisdictions (ACT, Victoria and Queensland) that have already established portable leave schemes for these sectors. NSW cannot be left behind and must value these essential workers.

A draft of the Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Bill 2024 and a regulatory impact statement outlining the proposed model is now available for public consultation.

The public consultation opened on 26 March 2024 and is due to close on 30 April 2024.

To make a submission or complete a short survey on the proposed scheme, visit Have Your Say.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis:

“Community sector workers are often on short-term contracts with multiple employers and do not have access to long service leave, despite some working in the sector for more than a decade.

“By basing long service on time employed in the sector, workers will be able to accrue long service leave no matter how often they change jobs, providing an added incentive to choose and remain in the sector.

“A portable entitlements system aims to reduce the high level of staff turnover among community service workers, provide these essential workers with greater financial security and improve the level of care provided to clients.

“Whether you are a worker, employer, or someone interested in the scheme, I encourage you to have your say on how we can build a fair and robust scheme that better supports our community and disability service sectors in NSW.”

The NSW Government is continuing to prioritise the diverse needs of our agricultural industry. Landholders in western NSW have a great opportunity to have a say in how support services for drought, pest animals and other land management issues are delivered by the NSW Government by participating in the Local Land Services (LLS) Regional Landholder Survey.

Landholders who submit a survey will also be supporting the Royal Flying Doctor Service with LLS to make a donation for each survey completed.

Previous survey results have played an important role shaping the programs, projects and planning of Western Local Land Services to ensure its meeting the needs of landholders across Western NSW as well as identify regional trends.

Some of the interesting findings from the 2020 survey include:

• 15,000 hectares — average property size
• 340km — average distance to the closest market for farm products
• 88% — of landholders experienced issues with pest animals.

In addition to the Regional Landholder Survey, Western Local Land Services is calling for input into its Aboriginal Community Survey, with results to be used to inform the delivery of future projects and programs.

The Regional Landholder Survey can be completed online via Western Local Land Services Regional Landholder Survey

The Aboriginal Community Survey will be completed via a hardcopy form at organised community events.  

The surveys take approximately 60 minutes to complete and results will be pooled so participants cannot be identified.

For more information, contact Sam Field on 0427 256 501 or sam.field@lls.nsw.gov.au.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“These surveys are an opportunity for western NSW farmers and land holders to have a say in shaping the services and support provided by the NSW Government.

“They are also a way for aboriginal communities to add their voice to shaping projects and programs across the Western Local Land Services region.

“Landholders also have the added incentive of knowing they can complete a survey and it supports the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

“I encourage western NSW communities to get involved and complete the Western Local Land Services Regional Landholder Survey today.”

The NSW Government is reminding consumers to behave respectfully towards retail workers as shoppers and retailers prepare for the rush ahead of stores closing on Good Friday (March 29).

A 2023 survey of more than 4600 retail workers reported 87% of workers experienced verbal abuse from a customer, 12.5% reporting physical violence, and 52% reporting they had the same customer act abusive or violent on more than one occasion.

Workplace violence can be via a threat or action which causes either physical or psychological harm or injury.

In the retail industry workplace, this includes intimidating behavior which creates a fear of violence such as verbal threats, throwing objects or shoving, spitting or other physical contact.

Retailers should have systems and policies in place to help staff respond when faced with violence and aggression from customers.

SafeWork NSW is continuing to respond to an incident on February 18 where a 64-year-old worker was allegedly assaulted at a supermarket in Western Sydney. While NSW Police are investigating matters related to alleged criminal conduct, SafeWork NSW are reviewing the incident to see if there are breaches of WHS laws.

Tougher penalties for assaulting retail workers were introduced by the NSW Government last year with some offences receiving a maximum penalty of 11 years.

For further advice and resources relating to safety in the retail trade please visit the SafeWork website.

Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis, said:

“Easter is a great time of the year – it’s a major religious event, a public holiday and a major shopping opportunity for people of this state who are preparing for community celebrations, hosting guests at home or just trying to get away for a break.

“Let’s all remember – the people who are serving you this Easter are from our local community and they are the relatives of the people who live and work around you.

“If 1 person gets agitated while shopping it is hard enough on staff members, but when you are dealing with hundreds of customers a day the agitation absorbed by front line workers accumulates.

“Whatever pressure you may feel when going shopping please respect every retail worker who serves you.

“Retail workers have the right to feel safe when they go to work and there are now strong laws in place to protect them.”

Head of SafeWork NSW, Trent Curtin, said:

“Workers’ compensation data over the last 3 years shows us most claims in the retail sector are made by sales assistants at fuel retailers, supermarkets and retail department stores – and around 60% are made by female workers.

“We are asking customers to maintain appropriate behavior when interacting with retail workers, and to have a little patience and understanding this Easter. We are asking employers and managers to notify SafeWork NSW of any incidence of violence in the workplace.”

Secretary of SDA NSW, Bernie Smith, said:

“Customer abuse is rife in Australian shopping centres, with 87% of workers being subjected to abuse including physical violence, with 1 in 10 reporting being spat on. This must change. Everyone has a right to feel safe at work.

“We ask customers to stop, reflect and do the right thing in shops this Easter so everyone including retail workers can feel safe and celebrate this special time.”

CEO Australian Retailers Association, Paul Zahra, said:

“This Easter, in NSW, criminals will face jail time if they assault or harass our frontline workers.”

“No one deserves to be spat on, threatened with weapons, intimidated or harassed for simply doing their job. So let’s shop up big this Easter but let’s shop respectfully.”

The NSW Government is meeting the growing demand for construction courses in the Bathurst region with an investment of $1.5 million for TAFE NSW Lithgow. 

This investment is part of a $300 million statewide program delivering upgraded facilities and equipment to 120 TAFE NSW campuses across the state by June 2024.

Carpentry will be offered at TAFE NSW Lithgow for the first time in 2024, with an $80,000 investment towards a workshop for carpentry apprentices. A further $119,000 has been allocated to new equipment for welding and metal fabrication courses.

NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steven Whan said these facilities will help meet the growing demand for construction and manufacturing workers in the region.

“TAFE NSW is providing learners with the skills needed for the next generation of construction and manufacturing workers in Lithgow.

“Construction and manufacturing are 2 of the top 5 most in-demand industries in the region and the NSW Government is investing in TAFE NSW to provide the facilities, training, and industry standard equipment to meet this workforce demand,” Mr Whan said.

With the demand for construction courses increasing across Western Sydney, Mr Whan said the creation of a construction hub at TAFE NSW Lithgow would save local students significant travel time to surrounding campuses.

“Local students won’t need to travel up to 40 minutes to Bathurst or 1.5 hours to Nirimba to complete their carpentry course. With our investment in the assets here at TAFE NSW Lithgow, we’re establishing Lithgow as a hub for industry and manufacturing,” he said.

TAFE NSW is also partnered with local employers, Thales, Energy Australia, and Centennial Coal to deliver training to apprentices through its Skills Centre. Skills Centre students get accelerated learning in their trade as well as developing foundational knowledge in a range of other trade skill sets, boosting their versatility as workers, and improving job prospects.

“Through our investment in TAFE NSW, the NSW Government’s commitment to delivering a workforce with the skills Lithgow needs,” Mr Whan said.

More than 50 years of service to the community has earned Father Nicolaos Zervas OAM the honour of becoming the 17^th Freeman of the City of Newcastle.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes bestowed the award on the 90-year-old today during the Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church’s annual celebration for Greek Independence Day.

Father Nicolaos Zervas wearing his medal with wife Nina, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, Sharon Claydon MP, Tim Crakanthorp MP and CN Councillors.

Cr Nelmes said Father Nicolaos’ selfless acts have benefitted multiple generations, from teaching scripture to children, through to volunteering with senior citizens.

“Father Nicolaos’ list of achievements spans decades, with a remarkable breadth of service to the community,” Cr Nelmes said.

“He has contributed to initiatives that not only advanced his local Greek community, but also across sectors of health and wellbeing, peace and justice, sport, and aged care, for all Novocastrians.”

Born in Greece in 1934, Nicolaos Zervas came to Australia in 1955. He initially opened a restaurant in Victoria, then one in Sydney, but his real dream was to become a priest.

After marrying his beloved wife Christina (Nina) in 1965, he was given an opportunity to move north where he was ordained by the Newcastle Greek community in 1973.

Twenty years later he was awarded the Order of Australia medal for his spirit of giving, volunteering with Meals on Wheels at Hamilton, the Northern Settlement Services, the Ethnic Communities Council and Lifeline.

Father Nicolaos is a founding member of Greek Day Care and a life member of Hippocrates Aged Care, Fronditha Aged Care Nursing Home and Newcastle Olympic Football Club.

Despite retiring from his role with the Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in July 2021 he still regularly visits people in nursing homes and hospitals.

Father Nicolaos said he was proud to receive the honour of being named Newcastle’s 17^th Freeman of the City, a place he has called home for over 50 years.

“I was living in Sydney when I was given the option to relocate to Newcastle,” Father Nicolaos said.

“As soon as we arrived, I felt very at home, and I knew it was the place I wanted to work and raise my family in. 

“It is emotional to be recognised by the City of Newcastle in this way. The support of my wife Nina, my four children and 10 grandchildren has enabled me to keep giving back to the community of St Demetrios and the people of Newcastle and now, even in retirement, it has been my absolute privilege to do so.”

Father Nicolaos joins an impressive list of fellow Novocastrians to be awarded the Freeman of the City honour including former Lord Mayor Joy Cummings, Surfest co-founder Warren Smith and writer, philanthropist and passionate historian, Vera Deacon.