Today yet another chapter on our state’s failed experiment with private prisons closes, with Parklea Correctional Centre returning to public hands. This is a result our union has fought for years to achieve.
We fought hard for this as it was obvious that locking people up for profit is no way to run a prison system.
This is a win for NSW taxpayers, a win for our members staffing the prison and a win for inmates who want to better themselves and break free from a cycle of re-offending.
The gaol, which was opened by the NSW Government in 1983, was privatised by the NSW Labor Government in 2009. American company GEO Group was awarded the contract to run the prison.
However, this contract was revoked in 2017 due to severe security failures and public scandals.
Safety and security issues continued under the subsequent operator, MTC.
Last year Premier Chris Minns announced Parklea would be returned to public ownership and run by Corrective Services NSW, which is a government agency.
Our union represents Officers in both private and public gaols, and we know staff working in government-run prisons are better paid and work in safer conditions. This is not only better for our members, it is better for the people of NSW.
Junee Gaol was welcomed into state control last year. The Clarence Correctional Centre is the state’s last remaining private gaol.
On International Translation Day, 30 September, the PSA recognises the important work of our members at Multicultural NSW.
NSW is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse places in the world. That diversity is one of our State’s great strengths, but it also means our public services must be able to communicate with everyone who needs them.
That is where the language skills and cultural knowledge of the group of skilled professionals at Multicultural NSW make such a difference.
Every day, interpreters, translators and other language services staff help people communicate with government and access the services they need. Their work supports NSW Police, Service NSW, Courts and Tribunals and reaches into health, education, legal services and many other parts of the public sector.
Sometimes that work happens at an extremely important moment in somebody’s life. It might involve a police investigation, a court proceeding, a medical appointment or simply helping someone understand important information from their government.
These services do more than translate words. They help make sure that where you were born or what language you speak does not become a barrier to participating fully in life in NSW.
That contributes enormously to making NSW the successful multicultural society and great place to live that it is.
The PSA is proud to represent members who do this work.
We also know that sometimes our members face uncertainty. Services change, technology changes and governments restructure agencies and review the way work is delivered.
That makes a strong union as important as ever.
PSA members stand together to protect their conditions, defend secure employment and make sure workers have a genuine voice when decisions are made about their jobs and their workplaces.
We will continue to fight to ensure that valuable public services are backed by a skilled, experienced and secure public sector workforce.
On International Translation Day, I thank our members at Multicultural NSW for the professionalism, skill and commitment they bring to their work.
The PSA welcomes the creation of secure, ongoing public sector jobs at EnergyCo to deliver clean, reliable and affordable electricity for NSW. The PSA understands EnergyCo has received increased funding to establish a number of new ongoing roles and is seeking to recruit from current temporary staff to fill those positions. Consultation on these Phase 2 organisational changes commenced on 2 September and will run until Wednesday 16 September.
These changes cover the General Counsel, Network Planning and Commercial, Regulatory and Markets Divisions. The PSA understands consultation will begin on additional roles in other divisions in the coming months.
The PSA will hold an online members meeting on Friday 11 September.
Meeting details
Date Friday 11 September 2026 Time12:00pm-1:00pm Location Meeting will be held online on via Microsoft Teams using this link. Meeting ID 480 558 208 837 610 Passcode Hq7yt6VL
The PSA wants your feedback
Please send your feedback, whether positive, critical or neutral, to and PSA Organiser Michael Parsons at by close of business Tuesday 15 September. Please quote Case ID: C10022734.
Consultation closes on Wednesday 16 September.
Are you a non-member?
Organisational change doesn’t only impact PSA members. Consider joining to ensure your voice is heard throughout the change process. We’re stronger together. Become a member today.
Statement of solidarity with Public Service Association workers in Aotearoa New Zealand
The PSA CPSU NSW extends its heartfelt solidarity to our comrades in the Public Service Association (PSA) of New Zealand today as they take historic, courageous strike action to defend public services and demand fair pay and the repeal of unjust workplace laws.
Public sectors across the globe are facing systemic attacks, and the struggle in New Zealand mirrors our own. Facing a severe cost-of-living crisis, real-term pay cuts, and an aggressive austerity agenda, thousands of public servants across Aotearoa are standing up and fighting back.
They are letting the rest of their country know enough is enough.
Public services are the bedrock of a functioning society. The workers who keep our communities safe, healthy, and supported do not take industrial action lightly. Striking is always a last resort, chosen only when governments refuse to negotiate in good faith, ignore safe staffing levels, turn their back on pay equity and look to dismantle the public systems everyday citizens rely upon.
As public sector workers in Australia, we recognise the struggle across the Tasman Sea is our struggle. When public servants stand together, they are not only fighting for fair deals for themselves, they are fighting to protect the integrity of the essential services that care for the public.
They are fighting to protect our functioning societies.
We applaud strength, unity and determination of our comrades in New Zealand. The PSA CPSU NSW stands shoulder-to-shoulder with PSA NZ workers striking across their country today.
Your PSA CPSU NSW fees were increased in line with the Public Service pay rise from 1 July 2026, with an effective date of 3 August 2026.
These figures include 10 per cent Goods and Services Tax.
There is no action required from members regarding the fee increase. Members can update their membership details through the Members Portal or by emailing
Make your membership pay
Your fees give you access to a plethora of member benefits to help with the cost of living.
Click HERE for a list of offers and discounts available to PSA CPSU NSW members.
Celebrate TAFE Day with the CPSU NSW at the Wollongong campus on Thursday.
Members of our union will join colleagues from the Teachers Federation to celebrate all the work TAFE staff do all year round. We are proud to work for an organisation that has educated generations of Australians and started many life journeys.
We will be in the centre of the Wollongong campus, at Foleys Lane near the cafe.
All staff are welcome to join us. Just look for the union flags.
Staff from West Wollongong are welcome, too.
Details
Date Thursday 10 September 2026 Time 12:00pm Location Wollongong TAFE Campus, Foleys Lane North Wollongong
Housing Services: Western Sydney Joint Consultative Committee meeting
PSA industrial staff attended a Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting with workplace delegates and district management on 24 August for the Western Sydney district.
JCCs are an important platform to address workplace concerns and members are encouraged to reach out to PSA delegates and staff about any workplace issues they would like raised at the meetings. They are an opportunity for members to speak out and ask any questions they may have about workplace rights. You are the power of your union. Please note only collective issues are discussed at JCCs. Individual matters are managed privately.
Key discussions on 24 August included:
Relocation of Parramatta office
The interim location in the foyer of the new Parramatta relocation on Marsden Street opened on 31 August 2026. Management explained a number of risk management controls had to be put in place before the office opened. The changes included:
Front-of-house toilets
A frosted glass wall separates the toilet area from the waiting area, providing privacy while maintaining appropriate separation
A security guard is stationed in the area during operating hours
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) has been installed to monitor the surrounding area
Toilets to remain locked with access controlled by security
Convex mirrors have been installed to improve visibility and oversight of the area
Client phones
To address concerns around their use, they will be located on the staff side of the counter
For translator services, an additional handset with an extended cord will be available in the staff area, allowing clients to participate in conversations while maintaining appropriate workplace safety controls
Size of client desk and counter at housing booths
Privacy panels have been installed between housing booths to improve client privacy and confidentiality
The client side of each booth includes a 30cm overhang, providing space for clients to review and sign documents
Higher chairs have been arranged to assist clients accessing the higher counter height comfortably
High-risk interview room
The interview room was designated a high-risk client interview room by Child Protection and Permanency. As such, it meets the required safety standards, including:
Desk heights consistent with other Homes NSW offices and interview rooms
Emergency exit via push-button door release rather than swipe-card access, allowing a quicker exit if required
Duress alarm systems
CCTV
Removal of selected sections of frosting from the glass panels to improve external visibility, enabling security staff to more easily observe interactions within the room
Additionally, management said Temporary Accommodation appointments will be done over the phone and tenancies are to be done via scheduled appointments.
The permanent location on level 1 is expected to be completed in 12 weeks.
If members continue to have concerns about the relocation and the controls that have been put in place, they can contact the Member Support Centre and quote case number C10021941 in the subject line to let us know.
There are no planned moves for the other offices in the district: Blacktown, Penrith or Mount Druitt.
Work health and safety and the Psychosocial Action Plan
The Western Sydney district developed a Psychosocial Action Plan earlier in the year. Management confirmed it is now under review. Members are encouraged to get involved with the consultation process if invited.
It’s important that members know about and understand the Psychosocial Action Plan as it will provide important information around the controls management has in place for managing psychosocial hazards such as role overload, exposure to traumatic events, workplace violence and bullying. Under the new Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 workplaces ‘must implement control measures to eliminate psychosocial hazards so far as is reasonably practicable’.
Members are reminded to continue to report all incidents through Safety Suite and share with the PSA.
Please also complete the PSA’s Occupational Violence & Workplace Safety survey. Mark sure your voice is heard in this important survey that will highlight to government the huge issue around workplace violence for our frontline staff. Client-related verbal abuse and threats continue to be a high risk area for members.
The PSA also encourages members to know who the Health and Safety Representative (HSR) is in their office. HSRs are elected to represent you on work health and safety (WHS) issues in the workplace. They identify and resolve WHS matters, and can issue a provisional improvement notice (PIN) if they reasonably believe the WHS law has been broken.
Workers’ compensation reforms
Members are also encouraged to review any communications the district has provided about the reforms to workers’ compensation. The process for making a psychological claim has changed considerably and members are advised to be across these changes.
Work from home and leave consideration
Members have raised concerns about losing allocated WFH days if they have sick or take other leave the same week. The department has made it clear in its Flexible Work Procedure that staff ‘taking any form of leave on a day they are scheduled to work at an approved work location do not need to make this time up in lieu’. Please let your workplace delegates or organiser know if there are any ongoing concerns around your WFH days.
Members are the power of the union. The PSA provides the structure and members provide the strength to make sure rights and entitlements for every worker are upheld. The more you engage with your union, the more powerful you are to bring meaningful changes to workers’ rights. Come along to member meetings, read your bulletins, engage with your delegates, learn how to speak up to management politely and professionally. The PSA supports you to raise issues with management so you don’t have to go it alone.
Winning transformative change is never easy but your union is here to help you build confidence, hope and unity.
The next JCC meeting is scheduled for November. Members are encouraged to share any workplace concerns they have with their workplace delegates or organiser. If you have any questions about your rights in the workplace, please get in touch.
Deadline extended for Parklea transition paperwork
On Wednesday, we sent out a bulletin about the letters of offer from MTC and advised we were seeking an extension of time for our members to sign the document. MTC has now confirmed that the deadline to sign either the offer or resignation has been extended until 8 September 2026.
The PSA’s advice is that members should:
Accept the CSNSW offer and submit your resignation to MTC if you intend to transfer to CSNSW
Accept the offer of ongoing employment with MTC if you wish to remain with MTC
Resign from MTC to pursue an alternative employment.
The PSA acknowledges members continue to have concerns regarding the broader transition process and understand there are differing views about how the transfer from MTC to CSNSW should be characterised. Those concerns remain valid and the PSA will continue to advocate on behalf of members where appropriate. However, our immediate priority is ensuring members protect their employment interests and are not disadvantaged by misunderstandings regarding redundancy entitlements or their obligations under the transition process.
Meeting notice for CPSU NSW members at the University of Sydney
The CPSU NSW invites all professional staff members at the University of Sydney to join an online member meeting on Thursday 24 September 2026.
This is an opportunity to hear an update from the Bargaining team, including the CPSU NSW’s ongoing work on matters affecting all Professional Staff.
We encourage all members to attend to hear the latest updates.
If you know any non-members who would like to learn more about your union, please invite them to attend.
Meeting details
Date Thursday 24 September 2026 Time 1:00pm Location The meeting will be held via Zoom using this link Password 950991
If you would like to suggest an agenda item for discussion, please contact Tama Woodbury by email at or Grant Wheeler at by Monday 21 September so it can be included in the meeting agenda.
Your voice matters, and the more members involved, the stronger our collective voice is when advocating for improvements in our workplaces.
Isabella Cassidy has resigned as a Delegate. The CPSU NSW would like to thank Isabella for her contribution as a Delegate. We will soon put a call for nominations to fill the vacant Clarence Correctional Officer (CCO) position on the Advisory Group. If you are interested in stepping up to be a Delegate reach out to your Delegates and/or CPSU Regional Organisers.
Delegates Consultative Committee
CPSU NSW Delegates and industrial staff met with Serco management at the recent Delegates Consultative Committee (DCC) meeting to advocate on key workplace issues affecting members across the centre. Below is a summary of the key discussions from the meeting:
Rostering
Serco advised that the previously proposed additional roster lines to cover leave will no longer proceed at this stage.
Trade Instructors
The CPSU NSW continues to advocate for clarification regarding disparities between five-day and seven-day industry roles, including leave entitlements and hours worked. Serco has requested a proposal from the Business Services Manager to standardise TI contracts and a review of conditions when Trade Instructors are unable to take a lunch break. Serco will make no final decision until this business case is reviewed.
Review of all roles
Serco has commenced a comprehensive role review project mapping tasks across the centre. Staff will be consulted and engaged throughout this review process.
Tasks will be classified into:
Non-flexible: Must be completed at specific times during the day.
Part-flexible: Must be completed within the day.
Flexible: Must be completed within a given week.
Non-Custodial and Programs staff issues
Concerns were raised regarding non-custodial program staff completing Inmate Security Questionnaires (ISQ) and case management work typically graded at higher levels. The CPSU NSW highlighted safety concerns for non-custodial staff when CCOs are redeployed elsewhere. Serco noted ISQs take operational priority for trained staff and will take the agenda item on notice.
Next DCC is on 7 October 2026. For a copy of the minutes, please reach out to your Delegates.
Contacts
Delegates
Kody Richards
Mark Bathgate
Keri Parbery
Luke Binskin
Heather Christie
Von Preston
Clarence Correctional Centre: Supervisors vote YES to their Enterprise Agreement
The CPSU NSW is pleased to announce Clarence Correctional Supervisors voted YES to their new Enterprise Agreement.
The vote was unanimous.
This will now go to the Fair Work Commission for approval. The CPSU NSW would like to thank Keri Parbery and Jason “Roudy” Vidler for all their work as the bargaining team.
This agreement will include a 12 per cent pay offer over three years for members working in what will soon be the state’s only private prison. The agreement includes a 6 per cent component within the first year, backdated from 31 March 2026.
Serco’s offer to Correctional Supervisors features a 3 per cent increase in hourly rate from 31 March 2027, then an additional 3 per cent increase in hourly rate from 31 March 2028. A rise in pay rate for higher duties has been implemented and will be paid accordingly to the Functional Manager Salary, with back pay already paid to those who had already been acting in higher duties.
This also requires seven days’ minimum notice for roster changes, and Public Holiday Leave defined accordingly to the National Employment Standards. Emergency leave will be maintained, granting additional paid leave to employees, in the case of natural disaster or state emergency.
Contacts
Delegates
Kody Richards
Mark Bathgate
Keri Parbery
Luke Binskin
Heather Christie
Von Preston
Transgrid Enterprise Agreement bargaining to commence
The CPSU NSW will shortly commence bargaining with Transgrid for a new Enterprise Agreement.
The first bargaining meeting is scheduled for 10:00am Tuesday 8 September 2026.
Transgrid has proposed that bargaining meetings be held fortnightly through to 22 December 2026 and then from the new year recommence from 12 January 2027.
We need your input
The new Enterprise Agreement will set the wages, conditions and working arrangements that apply to Transgrid employees. It is important that the Union enters bargaining with a clear understanding of the issues that matter most to members.
We want to hear from you
If there are issues, concerns, proposed improvements, or changes to the current Enterprise Agreement that you would like the CPSU NSW to advocate for during bargaining, please come forward and provide your feedback.
Whether it relates to pay, allowances, working hours, rosters, leave, flexible working arrangements, overtime, workplace health and safety, or any other aspect of your working conditions, we want to hear from you.
Your feedback will help shape the CPSU NSW’s bargaining priorities and ensure members’ concerns are put on the table.
Have your say
Together, we can make sure members’ voices are heard throughout the bargaining process. Let us know what you want to see in the new Enterprise Agreement.
Please quote reference number C10019761 in any correspondence.
