POVB update bulletin February 2026
The POVB State Executive has hit the road running after the Christmas period.
Guiding principles meetings
Meetings have been undertaken, with the executive attending three guiding principles meetings to date, these meetings are a direct result from the successful campaign fought by the POVB/PSA to return Parklea Correctional Centre back into public hands from private contractors. The intention of these meetings is to discuss options for moving forward. Assisting members back to work from workers’ compensation, reducing sick leave whilst improving staff culture, and additional to ways to operate more efficiently to reduce the projected $170 Million budget overspend.
The Senior Executive Advisory Group, Commissioned Officers Vocational Branch have also attended these meetings with the Prison Officer’s Vocational Branch.
Any outcomes will be provided to members for discussion.
RIT industrial action
MSPC and Long Bay Hospital RIT industrial action resulted in the department filing dispute notifications in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC). Compulsory conciliation commenced on Monday 16 February 2026. Several offers were presented to both of the POVB Sub-Branch members for a vote. Collectively, the offers were declined, and the dispute proceeded to arbitration on the Thursday 19 and Friday 20 February 2026. Both sub-branches have once again offered to perform the RIT roles to be fiscally responsible throughout this process whilst in the IRC. The RIT roles, which the department assures us we do not need, have been performed on overtime by executive staff since December at a cost of over $500,000 as of this week.
All this seems to go against the guiding principles discussions currently underway.
Settlement offers have been offered from Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW)with members rejecting the offers to continue our fight in the IRC.
The matter is ongoing and will resume in the IRC on 10 March 2026.
Shortland Hybrid matter
The Shortland Hybrid matter has progressed to the stage where the PSA/POVB lodged the matter in the IRC through breaches of Work Health and Safety.
The matter is to be heard on Wednesday 25 February 2026 with the planned commencing date for Shortland to transition back to an eight-hour model on 9 March 2026.
The PSA/POVB have written to CSNSW requesting the commencing date be deferred.
Roles and Responsibilities meetings
State executive has been attending the Roles and Responsibilities meetings at South Coast Correctional, Mannus Correctional Centre with upcoming meetings to be held at Bathurst and Lithgow.
The John Morony Correctional Centre (JMCC) has been in the IRC, with slow process being made to provide staff with amenities and changeroom facilities. The next IRC mention is on 11 March 2026.
Health Problem Notification Form
The Metropolitan Reception and Remand Centre (MRRC), as part of consultation with Justice Health, have commenced a pilot program for the roll out of a new Health Problem Notification Form (HPNF) system.
This is being trialled at MRRC so they can find issues before potentially being rolled out statewide. The new form allows very little free text and is instead drop down and tick boxes which will hopefully lead to more consistency and easier for all staff to use.
Dillwynia and Silverwater Women’s delegates held a joint meeting to discuss the difficulties with housing some of the most high-risk females’ inmates in the state.
Members from both branches are united in ensuring that staff safety is at the forefront and that consultation and communication remains ongoing between management and staff at both centres.
Officer Assaults process
POVB continues to experience ongoing issues with the Officer Assaults process, with significant inconsistencies occurring from the initial reporting stage through to the final judicial outcome. These inconsistencies are resulting in delays, communication breakdowns, and uneven support for the impacted officers.
To address these concerns, the POVB State Executive is advocating for the creation of a dedicated full‑time position responsible for overseeing all Officer Assault matters. This role would ensure cases are managed accurately, consistently, and in a timely manner, while also maintaining clear and continuous communication with affected officers throughout the entire process.
Meal money payments
As part of the Clean Slate Program review, it has been identified that several Field Officers at Mary Wade Correction Centre were incorrectly declined meal money payments for shifts where they were entitled to receive them. This matter has now been reviewed and payment has been approved, including back pay for the period from 3 July 2023 to April 2025.
Back pay will be processed once the Workforce Management (WFM) system upgrade is completed.
Golden goose
Meal break allowances on double shifts were not being paid despite clear provisions in the Correctional Officers Award. This issue has been clarified and meal money will now be paid for staff performing overtime shifts and an additional overtime (double) Operations Scheduling Unit (OSU) working with payroll to identify any eligible staff for Back pay.
Don’t forget if you wish the State Executive to attend any subbranch meeting please invite us.
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