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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Proposed changes to NSW Ombudsman: Resourcing for the People, Performance and Sector Improvement Portfolio
The NSW Ombudsman has written to the PSA regarding their consultation paper – Resourcing for the People, Performance and Sector Improvement (PPSI) Portfolio.
The proposed changes are intended to improve the alignment of functions across the PPSI Portfolio by bringing related work together, clarifying business unit responsibilities and reporting arrangements, strengthening organisational capability, and supporting delivery of the NSW Ombudsman Strategic Plan 2025–2030.
The consultation paper outlines the proposed changes across relevant areas of the PPSI Portfolio, including the rationale for the changes and the impacts on relevant positions and reporting arrangements.
The consultation paper and consultation presentation (SEE HERE) has been released to all staff commencing a two-week consultation period from 23 September to 7 October 2026.
The PSA is invited to review the consultation paper and will provide member feedback or comments on the proposed changes during the consultation period. PSA member written feedback should be submitted by close of business 6 October 2026 to
PSA will arrange to meet with NSW Ombudsman representatives during the consultation period to discuss the proposal.
Feedback received through the consultation process will be reviewed and considered before the proposed structure and associated implementation arrangements are finalised.
Contacts
Member Support Centre
1800 772 679 &ved=2ahUKEwjngKiRqJKXAxUan68BHbuuJUcQy_kOegoIAggACAAIGRAA&opi=89978449&cd&psig=AOvVaw1TJY7zF_WFoktuDYNJoTVK&ust=1790720579035000" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-ved="2ahUKEwjngKiRqJKXAxUan68BHbuuJUcQy_kOegoIAggACAAIGRAA" data-hveid="CAIIAAgACBkQAA" data-copy-service-computed-style="font-family: Google Sans, Arial, sans-serif, Noto Color Emoji; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 500; margin: 0px; text-decoration: underline 1px rgb(26, 13, 171); border-bottom: 0px rgb(26, 13, 171);">
Each month, the PSA CPSU NSW highlights a benefit available to our members. This month, we are focusing on the range of insurance options available through WageCover.
WageCover
WageCover provides a range of insurance solutions designed to offer financial protection and peace of mind to PSA CPSU NSW members and their families, including cover for personal injuries, accidents occurring during travel to and from work, and loss of income due to illness or injury.
Some benefits are included in membership fees, while others are available for an additional cost.
Personal Injury Insurance
Personal Injury insurance is provided to PSA CPSU NSW members at no additional cost as part of their membership. The policy provides financial benefits in the event of certain accidental injuries or death, subject to the policies terms and conditions.
Broken bones, hospital stays due to a workplace incident is a new benefit for members only.
Members may also extend this cover to their immediate family members for an additional $11 per year.
Journey Insurance is included in PSA membership fees and provides financial protection for eligible members who sustain an injury while travelling directly between their home and workplace. The policy provides access to weekly injury benefits, subject to applicable eligibility requirements and policy conditions.
WageCover Income Protection – Corrective Services and Justice NSW Members
WageCover offers a specialised income protection policy for eligible Corrective Services and Justice NSW members, designed to provide financial assistance where illness or injury affects their ability to work. This optional insurance is available for an additional premium and provides cover subject to the policy’s terms, conditions and eligibility requirements.
WageCover also offers optional income protection insurance to PSA members, providing financial support in the event that an eligible illness or injury prevents them from working. This insurance is available for an additional premium and is designed to assist members in maintaining financial stability during periods of incapacity.
Members are encouraged to review the relevant policy documents, eligibility criteria and terms and conditions to determine which insurance options may be suitable for their individual circumstances.
For further information about the insurance benefits available through WageCover, and how to take up Family Personal and Accident Cover ($11per annum) and Income Protection policies, please visit the PSA Member Benefits Website
PSA CPSU NSW Retired Associates: minutes of meeting Tuesday 25 August 2026
The meeting was chaired by Robert Asbury, Vice President of the PSA/CPSU NSW Retired Associates and commenced at 10:40am at PSA House.
1. Acknowledgement of Country – Robert Asbury.
2. Attendance
At PSA House: Ann Cuddy, Wayne O’Mara, Robert Asbury, David Clyant, Samson Ramon.
By Teams: Nil.
3. Apologies
Dave McKeough, Nicola Christie, Mara Tudorin, Robert Ryan, Ysbrand Oosten, John Walz.
Motion: That the apologies be accepted.
Moved: Robert Asbury SECONDED: David Clyant.
Carried: Unanimously
4. Minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 June, 2026
Motion: That the minutes be accepted
Moved: Wayne O’Mara SECONDED: Robert Asbury
Carried: Unanimously
5. Business Arising
5.1. Motion re SSS Superannuation
No response as yet – to be followed up by Dylan Smith, Manager, Industrial Specialists
5.2. Future Speakers
Services Australia
6. Reports
6.1. PSA: Nil
6.2. Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association (CPSA). Nil
6.3. Sydney Retired Unionists Group (SRUG) Nil
7. Correspondence Nil
8. Motions on Notice Nil
9. General Business
9.1. Proposed future speakers: Services Australia – Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
AI relating to Public Service jobs
Digital footprint
Aspire4Life – Care Finder Program
Service New South Wales – Elder Driver Health and Assessment
9.2 Future Meeting Dates
Tuesday 27 October 2026
Tuesday 1 December 2026
Motion: to move PSA CPSU Retired Associates meeting on 1 December 2026 to 8 December 2026
Moved: Robert Asbury Seconded: Wayne O’Mara Carried unanimously.
Further advice from the PSA is that there is no meeting room capacity on 8 December 2026
10. Guest Speaker
Teresa Rubio – Seniors Rights Services
Teresa stated it is a community organisation in New South Wales that provides free, confidential legal advice, aged care advocacy, and support to older people
There was general discussion amongst the attendees on various issues facing seniors
11. Date of Next Meeting
The next General Meeting of the Retired Associates will be held on Tuesday 27 October, 2026 at PSA House or via Teams, commencing at 10:30am
Your PSA Organiser and delegates will be onsite at Castle Hill for a members meeting, providing an opportunity for you to share any questions, concerns, or ideas you would like raised at the upcoming Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting with management.
This is a great opportunity to connect with your PSA staff and delegates, learn more about the important role the PSA plays in your workplace, and discuss how your union can best support you and your colleagues.
Agenda
Expression of interest to become a MAAS Workplace Delegate
Temporary contracts
MWZ meeting with DCITHS
General business
If you know any non-members who would like to learn more about your union, please invite them to attend.
These representatives will play an important role in advocating on behalf of professional staff at WSU, raising workplace issues, and ensuring members’ interests are effectively represented at both a local and broader level.
The CPSU NSW thanks all members who participated in the nomination and voting process. Your engagement helps strengthen our collective voice and ensures strong representation across all areas of the workplace.
We also acknowledge the outgoing representatives for their contribution and commitment in supporting members and advancing workplace matters during their tenure.
The CPSU NSW looks forward to working closely with the newly elected representatives to continue advocating for improved conditions, safety, and outcomes for Professional Staff at the University.
Contacts
Jose Vasquez CPSU NSW Organiser Lisa Nelson CPSU NSW Senior Industrial Officer
This bulletin is to update our members on ongoing advocacy on behalf of Youth Justice staff and to introduce the PSA representatives who will be supporting members across the Youth Justice portfolio moving forward.
Introduction
The PSA’s Youth Justice industrial and legal representation will now be led by Kim Villanti, Industrial Officer, and Jim Minns, Solicitor, who have assumed responsibility for the portfolio from Gino Di Candilo and Latu Sailosi. Gino will still be around for the remainder of the year.
Kim and Jim are committed to continuing the strong advocacy undertaken on behalf of Youth Justice members and look forward to engaging directly with staff and delegates across the state on the issues that matter most.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank Gino and Latu for their significant contribution and commitment to Youth Justice members over many years.
The PSA remains committed to ensuring Youth Justice staff have a strong voice at the highest levels of government and departmental decision-making. Recent meetings with Jihad Dib, Minister for Youth Justice, and Kelly-Anne Stewart, Executive Director Youth Justice, have provided an important opportunity to raise the issues that members consistently identify as priorities across the state. These discussions form part of the PSA’s ongoing campaign to improve safety, staffing, operational practices and workplace support for Youth Justice employees
Meeting with Minister Dib and Youth Justice Executive
Recently, PSA representatives met with Minister Jihad Dib and Youth Justice Executive Director Kelly-Anne Stewart to discuss several critical operational and workplace issues that have been consistently raised by members.
The discussions were constructive and focused on improving staff safety, workforce stability and operational practices across Youth Justice.
The PSA highlighted the following key priorities:
Permanent Staffing and Workforce Stability
The PSA continues to advocate for a transition away from an overreliance on casual staffing arrangements and towards an increased number of permanent Full-Time Equivalent positions.
Members have repeatedly identified workforce instability, recruitment challenges and excessive reliance on temporary staffing as significant operational concerns. The PSA will continue pushing for permanent workforce solutions that provide greater certainty for staff and improve service delivery outcomes.
Assaults on Staff and Police referrals
The PSA raised concerns regarding the handling of assaults against Youth Justice staff.
We have advocated for Centre Management to assume sole responsibility for immediately referring all staff assaults to the relevant NSW Police Local Area Command. The PSA further requested that all referrals include the recording of the NSW Police Event Number to ensure accountability, transparency and the ability to monitor outcomes.
The PSA maintains that assaults on staff must be treated seriously and that appropriate external law enforcement processes should be consistently followed.
Section 28 transfers following serious assaults
The PSA advocated for the immediate consideration of transfers under Section 28 of the Children (Detention Centres) Act 1987 where a detainee aged 18 years or older commits an assault on staff.
Member safety remains a priority and the PSA will continue to pursue measures that strengthen protections for frontline employees.
Court transfer search procedures
The PSA raised concerns regarding current search practices associated with detainees attending court appearances.
We have proposed amendments to operational procedures that would replace routine physical pat-down searches with electronic metal detector screening where appropriate. The objective is to improve safety outcomes while ensuring effective security measures remain in place.
Payroll Issues
The PSA is also aware of the ongoing payroll issues affecting a large number of Youth Justice staff.
Members continue to report significant concerns relating to underpayments, overpayments, allowances, roster-related discrepancies and delays in resolving payroll queries.
Please be assured that the PSA is actively working on these issues behind the scenes and continues to engage with the Department regarding systemic payroll concerns. While this work is ongoing, resolving these issues remains a priority and we will provide further updates as discussions progress.
Moving Forward
The PSA remains committed to advocating strongly on behalf of Youth Justice members and ensuring your concerns are raised directly with senior departmental leadership and Government.
We encourage members to continue reporting workplace issues, safety concerns and payroll discrepancies to the PSA so that they can be raised and addressed collectively.
Further updates will be provided as discussions with Youth Justice continue.
The importance of union membership
The achievements and advocacy outlined above are only possible because members stand together through their union.
The PSA’s ability to meet directly with senior department executives, advocate before ministers, pursue industrial disputes, and challenge unsafe workplace practices is driven by the collective strength of its membership. Every new member strengthens our capacity to influence workplace policy, improve safety outcomes, and protect the conditions of Youth Justice staff.
At a time when members continue to face significant operational, safety and payroll challenges, a strong and united membership remains our most effective tool for securing positive workplace change.
Justice Legal Fund
Members are also reminded of the benefits available through the PSA’s Justice Legal Fund (JLF).
The legal fund, modelled on a similar scheme available to prison officers, provides a range of enhanced legal services for members commonly exposed to difficult and dangerous situations in the course of their employment including:
alleged criminal offenses arising out of or in the course of employment
making a claim under the Victims Right and Support Act 2013 which arises out of or in the course of employment
any Coronial Enquiry where the interests of the member and their employer diverge
any commission of enquiry or tribunal conducting an enquiry whose findings could have an adverse effect upon the member of the Legal Fund.
Membership of the PSA Justice Sector Legal Fund is available to PSA Members for as little as $2 a week.
If you know colleagues who are not yet PSA members, we encourage you to speak with them about the benefits of joining. A stronger membership means a stronger voice for all Youth Justice staff.
Your union, the Public Service Association of NSW (PSA), is providing an important campaign update to all Customer Service Representative Driver Testers (CSRDTs) across Service NSW regarding our collective industrial dispute.
PSA firmly rebuts department’s ‘no consultation required’ claim
Following strong dispute representations served by the PSA, Department of Customer Service (DCS) Industrial Relations has provided a formal response dated 24 September 2026.
In its letter, the department attempts to justify its failure to consult by advancing the deeply flawed claim that the new QA Check-In Framework merely represents a ‘delivery format change’ and therefore ‘falls below the threshold for mandatory union consultation.’
The PSA has forcefully rejected this argument
Unilaterally abolishing in-vehicle assessments, enforcing continuous five-day monitoring cycles, introducing desktop audits, and mandating in-car physical hand gestures directly alters your day-to-day duties, performance benchmarks, and workplace safety. Under Clause 3 of the DCS Consultative Framework Guidelines, Premier’s Memorandum M2025-07, and Clause 45 of the Service NSW (Salaries and Conditions) Employees Award 2024, management is legally and industrially required to consult genuinely with the PSA before implementing changes of this magnitude.
Frontline member feedback and psychosocial safety demands tabled
The detailed, deidentified feedback submitted by Driver Testers across regional and metropolitan centres has exposed the critical operational and safety flaws of the unconsulted regime. The PSA has placed executive management on formal notice regarding:
In-car safety hazards and applicant distraction: mandating rigid hand signals (such as drawing circles in the air for roundabouts) forces learner drivers to take their eyes off the road during critical manoeuvres, creating active collision risks.
Ergonomic strain & repetitive strain injury (RSI): repeating unnatural physical gestures 8–10 times per test across full daily rosters without an ergonomic risk assessment creates unacceptable physical strain and RSI risks.
Severe psychosocial hazards: Testers are subjected to high-stakes monitoring with as little as 24 hours’ notice and left in anxious limbo for up to two months (eight-plus weeks) waiting for scorecards. Excessive workload pressures (eight to nine tests per 7-hour shift combined with counter service and licence processing) leave zero protected time for training.
Unfair double-marking and contradictions: Examiners are being marked down on physical gestures rather than testing standards, while dealing with unexplained TOM hazard marking rules and contradictory documentation.
Loss of face-to-face collaborative learning: replacing collaborative regional “Enhancement Days” with passive screen-based modules has undermined professional alignment and damaged workplace morale.
Formal request for Psychosocial Risk Assessment under WHS Act 2011
Under Section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and the SafeWork NSW Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work (which is admissible in legal proceedings under Section 275 of the WHS Act), Service NSW has a positive primary duty of care to eliminate or minimise risks to psychological and physical health. The PSA has formally demanded that the department produce all Psychosocial and Ergonomic Risk Assessments conducted prior to rolling out the QA framework.
Urgent consultative meeting scheduled
The PSA has written to DCS IR confirming our availability for a formal consultative meeting on either:
Wednesday, 30 September 2026 (9:30am – 11:00am), or
Thursday, 1 October 2026 (9:30am – 11:00am).
The PSA is currently finalising the availability of elected PSA Driver Tester Departmental Committee Delegates to form our negotiating delegation.
Job security and individual member protections
Alongside our collective campaign, the PSA is actively defending individual members subjected to unfair assessment conditions and verbal threats. Through direct union intervention, management has formally conceded in writing that substantive Driver Tester classifications and salary rates remain fully protected, and unlawful attempts to force role reassignments or geographical displacement have been halted.
What you should do
Prioritise road safety: your safety and the safety of the public in the vehicle always come first.
Continue submitting feedback: if you experience issues with QA check-ins, conflicting trainer directives, or hand signal pressures, email quoting Ref: C10022517.
Do not attend performance meetings alone: if management invites you to discuss assessment outcomes or capability reviews, contact the PSA Member Support Centre immediately for union advice and representation.
Encourage colleagues to join: strong collective membership gives us the power to protect your rights. Encourage non-members to join today.
Stronger Together in the Workplace.
In solidarity
Contacts
Your PSA Industrial Team and Departmental Committee delegate
PSA member update: Revenue NSW flex dispute – working towards a resolution
Attention all PSA members at Revenue NSW, Maitland and Lithgow Offices
We are writing to provide an update on the ongoing dispute regarding unilateral changes to flexible working hours at Revenue NSW (Case Reference: C10020412).
Following our submission of deidentified member feedback on 26 August 2026, we received a formal response from the Department of Customer Service (DCS) Industrial Relations team on 18 September 2026. The Department has requested further specific details and practical examples to help them fully understand and assess the direct impacts of the current arrangements on individual staff, particularly part-time employees and those with carer responsibilities.
A final opportunity to resolve concerns
The PSA views this request as a critical, final opportunity to present a robust, evidence-based case directly to the Department. We want to ensure that management has a complete and undeniable picture of how these rigid daily caps and forced break schedules affect your daily lives, family commitments, and work-life balance.
We are currently compiling further detailed, deidentified feedback from members.
If you have not yet shared your specific circumstances, or if you have experienced new impacts, please contact us immediately. We specifically want to document:
How the one-hour daily flex cap mathematically restricts part-time staff from accumulating flex leave.
Specific instances where the 9:30am forced lunch break (for 6:00am starters) has caused fatigue or disrupted personal/carer commitments.
Any situations where you have had to access personal or carers’ leave due to an inability to flexibly make up time.
Broader negotiations underway
Importantly, these discussions are occurring alongside concurrent negotiations between the PSA and DCS Industrial Relations regarding the review of the DCS Flexible Working Hours Agreement 2024, which is expiring shortly (19 December 2026). The Department has agreed to our proposal to establish a Joint Working Group in October 2026 to review the agreement. This broader review provides us with a powerful, concurrent forum to negotiate long-term improvements to your flexible working conditions and resolve these operational friction points permanently.
What you should do now
Provide your feedback: please email your specific, deidentified examples to the contacts below by Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
Stand firm: continue to record your actual hours worked in MyWorkZone and work closely with your local delegates.
How to contact the PSA
Quote reference number C10020412:
