Office of the Children’s Guardian: PSA site visit

PSA Organiser Alex Sala and Industrial Officer Anthony Wright will be visiting members at the Office of the Children’s Guardian office in Strawberry Hills on 13 October.

Your new Industrial Officer, Anthony Wright is keen to meet Office of the Children’s Guardian members.

Please drop by and have a chat about industrial issues, workplace concerns and any issues you may be experiencing at work. We will also talk about the matters that we are currently working on.

What does the PSA do?

The PSA works to:

Advocate for and protect your rights and entitlements as a NSW Government employee.
Negotiate and advocate on matters affecting your working conditions.
Support members with workplace and industrial issues.
Provide a range of member benefits, including journey insurance. Following changes made by the NSW Government in 2012, this protection is available through PSA membership.

What can you do?

Display this bulletin on your workplace noticeboard.
Work together on how we can capture the work you do (to present your workload to management)
Talk to your colleagues about the benefits of PSA membership.
Encourage a colleague to join the PSA.
Enrol in PSA training to build your workplace knowledge and skills.

Not a PSA member?

Come along and have a chat with Alex, Anthony and with your workplace delegates.

Non-members are very welcome to discuss the benefits of joining the PSA and find out how union membership can support you in your workplace.

Meeting details
Date:	Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Time:	11:30am – 1:30pm
Location:	Murrumbidgee room (12:00pm – 1:00pm), or online via Teams Join HERE Meeting ID: 473 910 146 759 611 Passcode: 627yp6ZT

Meeting details

Date:

Tuesday, 13 October 2026

Time:

11:30am – 1:30pm

Location:

Murrumbidgee room (12:00pm – 1:00pm), or online via Teams

Join HERE

Meeting ID: 473 910 146 759 611

Passcode: 627yp6ZT

Contacts

Alex Sala Organiser

Anthony Wright Industrial Officer

Interpreters and Translators: Cost-of-Living Adjustment Payment

As part of the last Public Sector Wages Case, the PSA secured pay increases over the life of the awards to which we are a party. These increases have been passed on to members as they fell due.

The PSA has secured another important outcome for members. Eligible employees will receive a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) payment of up to $1,000, together with an additional superannuation contribution of up to $120. Both payments will be made on a pro-rata basis, depending on employment arrangements.

Your previous three pay increases, from 2024 to 2026, were the result of negotiations between the PSA and the NSW Government. As part of those negotiations, the PSA successfully secured a commitment that if the Sydney Consumer Price Index (CPI) exceeded 4 per cent in either the second or third year of the three-year wage agreement, members would receive a COLA payment.

How the COLA payment is calculated

Full-time employees are eligible to receive the full COLA payment of $1,000.

Part-time employees will receive a pro-rata payment based on their part-time hours.

For translators, Multicultural NSW has advised that, for the purposes of calculating the COLA payment, translation work has been converted from words to hours on the basis that 2,000 words equates to seven hours of work.

This conversion has previously been used by Language Services to prepare quotations and calculate assignment durations and is based on an industry average.

For the purposes of the Award, the calculation is based on a midpoint between standard and non-standard documents, as set out in clauses 11.4 and 11.5 of the Crown Employees (Interpreters and Translators, Multicultural NSW) Award 2021.

Have you received your COLA payment?

Multicultural NSW have advised the PSA that for eligible interpreters and translators, the COLA payment will be processed through payroll in the pay period ending 10 September 2026.

If you believe you are eligible for the COLA payment but have not received it, please make an enquiry through Multicultural NSW payroll. Upon receiving a response from Multicultural NSW payroll if you still have any questions, you can contact our Member Support Centre via email: or by calling 1800 772 679.

Contacts

Your PSA Industrial Staff are:

Anthony Wright Industrial Officer

Alex Sala Organiser

Reminder: join the Northcott state-wide members’ meeting on Wednesday 14 October

The PSA CPSU NSW is inviting all Northcott members to attend an upcoming state-wide member meeting to hear important updates about the commencement of bargaining with Northcott.

This meeting is an important opportunity for members to:

Hear the latest information about the bargaining process.
Understand what happens next.
Raise issues and concerns that matter to you; and
Have your voice and input heard as we work through negotiations.

Your participation matters.

Strong member involvement is essential to ensuring the issues that matter most to Northcott employees are reflected in bargaining.

Meeting details
Date:	Wednesday 14 October 2026
Time:	2:30pm – 3:30pm
Location:	Microsoft Teams Meeting Join the meeting HERE Meeting ID 441 054 101 308 052 Passcode Qb7TT6f4

Meeting details

Date:

Wednesday 14 October 2026

Time:

2:30pm – 3:30pm

Location:

Microsoft Teams Meeting

Join the meeting HERE

Meeting ID 441 054 101 308 052
Passcode Qb7TT6f4

Northcott members, this is your time to get involved!

Come along, hear the latest updates, and make sure your voice is part of the bargaining process.

If you cannot attend, please reach out and email your enquiries or concerns too:

Monika Wunderlin Industrial Officer

Alex Sala Organiser

PSA win: P-Card travel provisions policy circular – SafeWorkNSW communication

As reported to members on 10 September 2026 the long running P-card dispute had resulted in an agreement to back pay Inspectors outstanding travel payments. The only remaining issue was to consult on a draft P-Card Travel Policy Provisions Circular.

Consultation closed on the 18 September 2026 with final agreement on the policy resulting in a go-live date of 6 October 2026.

The following communication to staff went out on 6 October:

Email to all staff employed by SafeWorkNSW SEE HERE

From 6 October 2026, a new Travel Provisions Circular sets out how SafeWork NSW pays allowances for approved overnight travel. This email explains what’s changing, how past travel will be paid for inspectors, and what you may need to do.

SafeWorkNSW Travel Provisions Circular – October 2026 SEE HERE

New agreed policy circular outlines Travel provisions payable to all staff from 6 October 2026.

SafeWorkNSW PCard and Travel Provisions Circular FAQs – October 2026 SEE HERE

The attached frequently asked questions have been put together to help provide you with more information regarding travel expenses and the lump sum payment for inspectors.

PSA win

After a lengthy and frustrating dispute, the final successful outcome for SafeWork Inspectors came into effect on 6 October 2026. The new Travel Provisions Policy delivers significant improvements over the previous arrangements. Under the new policy, SafeWork NSW will pay allowances for approved work-related travel for all SafeWork NSW employees, including:

Non-executive employees can use P-Cards for travel expenses and claim meal and incidental allowances up to Award or Treasury rates, whichever is higher.
Staff can receive full meal allowances without receipts in some circumstances, while residual claims can be made where P-Cards are used.
Incidentals for overnight travel are payable in full, with any residual claimable where P-Cards are used.

A special thank you goes to the PSA SafeWork Inspectors Vocational Advisory Group delegates for their ongoing advocacy and support. Their efforts have secured outlined backpay arrangements and ensured that all SafeWork NSW members will benefit from fairer travel reimbursement provisions into the future.

This is an important PSA win and sets a benchmark for members across the NSW Public Service seeking reimbursement for work-related expenses, whether through the use of a P-Card or under the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Award.

This outcome demonstrates the value of collective action and the importance of members standing together through the PSA to achieve lasting workplace improvements.

PSA Contacts

Member Support Centre 1800 772 670

Delegates

Maree Davidson Chair

Toni McKay Deputy Chair

Gavin Parker Secretary

Liam O’Dwyer Delegate

Kate Grajales Ochoa Delegate

Jodi Cleaves Delegate

Louisa Burns Delegate

Lily Gilbert–Smith Delegate

PSA staff

Michael Parsons PSA Organiser

Greg Shaw Senior Industrial Officer

Save the date: University of Sydney Annual General Meeting 2026

You are invited to attend the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the University of Sydney on:

Meeting details
Date:	Thursday 5 November 2026
Time:	1:00pm-2:00pm
Location:	Venue details and Zoom link will follow shortly

A key component of the AGM is the election of your University of Sydney CPSU NSW delegates.

We strongly encourage members to nominate and become a delegate on the University of Sydney Branch Team:

To have your say in how your union is run and be a part of a collective effort to improve your rights at work
Build strength on the ground to advance and protect Professional Staff interests.

Our unique strength as the Professional Staff Union is the diversity of the membership:

CPSU NSW members work across all faculties and units.
CPSU NSW members work across a large range of vocations and professions.

The University of Sydney Branch is keen to encourage more members to nominate across the university and vocations to add your experience to the team. If you have ever thought about getting more involved in YOUR union, now is the time!

Below are the positions available for nomination as per the University of Sydney:

President, who will, inter alia, preside at meetings of the Branch and Branch Committee
Vice-President, who will, inter alia, deputise for the Branch President
Secretary, who will, inter alia, keep the minutes of all meetings of the Branch and of the Committee
Assistant Secretary, who will, inter alia, assist and deputise for the Secretary.
Women’s Officer, who will inter alia, promote the interests of Women members of the Branch.
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) Officer, who will, inter alia, support and promote WHS issues to all members of the Branch and represent the Branch on the WHS Committee

If you would like to nominate for a position, you can do so by emailing with SYDNEY UNI AGM 2026 in the subject line. In the body of the email please indicate which position you are nominating for. We will also call for nominations from the floor on the day.

Feel free to bring a friend or colleague to learn more about the University of Sydney Branch of CPSU NSW and help shape the future you want at your workplace.

If you have any concerns or questions, please email Jose Vasquez, CPSU NSW Organiser, at

Environment Protection Authority: failure to consult is an insult

At your last members’ meeting, the Public Service Association (PSA) heard members report unsustainable workloads, resourcing gaps, system failures, leadership instability, classification creep, and a lack of transparency and direction.

The PSA sought an urgent meeting with management to deliver those concerns. Your union’s written request and the EPA’s written response is available for members through the member portal HERE.

Consultation requires more than an email

On Tuesday 6 October, EPA management sent the PSA an email to notify of proposed changes in the Engagement and Product Stewardship Branch. The PSA is deeply concerned the EPA have announced a restructure through an email outlining significant changes in Engagement and Product Stewardship Branch without any consultation.

The PSA wrote to the EPA expressing the union’s concerns about the lack of consultation. The EPA has provided further detail on the proposed process and rationale for changes in the Engagement and Product Stewardship Branch, and indicated limited consultation will begin this week. Your union is seeking your feedback on this proposal. The PSA is aware, this area was significantly impacted in the major restructure announced in the EPA, October 2025.

The PSA is calling a members’ meeting to discuss the response to members’ concerns and the proposed changes in Engagement and Product Stewardship Branch

Meeting details
Date:	Tuesday 13 October 2026
Time:	12:00pm-1:00pm
Location:	Room 50, level 11 6PSQ and online HERE Meeting ID: 451 286 334 906 439 Passcode: t93P5ru3

Meeting details

Date:

Tuesday 13 October 2026

Time:

12:00pm-1:00pm

Location:

Room 50, level 11 6PSQ and online HERE

Meeting ID: 451 286 334 906 439

Passcode: t93P5ru3

Contacts

Your delegates

Jane Burgett

Scott King

Simon Lemont

Hugo Floyd

Fred Hennessy

Simon Lund

Caterina Giglio

Tylah Batistuzo-Hale

PSA staff

Michael Parsons Organiser

Michael Sinclair Industrial Officer

PSA Members’ meeting: Industrial Relations Commission report back – Government Technology Platforms restructure

Thank you to those members who attended the meeting on Friday 2 October 2026. It was agreed at that meeting the next members’ meeting would be held on Thursday 8 October 2026 to provide members with a report back from the Conciliation Conference taking place on Wednesday 7 October 2026.

A Conciliation Conference is a facilitated discussion before the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC), where the parties attempt to resolve issues in dispute, clarify positions, and explore possible outcomes with the assistance of a Commissioner.

PSA members are invited to attend the meeting to receive an update on the dispute, hear the outcomes of the Conciliation Conference, discuss next steps, and provide feedback to the union.

Meeting details
Date:	Thursday 8 October 2026
Time:	12:30pm – 1:30pm
Location:	Microsoft Teams Meeting Join the meeting Meeting ID: 433 998 467 434 517 Passcode: 9DL6qr3H

Meeting details

Date:

Thursday 8 October 2026

Time:

12:30pm – 1:30pm

Location:

Microsoft Teams Meeting

Join the meeting

Meeting ID: 433 998 467 434 517
Passcode: 9DL6qr3H

If you know a colleague affected by the restructure who is not yet a PSA member, please encourage them to join the PSA so they can participate in the union’s consultation processes.

PSA Contacts

Dean Allen Industrial Officer

Trina Leask Organiser

Congratulations to your newly elected delegates to the icare Departmental Committee

The PSA is pleased to announce that the following members have been elected unopposed as delegates to the icare Departmental Committee.

Electorate 1 Sydney Metro – Kent Street

Lachlan Cotterill

Mattia Bondanza

Electorate 2 Sydney West – Parramatta Office

Geraldine Waters

Electorate 3 Central Coast – Gosford

Kristin Harrigan

Electorate 4 Regional Newcastle and Wollongong

Rosemary Birt

Congratulations to the newly elected delegates and thank you to all members who participated in the nomination process.

The newly elected Departmental Committee will meet in November to hold its Annual General Meeting, elect the executive committee, and conduct its first meeting to discuss the key issues affecting icare members.

There is currently one delegate vacancy in Electorate 2 Parramatta. Casual vacancies may be filled during the two-year term of the Departmental Committee. Any casual vacancy must be endorsed by the Departmental Committee and approved by the PSA Executive.

If you are interested in filling this casual vacancy, please contact your Organiser Vivette Horrex for further information.

Delegate training will be provided to all delegates, who will also receive ongoing support and guidance from the PSA.

Contacts

Shane Howes Industrial Officer

Vivette Horrex Organiser

Rural Fire Service Award and Salaries Award update

In July 2026 the PSA surveyed members regarding arbitration of the Rural Fire Service (RFS) Award and the Salaries Award. You can read that bulletin HERE. Members voted overwhelmingly for using the Work Values Changes Principle to arbitrate the RFS Award.

The PSA is committed to having a new RFS award in place by 1 July 2027 and presented this view to the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) on 31 August in a directions hearing on the matter.

On 3 September 2026, the Commission set a timetable for arbitration. The key dates are:

28 September 2026 – PSA to file its award.
16 November 2026 – RFS to files its competing award.
26 March 2027 – Final evidence from parties to be submitted.
10–25 May 2027 – Hearing dates.
8–9 June 2027 – Closing submissions.

Your delegates and the PSA legal team have drafted the PSA amended RFS Award for submission to the IRC. The drafted award is based on the member supported log of claims, and includes:

Wage increases.
Expanded overtime entitlements.
Increased and expanded allowances (including the after-hours allowance).
Defining when incident conditions apply, with roles to be remunerated appropriately.
Protection against AI displacing jobs.
Other benefits.

The PSA has allocated significant resources to running the case, involving a team of solicitors, barristers and your delegates working together. However, keep in mind that there is no certainty in the outcome of the arbitration, and the agency will push back against the PSA’s case.

Your delegates are currently working to identify potential members who can demonstrate clear evidence across the claims and the different types of workers required to operate the RFS. If you would like to know more about what is involved in being a witness, please reach out to your delegate.

Contacts

RFS Departmental Committee delegates

Ivan Perkins Chair
John Osmond Vice Chair
Cameron Gray Secretary
Guy Duckworth Vice Secretary
Daniel Ainsworth
Boyd Townsend
Darryl Foster
Ben Plummer
Jim Killen
Adrian May
Lindsey Flynn
Tim Allen
Brad Stewart
Dave Millsteed
Troy Porter

Mitigation Advisory Group

Brenton Pumpa Chair and Departmental Committee representative
Ashley Pobje Vice Chair
Dylan Stolzenhein Secretary
Henry Greenham Vice Secretary
Kieran Scouller

PSA staff

Michael Sinclair Industrial Officer

Kim de Govrik Organiser

Graydon Plumridge Organiser

PSA members’ meeting: Government Technology Platforms restructure

PSA members will be aware that the union is currently in dispute with the Department of Customer Service regarding the GTP restructure .

Following a report-back before the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW on Wednesday 30 September 2026, the Commissioner has scheduled a compulsory conciliation conference for Wednesday 7 October 2026.

PSA members are invited to attend a member meeting to receive an update on the dispute, discuss the next steps, and provide feedback to the union.

Meeting details
Date:	Friday 2 October 2026
Time:	12:30pm – 1:30pm
Location:	Microsoft Teams Meeting Join the meeting Meeting ID: 433 998 467 434 517 Passcode: 9DL6qr3H

Meeting details

Date:

Friday 2 October 2026

Time:

12:30pm – 1:30pm

Location:

Microsoft Teams Meeting

Join the meeting

Meeting ID: 433 998 467 434 517
Passcode: 9DL6qr3H

If you know a colleague affected by the restructure who is not yet a PSA member, please encourage them to join the PSA so they can participate in the union’s consultation processes.

PSA Contacts

Dean Allen Industrial Officer

Trina Leask Organiser

Nominate for Clarence Correctional Case Officer delegate position

The CPSU is requesting any interested members nominate for the vacant Clarence Correctional Case Officer (CCO) position on the Clarence Correctional Advisory Group.

Clarence Correctional Centre Advisory Group meets before the Delegates Consultative Committee (DCC) on a bi-monthly basis.

As a delegate you will liaise with members and put forward agenda items for the DCC and support members when required.

If we receive more than one nomination then we will put the candidates to a vote.

If you are interested in nominating email Regional Organiser Rebecca Reilly at by COB 7 October 2026.

If you would like to know more about the position call Rebecca on 0419980503.

Contacts

Your Delegates at Serco are:

- Kody Richards (CCO)
- Mark Bathgate (CCO)
- Luke Binskin (CCO)
- Keri Parbery (Supervisors)
- Heather Christie (Trade Instructors)
- Von Preston (Non-Custodial)

Congratulations to your newly elected delegates to the SafeWork Inspectors Vocational Branch

The PSA is pleased to announce that the following members have been elected unopposed as delegates to the SafeWork Inspectors Vocational Branch.

Electorate 1 – Metro Operations and Enforcement

Mustafa Issa
Kate Grajales

Electorate 2 – Metro Strategic Corporate Services

Maree Davidson
Genevieve Fleming

Electorate 3 – Metro Regulatory and Harm

Toni McKay
One vacancy

Electorate 4 – Regional (All Streams)

Gavin Parker
Alex Crosbie

Congratulations to the newly elected delegates and thank you to all members who participated in the nomination process.

The newly elected Vocational Branch will meet shortly to hold its Annual General Meeting, elect the executive committee, and conduct its first meeting to discuss the key issues affecting SafeWork Inspector members.

There is currently one delegate vacancy in Electorate 3. Casual vacancies may be filled during the two-year term of the Vocational Branch. Any casual vacancy must be endorsed by the Departmental Committee and approved by the PSA Executive.

If you are interested in filling this casual vacancy, please contact your Organiser for further information.

Delegate training will be provided to all delegates, who will also receive ongoing support and guidance from the PSA.

NOTE : Elections for the SafeWork NSW Departmental Committee will be held shortly.

Contacts

Greg Shaw Senior Industrial Officer

Michael Parsons Organiser

Member Support Centre 1800 772 679

Menu

Office of the Children’s Guardian: PSA site visit

Recent News

Interpreters and Translators: Cost-of-Living Adjustment Payment

Recent News

Reminder: join the Northcott state-wide members’ meeting on Wednesday 14 October

Recent News

PSA win: P-Card travel provisions policy circular – SafeWorkNSW communication

Recent News

Save the date: University of Sydney Annual General Meeting 2026

Recent News

Environment Protection Authority: failure to consult is an insult

Recent News

PSA Members’ meeting: Industrial Relations Commission report back – Government Technology Platforms restructure

Recent News

Congratulations to your newly elected delegates to the icare Departmental Committee

Recent News

Rural Fire Service Award and Salaries Award update

Recent News

PSA members’ meeting: Government Technology Platforms restructure

Recent News

Nominate for Clarence Correctional Case Officer delegate position

Contacts

Recent News

Congratulations to your newly elected delegates to the SafeWork Inspectors Vocational Branch

Contacts

Recent News

Become a member today

Quick Links

Contact and Follow

Acknowledgement of Country