This Review Affects You – DCCEEW Regulatory Review
Your PSA Delegates met Thursday 10 July to discuss the Conservation Programs, Heritage and Regulation Group (CPHR) review and the potential impacts on staff and PSA membership. This review will affect a large number of staff beyond the CPHR.
The PSA and PSA delegates invite members and non-members to engage in constructive discussions to provide comprehensive feedback to the department about how these changes affect you.
A meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday 16 July 2025 for both in-person and online. The details are below
The Department is proposing to bring together the following regulatory functions currently spread across CPHR and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) into functional business units as well as other business areas within Regional Delivery (i.e. Planning; Ecosystems and Threatened Species; Water Floodplains, Coastal; Water for the Environment).
The regulatory / compliance functions likely affected are:
Conservation Programs, Heritage and Regulation (CPHR)
Regional delivery Division compliance and regulatory functions
Compliance and Licensing branch regulatory functions, including Kangaroo Management, animal research ethics and related support functions
Heritage NSW
Heritage Act, NPW Act and EPA Act Regulatory functions undertaken by the Assessments Branch
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS)
Wildlife and other native species, wildlife licensing
Non-commercial kangaroo management
Commercial plant licensing
As a result, some structural re-alignment across CPHR will also be required.
It was a pleasure meeting you at our first Disability Conversion Meeting in June. The CPSU NSW hears your concerns and feedback, and we are actively supporting you through the Disability Assistants (DA) conversion process.
If you missed out on the meeting don’t worry, our next meeting is scheduled on:
16 July at 12:00pm
At the meeting we will update members on where the process is up to and you will have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
It has come to light that many of you have been offered incorrect hours, not in-line with your casual hours worked over the last 6 months.
If you feel your offer is incorrect or is not an accurate reflection of your working pattern. Please contact us as soon as possible, as we can assist you in rectifying it.
What to bring when you contact us?
Copies of your rosters reflecting the last 6 months and your current permanent offer.
What can you do to help?
Currently we are aware there are over 500 DAs in TAFE NSW spread across the state, with 90 DA’s with an active conversion case.
We need you to spread the word about being converted to a permanent employee.
Please share this bulletin with a colleague, your workplace and your disability assistant group and invite them along to the meeting!
Good things are happening, and we don’t want anyone to miss out.
NSW Parliament Members Staff – Conditions of Employment determination
You may be aware that the Presiding Officers of the NSW Parliament confirmed the Members Staff Conditions of Employment Determination in April 2025 see HERE.
The PSA wishes to thank delegates and members for the feedback received which the association provided to the Parliament in relation to updating the 2025 determination prior to April.
As you may be aware the goal for the union is to secure the re-establishment of PSA members access to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission and negotiation of a new members staff Conditions of Employment Award.
Relatedly, on 29 May 2025 Ms Gemma Ashton, former staffer to Kylie Wilkinson, won a landmark case against the State of NSW in Ashton v State of New South Wales [2025] NSWIRComm 1028, in which a Full Bench of the Industrial Relations Commission confirmed that employees under the Members of Parliament Staff Act can, presently, bring proceedings for relief from victimisation under s 213 of the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW). Section 210 of the IR Act prohibits employees from being victimised for certain reasons (including being a member of a union, complaining about a WHS matter, engaging in a public or political acting (that does not interfere with the performance of their duties)). Section 213 allows employees to seek relief from victimisation. In accordance with this decision, proceedings can be brought against the state if MPs are victimising their staff. Proceedings can be brought either individually or by the PSA.
We note that the state has appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal, which will be heard on 15 August 2025. The PSA is disappointed that the state has chosen to appeal the decision. It indicates that the state does not want staffers to have fundamental employment protections.
This also is running concurrently with discussions the PSA has had with the Minister for Industrial Relations Office seeking to re-establish your access to the NSW IRC by way of amendment to or replacement of the current MOPS act. The PSA will want the commencement of negotiations of a replacement Industrial Award for the existing MOPS determination. We are encouraged with the recent passage of the new Industrial Relations changes to the current legislation and operation of the NSW IRC. We look forward to the government agreeing to the PSA claim for MOPS members as a matter of priority.
Your industrial team will be in contact shortly to organise a member meeting to discuss these developments.
As you may be aware, PSA has been in discussions with Service NSW for some time now around the ability of members in Service Centres to claim overtime if staying beyond scheduled shift time at the end of the day.
Currently, overtime is claimable after 8 minutes in the Contact Centres and after 15 minutes in Service Centres. PSA has been arguing in Joint Consultative Committee meetings that there should be consistency across the board.
We are pleased to report that Service NSW has now agreed that, while there will be no change to Contact Centres, Service Centres will move to the 8 minute threshold, meaning that if you are still working at the end of your shift, once you get beyond 8 minutes you can claim overtime in 1 minute increments.
Despite Service NSW having sent communications to staff advising of this improvement to the status quo, PSA remains concerned that there is no start time at which point this change will take effect. We note that GovConnect is creating a new Service-NSW specific information point however Service NSW is unable to advise about timing and rollout of the change. We further note that Middle Office is not mentioned in Service NSW’s communication to staff however we can confirm this change covers employees in Middle Office as well.
Keep records
We ask members to keep a personal record of the extra time worked going forward as we seek to ensure that you are not further disadvantaged by delays caused by GovConnect updating the system.
In the meantime, during our deliberations with Service NSW, we were provided with a set of examples that they intend to use to support managers in determining how the changes to the rounding rule will work. We attach a copy of the examples HERE.
If you have further questions or concerns, please contact member support in the first instance on 1800 772 679 or quoting reference number 10007778.
The POVB Delegates to Management Meeting was held in Sydney on the 8-10 July 2025 and was well attended.
As members are aware, there were vacancies on the POVB Executive. In accordance with POVB rules, the Executive voted to fill the Chair vacancy, with Darren King now stepping into this role.
Following this, Darren called on the Management Committee to endorse Nadina Avenell for the position of Country Vice Chair.
Darren’s appointment as Chair created a further vacancy for Country Vice Chair. Liz Reid from the South Coast was nominated and has accepted the role.
In addition, Cameron Kennedy has announced that he will be stepping down from the Executive due to personal commitments, creating another vacancy. Tori-Lee Taylor from JMCC was nominated and has accepted a position on the Executive.
The Executive extends its sincere thanks to Cameron Kennedy for his dedicated service and commitment as Vice Chair. His contribution has been greatly appreciated and he will be missed.
To help ensure continuity in the event of future vacancies or long-term absences, Darren King requested that the Management Committee nominate a reserve delegate. Michael Cox from Wagga CESU was nominated and has accepted the role.
To better align responsibilities with individual strengths, Darren has made some adjustments to roles within the Executive.
The revised State Executive is as follows:
Chair: Darren King
Vice Chair: Andrew Brown
Country Vice Chair: Nadina Avenell
Country Vice Chair: Liz Reid
Secretary: Tori-Lee Taylor
Assistant Secretary: Gregory Clark
Overseer Delegate: Gareth Ballard
Reserve Delegate: Michael Cox
The POVB PSA welcomes the new delegates and looks forward to supporting them in their new roles.
Student Support Officers – an update from your PSA delegates
Hello from the PSA Student Support Officer Advisory Group delegates.
Student Support Officers
The Student Support Officer (SSO) Advisory Group is working on important issues facing PSA SSO members including professional recognition, supervision, access to flexible start and finish times, and payment of overtime for school excursions. As professional ethical practitioners dedicated to student mental health and wellbeing, we are committed to making a positive impact.
With the support of PSA industrial staff, and a newly elected group of delegates from across the state, we will continue to ensure improved workplace conditions for SSOs. With such a strong team, we’re excited for the next chapter of success, together with the PSA staff, we’re ready to tackle the challenges ahead and ensure every student receives the care and guidance they need and that we are best paced to support them.
Get to know our PSA SSO Advisory Group delegates
Amy Smith has worked as a Student Support Officer since joining the pilot program in 2011 and is currently based at Toronto High School. She has valued being part of the evolving Student Support Officer community, witnessing the growth and impact of the role over time. Amy is passionate about supporting young people in building the skills and resilience needed to maintain their mental health and overall wellbeing.
Callum Baillie has been the Student Support Officer at Tomaree High School since 2016 and has watched with pride as the role has transitioned from a small pilot to a statewide essential service. Callum’s areas of interest include incorporating sport and music into his practice and advocacy for the broader youth work sector. Outside of school you’ll catch Callum fishing or surfing in the beautiful waters of Port Stephens.
Josh Larwood is the Student Support Officer at Kooringal High School in Wagga Wagga since 2020. Josh enjoys the variety within the SSO role, particularly delivering wellbeing programs that focus on different interests and skills of the students he works with. The promotion of connection, resilience, balance and personal growth to improve overall wellbeing is a key factor that drives his work.
Lisa Peek is a Student Support Officer at Eagle Vale High School. She has dedicated over 20 years to working with vulnerable young people, supporting them through challenges and helping them build brighter futures. She is passionate about empowering young people to achieve their goals, build resilience, and reach their full potential.
Lisa Weber is the Student Support Officer at Dubbo College South Campus and has been in the SSO role for six years. Representing the Central West including areas such as Lightning Ridge, Coolah, Trangie and Coonabarabran, Lisa has a particular interest in early intervention and supporting rural, remote and disadvantaged students who may not have access to resources and services available in metropolitan areas. Lisa’s passions are photography, art and travel.
Melissa Carey is the Student Support Officer for Rivendell School, a dual Education and Health setting. Mel has worked as the SSO since July 2021. Previous to this role, Mel worked for just over a decade in the Blacktown LGA, managing a youth contract for at-risk youth who were disengaged from school. Mel represents the Sydney Metropolitan Region. In her free time, Mel loves being in nature, meditating, and camping.
Rose Dooley is the Student Support Officer at Fort Street High School in Sydney’s inner west, representing the Sydney metropolitan area. Rose has been at FSHS in the permanent SSO role for 3 years. She has a particular interest in developing ways to best support neurodivergent and queer young people in her community. Rose is looking forward to representing her SSO colleagues to achieve better working conditions and support, we are stronger together!
Summary of Key Points – PSA SSO Vocational Advisory Group Meetings
SSO delegates and the PSA are continuing to work closely together to support the development of a safe, collaborative, and rewarding environment for Student Support Officers. Elected SSO Vocational Advisory Group delegates have met twice this year with another meeting coming up in term 3.
Key topics discussed include:
Concerns about the department recruiting SSOs without the required qualifications.
The need for tailored professional learning and supervision.
Improved workplace conditions upholding access to flexible start and finish times within bandwidth hours and working from home during vacation periods.
SSOs being provided with functional and appropriate workspaces that support confidentiality, privacy and respect when meeting with students.
At each meeting the Organiser and Industrial Officer deliver update reports on their work for SSOs, and updates are provided on the union-wide activities, such as the Domestic Violence Summit and Pride Conference.
Delegates share regional updates, identifying ongoing challenges with inconsistent record-keeping practices, workspace losses, and a lack of tailored training and professional learning.
Together, the group is actively working on solutions and advocating for improvements for SSOs working conditions and for the department’s recognition and professional and ethical best practice standards in record keeping, documentation and supervision.
Knowledge share
Student vacation periods
SSOs are required to be on duty during the student vacation periods unless they are taking an approved form of leave. Principals and SSOs should plan for vacation periods and talk about the work that will be completed.
During vacation periods, an SSO may be approved to work from home, from a local education office, another school with another SSO, or from their own school. A risk assessment should be conducted and approved before working on a school site during a vacation period.
SSOs and their principals should refer to the working arrangements for student support officers and school psychologists during student vacation periods which can be found HERE.
SSOs may wish to use the SSO holiday workplan template to assist in planning for the student vacation periods which can be found HERE.
Do you work on the front lines of Child Protection in the Hunter and Central Coast District?
Save the Dates!
Your union, the PSA, will be visiting Community Services Centres in your region next week – from Tuesday 15 to Friday 18 July 2025
PSA Industrial staff will be on hand to discuss current issues affecting members and to provide information on the PSA’s workload planner.
Workload planner
To assist you in setting boundaries and prioritise your workload and to give you tools to say “No” to work you simply do not have the hours to complete, the PSA will be running Workload Planner Lunch & Learn sessions both in person at Community Service Centres (CSCs) and via MS Teams whilst visiting the Hunter and Central Coast District.
The current Workload Planner (WLP) is easier to use than you might think, and we urge you to put it into action because the fact remains – if it’s not measurable, it’s not manageable. The Workload Planner gives the PSA, Manager Client Services, Directors and Executive District Director evidence to clearly demonstrate that there are not enough workers to meet the workload.
We will also be discussing member benefits such as personal journey insurance, Union Shopper discounts, free ambulance cover and free will service.
Non-members are also welcome to attend and have a chat about the benefits of joining the PSA.
Regional Organiser Paul James –
Organiser Amy Lennox –
Senior Organiser Belinda Tsirekas –
Industrial Officer Graydon Welsh –
Tuesday 15 July 2025
Morning Tea and Workload Planner Meeting – Gosford CSC:
Following the restructure announcement by Create NSW, please join your PSA Senior Industrial, Greg Shaw and Organiser, Claudia Bianchi and delegates for ongoing discussion on the proposed restructure and impact to staff.
Your PSA delegates and staff will be in attendance to assist members with any issues and concerns.
If you know any non-members that would like to learn more about your union, please invite them to attend.
Members are encouraged to send any agenda items that they would like discussed to Claudia Bianchi at
Member’s Meeting Details
If you are onsite, please join us in person, or use the link below to join on Teams.
Date 14 July 2025
Time 12:00- 1:00pm
Location Small Creative Hub, Ground Floor, 80 George St. The Rocks
Parliament NSW Department Staff – members meeting notice
Join your PSA organiser and delegates for a members’ meeting to discuss how your union can best support your workplace.
This is an opportunity for members and non-members to meet with your PSA organsier and delegates to learn about the role of the PSA in your workplace and discuss any issues.
Members are encouraged to send any agenda items that they would like discussed to
If you know any non-members who would like to learn more about your union, invite them to attend.
Member’s Meeting Details
If you are onsite, please join us in person, or use the link below to join on Teams.
As you may be aware, the Public Service Association (PSA) has been negotiating with the NSW Government about the creation of a more fit for purpose award and more appropriate pay for our members covered by the Crown Employees (Psychologists) Award.
In consideration of this negotiation, we ensured that our Crown Psychologist members were not restricted by the no extra claims clause that applied to our other members, by agreeing to a one-year increase rather than the general three-year deal that included the no extra claims clause.
Because negotiations for a new Psychologist Award are ongoing, the NSW Government has consented to our proposal to provide the following to our Crown Psychologist members:
A 4 per cent increase to the salary of psychologists covered by the Crown Employees (Psychologists) Award from the first full pay period in July 2025, and a further 0.5 per cent increase to superannuation.
The PSA has also been regularly attending meetings to progress the new award and are hopeful of being able to provide an update to our members soon.
PSA Consultative Committee report back for Education Support Staff (Corporate) members
The NSW Department of Education hosted the PSA at Eveleigh Office last month for our quarterly joint consultative committee meetings. The JCC Agenda items raised by the PSA for Education Support Staff (ESS) were:
WHS – Incident Reporting & Processes
Consultation on Mobile Phones replaced with Teams audio
New Flexible Working Arrangements implementation
Performance and Development Plan – Success Factors
Organisational Change and the Public Education Plan
People Matter Employee Survey (PMES) results and response
Workforce Planning and Retention
Workforce Data
WHS – Incident Reporting & Processes
As part of this standing agenda item the Project Lead for the new online WHS incident reporting system presented to PSA staff and delegates and listened to feedback. The new system is expected to replace the manual form, but the phone incident hotline will remain in place. PSA delegates will be considering what feedback may be required from an ESS perspective.
Consultation on Mobile Phones replaced with Teams audio
The PSA has asked for proper consultation on the department’s proposal to replace department-issued mobile phones with using Teams for calls, except for field staff. PSA members want clarification on data use and personal phone use.
New Flexible Working Arrangements implementation
The PSA has advocated that the return to ‘office presence’ requires staff have access to fit-for-purpose and safe office accommodation. The PSA interrogated processes for booking office desk space, access cards and ensuring compliance with evacuation procedures, fire wardens and first aid officers in buildings. The union recommends all issues be logged either through the incident reporting hotline or directly with your manager.
Performance and Development Plan – Success Factors
PSA sought an out of session meeting to demonstrate the full functionality of the new ‘success factors’ platform for PDPs and will report back to members once this occurs.
Organisational change and the Public Education Plan
The PSA continued to interrogate compliance with workforce mobility matching and placement processes as per the government’s commitment to retention of staff impacted by restructures. As part of the two disputes lodged over the restructure process so far, the PSA is requiring the department provide data on the placement of staff impacted by restructuring including internally and externally through mobility. We reiterated internal placement of impacted staff must be the priority and have previously expressed concern with the level of external recruitment over the last six months. We will continue to advocate for members throughout workplace change and restructures.
PMES results and response
PSA will meet with a departmental representative (who was a late apology to the JCC) who will outline the department’s respective areas’ responses to the key PMES issues.
Workforce Planning and Retention
The PSA was responsible for the department developing an exit survey to gain information about why staff leave their employment. We then followed up as to who is responsible for collating and analysing the data to inform retention. We are now advised that the data has moved from corporate recruitment to the data analytics team and is being reported upwards to the executive.
Workforce Data
As a standing agenda item, the PSA continues to receive quarterly updated data on Full Time Equivalent ongoing and temporary staff and contingent labour by directorate. We have requested a further breakdown of roles contingent labour are currently sitting in.
Contacts
Your PSA Education Support Staff Departmental Committee Delegates
PSA review and update of the Crown Employees Research Scientists Award and Guidlines
The PSA is providing the following advice as to the review and update of the Crown Employees Research Scientists Award (2007) and Guidelines.
Any Public Service officer who currently holds the classification of Research Scientist is not to be negatively impacted by this Award and policy review.
To enter the Classification, an applicant must:
be a public service employee
meet service and academic requirements (section 3.1)
meet the criteria for entry (section 3)
make an application for entry (section 8)
The Industrial Instrument (Award) can be viewed HERE and policy guidelines HERE are being updated to reflect the Machinery of Government changes which occurred in 2024 and 2025.
The Research Scientists classification previously were employed through the Public Service Commission.
Now, the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer – on recommendation of the Committee, approves the classification of public sector employees as Research Scientists under this Award. Committee here refers to the Research Scientist Classification Committee convened by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer.
As the salary rates within the Crown Employees (Research Scientists) Award are linked to the 2024 Crown Employees’ Salaries Award and Memorandum of Understanding there is no need for an additional ballot of members. That is, there is no new salary offer, nor has there been any changes to member’s existing conditions of employment.
If any member has any questions in relation to this Award and Policy review, please provide feedback to or 1800 772 679 please quote C10007297 by close of business 14 July 2025.
The PSA will be writing to the Public Sector Industrial Relations branch of Premiers department to indicate there is no objection to the revised Policy Guidelines and will consent to the proposed variation to the Crown Employees (Research Scientists) Award 2025.
