Rural Fire Service Award: Supreme Court settlement update
From 1 August 2025, the Rural Fire Service (RFS) implemented major changes to overtime and Monthly Attendance Returns (MARs) following the Supreme Court settlement.
The Public Service Association (PSA) provided detailed feedback on the new Hours of Work Policy to protect members’ rights.
Despite this, the RFS chose to set aside key recommendations provided from the PSA. It released a policy and Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) that are at times contradictory and unclear on your true industrial entitlements.
We are already hearing that the newly released policy and FAQ is causing widespread confusion amongst members.
Key changes
Staff must now record start times, finish times, and breaks in SAP. Updated MAR User Guides are available on OneRFS.
Record the hours you actually work. Do not falsify your MAR or allow yourself to be pressured into doing so.
There is still no corporately approved electronic system for Time in Lieu (TIL, formerly TOIL). The PSA seeks the RFS to standardise and modernise its recording of hours systems.
Members are urged to familiarise themselves with these changes, monitor how they are applied, and immediately raise issues with their PSA delegate or organisers.
The PSA will continue to hold the RFS to account and provide updates.
PSA Member Meeting – Office of the Childrens Guardian – Thursday 14 August
Your PSA Organiser Alex Sala, Industrial Officer Graydon Welsh and PSA workplace delegates will be holding a members meeting on Thursday 14 August between 12 noon and 1:00pm for members to discuss and ask questions, raise any issues or concerns, and strengthen our collective voice.
Please come along and take advantage of this excellent opportunity for all of us to connect! There is a Teams link provided below for those that may be working remotely.
State Emergency Service: Congratulations to your newly elected Departmental Committee Delegates
The PSA is pleased to announce seven members in the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) have been elected unopposed and will be your delegates over the next two years.
A few vacancies within the committee exist after the nomination process and have now become casual vacancies. If you are interested in filling a casual vacancy, please ">contact your PSA Organiser for further details. Please note the process requires the Departmental Committee’s endorsement before being sent to the PSA Executive for approval.
Once again congratulations to the new Delegates and thanks to all that participated in the nomination process.
STATE HEADQUARTERS
Wollongong
Anna Thomas
Nicole Harding
METRO ZONE
Rhodes, Sydney North and Sydney West
ONE VACANCY
NORTHERN ZONE
Hunter, Central Coast and Nambucca
Mahammad Rahman
NORTH EASTERNS ZONE
Richmond/Tweed
ONE VACANCY
NORTH WESTERN ZONE
Namoi and Oxley
Matthew Chadwick
WESTERN ZONE
Central West, Macquarie, North West and Far West
David Cox
SOUTHERN ZONE
Lachlan, Murrumbidgee and Murray
Joshua Stanbury
SOUTH EASTERN ZONE
Southern Highlands, Illawarra/South Coast and South
PSA Organisers Shane Elliott and Rachel Eldred will be coming to the Coniston Office to meet with Delegates and members from Coniston and Shellharbour.
They will be joined by Statewide Departmental Committee Delegates Mary-Ann McPherson and Beti Cizaloska, along with local delegates from across the area.
Industrial Officer Greg Corrigan will attend online to give his Industrial Report. There will be opportunity for all members to receive an update from the PSA and ask any questions.
The Homes PSA meeting will be from 12:30pm-1:30pm. PSA Staff and Delegates will also be present before and after the meeting, from 11:30am until 2:00pm, for any individual or collective concerns.
All members and non-members interested in learning more are welcome.
Details
Date Monday 25 August 2025 Time 11:30am-2:00pm Location Case Conference Room Ground Floor, Coniston Office
Homes NSW – leadership confirms no job losses in planned Functional Review at Joint Consultative Committee meeting
The quarterly Joint Consultative Committee meeting (JCC) was held on 7 August 2025 for the Inner West and South East Sydney district. PSA industrial staff attended with your elected delegates and district leadership from Homes NSW.
JCCs are an important platform for discussions on matters affecting our members in the district. Key discussions on 7 August included:
Recruitment
Leadership confirmed a strong focus on training to help stymie the high turnover rate of staff. Fifteen new recruits are half way through the induction program and six more recruits have started. The new eight-week onboarding program was described as ‘more meaningful’. Leadership said the objective of the new program is to better support new staff and not throw them into the deep end.
There will be further recruitment opportunities for team leaders and seniors once leadership has budget confirmed.
A new specialist team to deal with more complex cases has been in development with plans for the new module to be completed by September.
Functional Review
Senior Industrial Officer Greg Corrigan reiterated the latest on the Functional Review (see previous bulletin HERE) with plans to discuss implementation now in process. Leadership confirmed there would be no job losses. To take part in the formal consultation period, please reach out to your delegates or organiser with any feedback, comments, questions or suggestions.
Arrears Improvement Program
The lack of consultation around the Arrears Improvement Program was also discussed (see related bulletin HERE). Leadership said the latest report is in a more useful format that will be easier to roll out.
Flexible Working Hours Agreement
After months on the backburner, the Flexible Working Hours Agreement is back on the agenda. Members have reported a lack of consultation with agreements and have had flexible arrangements stripped when they’ve moved areas.
The Flexible Working Hours Agreement, about working flexible hours, is not to be confused with the Flexible Work Policy, about providing flexible work, which may include but is not limited to working from home and scheduling. Please reach out to your delegates for support around any of your flexible working arrangements.
The next JCC meeting is scheduled for November. Members are encouraged to share any issues they have with local delegates. If you have any specific concerns about the concierge model you can reach out to PSA Regional Organiser Rebecca Reilly: . There are ongoing concerns with the model and the PSA has raised a dispute about it (see previous bulletin HERE).
Following complaints by members to the union regarding “zero core errors”, the Community and Public Sector Union NSW (CPSU NSW) met with NSW Land Registry Services (NSWLRS).
NSWLRS advised that zero core errors is not a policy as such, but a goal. This goal should be factored into routine performance review meetings. NSWLRS has advised that consultation with employees about their work during these meetings is key to ensuring a sustainable and safe workload.
The CPSU NSW advised NSWLRS that expecting zero core errors puts a significant psychological strain on members. In response, NSWLRS advised it accepts errors will happen. The focus of NSWLRS rather is in addressing consistently observed errors.
Members are welcome to contact the union for further clarification, or assistance with this ‘goal’ being treated differently than as has been described above, so we can raise specific examples with NSWLRS and continue advocating on this issue.
Restructure update: CPSU NSW’s meetings with Australian Unity
Your Community and Public Sector Union NSW (CPSU NSW) industrial staff and local delegates continue to meet with your employer Australian Unity (AU). The last meeting with AU management was held on 6 August 2025.
As members may be aware, CPSU NSW provided AU with survey results at a previous meeting. The survey provided some key points of interest for CPSU NSW members. You can read more HERE.
The main pressure points which the CPSU NSW continues to raise with AU revolve around leave approvals, backfilling, and workloads. AU has developed some options to deal with these issues which are currently being explored with CPSU NSW.
While AU does have a company-wide leave approvals process, AU management representatives confirmed during discussions with CPSU NSW that leave approvals should be handled locally.
Already there have been some wins, particularly with timeframes, which have seen a more measured approach applied to this workplace change. Until viable solutions to these and other issues are fully developed, it’s difficult to provide members with greater detail on final outcomes.
Thank you to those who completed the survey, as AU advises that it has considered the CPSU NSW survey results with several internal meetings of crucial decision makers since the results were shared with management.
Clearly, the survey distilled staff concerns and seems to the main driving force behind AU responding to your concerns relating to potential changes to the way you work.
A final structure has yet to be determined by AU. Once greater detail is available, the CPSU NSW will inform members as soon as possible.
Redundancies
Employees who were identified as not having roles in the new structure have already been paid their redundancies and have exited employment.
CPSU NSW understands that the redundancy process went as smoothly as possible for those employees.
Consultation continues
Meetings between AU management and the union are ongoing while the restructuring is in train. Should you have any feedback, please contact your local CPSU NSW representatives so that the union can collate feedback and concerns for relaying to AU.
Your feedback will help ensure the union’s advocacy is in line with member interests and concerns.
Reminder: Log of Claims Survey closing soon – Bargaining to commence shortly at University of Technology Sydney
As your Enterprise Agreement is set to expire on 31 August 2025, the bargaining process at University of Technology Sydney will soon begin. It’s crucial that we understand your priorities to effectively represent you during negotiations.
To aid in crafting the CPSU NSW log of claims, we invite all members to complete this survey. Please click on the link HERE to share your insights. This survey will close on 15 August 2025.
Your CPSU NSW workplace delegates are here to assist with any workplace questions, provide advice and support, and advocate for your interests.
CPSU NSW University if Technology Sydney Delegates
Andreas Dalman Branch President
Greg Hampshire Branch Secretary
Thomas Dobson Assistant Secretary
Fleur Sargent Women’s Officer
The stronger we are, the better our chances of success at the bargaining table.
CPSU NSW members who were transferred employees to Aruma had their pay rates “grandparented” to the superior conditions of the previous Community Living Award (CLA). While this has been a protection from pay cuts, it has effectively resulted in a pay freeze for several years.
The sale conditions ensured that Fair Work Commission (FWC) annual pay increases would not be passed on to CPSU NSW members while their rates of pay were higher than the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry (SCHaDS) Award. This pay freeze is the direct result from the then NSW Liberal Government’s privatisation of the Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care Services.
CPSU NSW have been asking Aruma to pass on the FWC increase to all our members as we are all struggling with cost-of-living pressures.
Members who transferred to Aruma on Level 9 (and below) of the Community Living Award should already be receiving pay increases via the FWC annual review.
While some members saw a pay rise last year, there are still others who are paid $0.05 per hour higher than the SCHaDS Award. CPSU NSW has strongly advocated that FWC increases be passed on to all members as the community is facing a cost-of-living crisis.
Aruma says “no”. Not until everyone catches up to the SCHaDS Award. Aruma’s decision saves the company hundreds of thousands of dollars on its wages bill, while continuing to force you to have a pay freeze and struggle to make ends meet.
“Putting you first” and supporting you to live the life you want clearly doesn’t extend to hard working frontline staff.
Pay freeze lifted for some MSLs in Aruma
Some Manager Supported Living (MSLs) will have noticed that the 2025 FWC annual wage review has seen their pay adjusted by 3.5 per cent.
This pay increase for some MSL members is a welcome development during a cost-of-living crisis. This wasn’t just a gift to workers. As CPSU NSW is affiliated with the ACTU, its submission on wage increases to the FWC was an essential factor in securing pay rises for all workers in the federal system across Australia.
Unfortunately, if you were a CAR or MAR from the ADHC days, your wage will remain frozen until the SCHaDS Award catches up with the superior pay rates secured by the PSA when you were a government employee.
If you are a MSL who wasn’t a CAR or a MAR, and you were a transferred employee who has not received the 2025 FWC pay rise, CPSU NSW recommends you contact Aruma pay roll and make enquiries on why your rate of pay remains unchanged.
We’ve heard that some MSLs who did not receive the 2025 pay rise were successful in having Aruma payroll adjust their wages.
What’s next?
The vast majority of CPSU NSW members should receive a pay rise in 2026, via the FWC Annual Wage Review, once the SCHaDS Award catches up to your wages. CPSU NSW will be visiting Aruma workplaces over the coming weeks. We want to hear from members. Not only will we be visiting workplaces, but we will be having some combined meetings at other venues.
Keep your eye out for meeting invites! This is your chance to give CPSU NSW reps your views on working in Aruma.
Congratulations to our newly elected TAFE NSW Delegate – Dubbo
The CPSU NSW is delighted to announce the election of our new workplace delegate at TAFE Dubbo – Myall Street.
Simone Gray from Customer Service TAFE NSW Dubbo
We sincerely thank all members who participated in the nomination process. Your engagement is crucial to the strength of our union.
Simone Gray joins existing workplace and council delegate Suzie Stiles at Dubbo.
The Power of Unity: Encourage Your Colleagues to Join
As we celebrate our new delegate, we are reminded of the importance of a strong and united workforce. If you have colleagues who haven’t yet joined our union, now is the perfect time to encourage them to become part of a strong and growing union that represents your interests at work.
Remember: Our strength lies in our numbers. Every new member makes our voice stronger!
Mercer CPSU NSW member meeting – Thursday 14 August 2025 – and next JCC
Your Mercer CPSU NSW Team will be holding a meeting for Mercer members on Thursday 14 August 2025. This meeting is scheduled so we can hear from members in the lead up to the 2nd Joint Consultative Committee meeting with Mercer on Tuesday 19 August 2025.
Member feedback and input
We are holding a Teams meeting to run through questions or concerns and gather feedback on issues you would like raised. If you have a question ahead of the meeting, you can email: and put Mercer CPSU NSW Members Meeting in the subject line.
Meeting Agenda
Shut down period
Proposed workers compensation changes
General business
Mercer CPSU NSW Delegates
We are also seeking members to come on board and be part of the team as a delegate. If you are interested in being a delegate or would like more information about the role you can email and put Delegate in the subject line.
Meeting Details
We will be meeting onsite in Wollongong and encourage members to come along:
Date Thursday 14 August 2025
Location Level 9 Wattle Zoom Room
Time 12:00pm-12:45pm
Members working remotely can join the meeting via the link below:
The PSA will be holding a members’ meeting to allow members to raise concern or questions you may have and to allow us to gather agenda items for discussions with the department.
We are also looking for a member who is interested in the opportunity to become a PSA delegate for IRO.
If you are interested in getting involved as a delegate, now is the perfect time to step forward.
The PSA provides training and ongoing support for delegates, with access to up to twelve days of paid Trade Union Training (TUT) leave every two years.
Come and meet your PSA staff:
Industrial Officer Xanthe Thomson and Organiser Mel Ciraolo will be in attendance.
