In June this year, the PSA ran elections for School Administrative Officer (SAO) Science Advisory Group. The PSA wishes to congratulate the following members who have been elected to represent you as your delegates:
PSA DELEGATE
SCHOOL
REGION
Sharon Francis (Chair)
Blaxland High School
Sydney Metro Nepean – Blue Mountains
Maree Hampstead
Shoalhaven High School
Regional Wollongong – South East
Robert Holmes
Blacktown Boys High School
Sydney Metro -West
Goran Terzic
Bankstown Senior College
Sydney Metro = South West
Shibaun Aitchison (Vice Chair)
Normanhurst Boys High School
Sydney Metro – North
Kylie Porter (Assistant Secretary)
Cambridge Park High School
Sydney Metro – West
Helen Hill (Secretary)
Kadina High School
Regional – Northern Rivers
PSA delegates represent you
Your union represents your interests at meetings with the Department of Education called Joint Consultative Committees (JCC). The purpose of a JCC is to establish a regular forum for issues and concerns to be raised and addressed collaboratively.
If you have collective workplace issues you would like raised at your next JCC get in contact with one of the Advisory Group delegates close to you.
If you would like an Organiser to visit your school, send an email to for more information.
Are you a SAO working in Science?
If you haven’t let us know yet that you are a SAO working in science email us now at so you can stay up to date with our PSA Bulletins specific for SAO’s working in science.
Free PSA training courses for members and delegates
PSA union training is open to all PSA members, not just delegates.
Non-members wishing to attend training will need to submit a membership application form first. You can join easily online HERE.
We offer a variety of courses and PSA members have access to 12 days’ paid leave each two-year period to attend PSA training courses.
Having your union and its collective strength behind you in the workplace is the only way to make sure you get fair outcomes.
Know someone who isn’t a member?
A strong union means better outcomes for all members; forward this bulletin to your colleagues and encourage your workmates to JOIN the PSA today.
Having your union and its collective strength behind you in the workplace is the only way to make sure you get fair outcomes.
PSA Organiser Alex Sala will be meeting members on site at Castlereagh Street on Tuesday 1 July 2025 from 1 to 2pm in the Level 19 meeting room 1.
Come and talk to your union organisers about the PSA’s role in your workplace and what the union can do to help with any issues you may have. We are currently calling for nominations for delegates in the Legal Aid offices.
Everyone is welcome, so feel free to bring a non-member to the meeting to show them the benefits of being part of your union.
If you are working remotely but would like to talk to us, please log in via the following MS Teams link:
Want to be a voice for your workplace? Join the PSA delegate info session!
Are you interested in improving your workplace?
Do you want to support your colleagues and make sure their voices are heard?
With delegate elections approaching for the NSW State Emergency Service, now is the perfect time to get involved!
You’re invited to a lunchtime seminar to learn what it means to be a PSA Delegate—a key role representing PSA members in the workplace.
When: Wednesday, 2 July 2025 Time: 12:00 PM to 12.30PM
Microsoft Teams Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 468 616 943 807 5
Passcode: BG7Kc2jP
Why become a PSA Delegate?
As a delegate, you’ll be the day-to-day face of the PSA—leading on workplace issues, connecting members with the union office, and helping protect and advance your colleagues’ workplace rights.
Whether you’re just curious or ready to step up, this session is for you!
We hope to see you there!
For more information, please contact PSA Senior Organiser Anne Kennelly
Following the restructure announcement by Create NSW, please join your PSA organiser and delegates for an online meeting to discuss 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 who 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
The PSA wishes to advise members in NESA that we are aware of the recently announced proposal to make organisational changes in the Strategy and Capability/ICT and Assessment Divisions. The PSA has been provided with documentation, including current and proposed organisational charts and information about impacted roles. The consultation period for staff and the PSA has been extended to 4 July 2025.We wish to encourage members to provide detailed feedback and if you are individually impacted, would like advice and/or support, to contact the Member Support Centre on 1800 772 679.
Impacted employees, also have access to the government’s Workforce Mobility Placement Policy found here. The PSA is paying attention to ensure NESA meets its obligations in accordance with the policy, to prioritise retention, firstly at NESA and then, across the broader public sector. Consultation with impacted employees during the placement process, should recognise individual needs and career aspirations of impacted employees.
The PSA advocates for clear communication and accessible information to employees throughout the restructure and placement processes.
PSA Industrial Staff will be visiting your workplace soon to support members with any concerns.
New Child Protection Award: Revised salary ranges, automatic advancement of increments, 100 new Leading Caseworker Roles and the abolishment of forfeited hours
As a result of the PSA “Child Protection in Crisis” campaign the PSA have been involved in intensive discussions around the making of a new stand-alone Child Protection Award.
Today the PSA received a formal proposal for the making of a Crown Employees (Child Protection) Award for a three year period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028. You can view the offer documentation HERE.
The new Award provides for the following:
New Graduate Caseworker role – the creation of a new Graduate Caseworker role remunerated at a rate equivalent to a Clerk Grade 4
Revised Caseworker salary range – The salary range for a Caseworker is proposed to be amended to a new range that is equivalent to a Clerk Grade 5-7. The existing barrier for movement between Clerk Grade 6 and Clerk Grade 7 will no longer exist and staff will move through the Caseworker salary range via standard annual incremental progression.
Two increment advancement for current staff at Grade 4, Grade 5 and Grade 6 – As at 1 July 2025 staff who are at Grade 4 maximum (who did not benefit from the Determination at the end of 2024), Grade 5 and Grade 6 will all be automatically advanced two incremental points and retain their existing annual incremental date. This is a significant benefit resulting in staff moving two full steps forward in the incremental range. Staff will also in the same year, move a further increment in line with standard annual incremental progression and provisions. Staff who as at 1 July 2025 are at Grade 7 minimum will immediately advance to Grade 7 maximum.
The creation of a Leading Caseworker position – DCJ proposes to create 100 leading caseworker roles. This role will be renumerated at a rate equivalent to Clerk Grade 8.
New grading for Manager Casework – The Manager Casework grading is proposed to be revised from a salary equivalent of a Clerk Grade 9 to a salary equivalent of a Clerk Grade 9/10.
New Overtime provisions – A new overtime clause will apply enshrining the ability to be paid at overtime rates for Caseworker Entry-Level, Caseworker, Casework Support Officers and Managers Casework after 9 hours of continuous work (excluding meal break) where work is required and/or directed.
No more forfeited hours – Where hours worked exceed the carry forward balance for the settlement period, and those hours worked cannot reasonably be taken as flextime or otherwise reduced before the end of the settlement period, overtime rates will apply. Forfeiture of excess hours worked would therefore be avoided, as the Department will face a financial penalty for all forfeited hours.
Workload planner to be resolved – DCJ has agreed that within 12 months of the making of the new Award a new Workload Planner tool will be implemented.
Aboriginal Casework staff – There is no change to the qualification requirements for identified Aboriginal roles into the future. No agreement has been reached on whether a new role description for Aboriginal staff is required, however the parties have agreed that further discussions are needed to recognise that staff in Aboriginal identified roles who carry a cultural load must have a connection to the community in which they work. Further consultation will occur within 12 months of making of the new Award.
Administrative staff in CSCs – DCJ has agreed to continue negotiations with the PSA to review the placement and allocation of administrative staff in each of the roles across the State with a view to providing role clarity between roles remunerated at a Clerk 1/2, Clerk 3/4 and Clerk 5/6.
Casework Support Workers – DCJ have committed to continue working with the PSA on a comprehensive review into the tasks and expectations of the Casework Support role description with the aim of standardisation of practices across the state.
New Award – how will it affect my remuneration?
Please see below how the proposed new Award will affect you, based on your current increment.
Existing Caseworkers
New Leading Caseworker Role
Manager Casework Regrading
Next steps
The PSA will be putting the proposed Award out for vote for PSA members only next week. If you want to have a vote on your working conditions and remuneration, ensure you are a financial member of the PSA by close of business Tuesday 1 July 2025.
PSA meetings
The PSA will be holding a number of meetings with members around this significant reform for Child Protection workers before voting opens. All meetings will be held via Microsoft Teams.
We have scheduled information sessions for:
Thursday 26 June 2025
Meeting 1 Time 12:00pm -1:00pm LinkJoin the meeting now Meeting ID 420 116 716 601 7 Passcode 8tj6du79
Meeting 2
Time 3pm -4pm LinkJoin the meeting now Meeting ID 424 996 301 117 2 Passcode ZM7Md65T
Friday 27 June 2025
Meeting 3
Time 9:00am-10:00am LinkJoin the meeting now Meeting ID 470 593 176 433 8 Passcode g62Fy2os
Meeting 4
Time 1:00pm -2:00pm LinkJoin the meeting now Meeting ID 429 102 291 714 1 Passcode GL3pE6S6
Monday 30 June 2025
Meeting 5
Time 3:00pm -4:00pm LinkJoin the meeting now Meeting ID 422 499 194 430 5 Passcode 7v2qZ95G
Meeting 6
Time 7:00pm-8:00pm LinkJoin the meeting now Meeting ID 435 866 020 223 8 Passcode oK3qb9Qi
Tuesday 1 July 2025
Meeting 7 Time 10:00am-11:00am LinkJoin the meeting now Meeting ID 467 406 689 579 5 Passcode nd2hK3zK
Meeting 8 Time 12:00pm-1:00pm LinkJoin the meeting now Meeting ID 439 777 735 382 9 Passcode sB7Xv97b
The Public Service Association NSW is pleased to advise that members covered by the Crown Employees (Psychologists) Award have voted to accept a 4 per cent interim pay rise from the first full pay period after 1 July 2025.
The interim increase was proposed by the PSA and follows months of negotiation between the union and the NSW Government.
The increase provides some immediate financial compensation for Psychologists working across a range of critical government agencies, while the parties to continue bargaining for a new award. The PSA’s position remains that Psychologists covered by the Psychologists Award should have at minimum, parity with School Psychologists.
An application for a consent variation to the existing award will now be filed with the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. Once the variation is made, the 4 per cent increase will apply from the first full pay period after 1 July 2025. In the event the award variation is not formalised before the designated pay cycle date, members will receive back pay.
For further information, please contact the PSA on 1800 772 679 and ask to speak with Thane Pearce.
On 4 June 2025 your Delegates and CPSU NSW Industrial staff met with the General Manager of Clarence Correctional Centre for our bi-monthly Delegates Consultative Committee (DCC). You can read the minutes of the meeting HERE.
Our next DCC meeting will be held on 6 August 2025.
Currently we are Enterprise Bargaining for your new Enterprise Agreement and it’s important that you have your say by being part of the union.
Your CPSU NSW Delegates
Mark Bathgate
Keri Parbery
Craig Dennis
Kody Richards
Luke Binskin
Your CPSU NSW contacts
Rebecca Reilly Regional Organiser
Mik Smart Regional Organiser
Thane Pearce Industrial Officer
If you have colleagues who are not yet a member of the CPSU NSW, please forward this bulletin to them and ask them to join HERE.
To learn more about the benefits of being part of the CPSU NSW, click HERE.
Thank you to Oni Roy for his contributions as a PSA Delegate
The PSA would like to formally acknowledge and thank Oni Roy for his dedication, commitment, and effectiveness in his role as PSA Delegate within the Independent Review Office (IRO).
After significant service, Oni has made the decision to step back from his delegate role and we want to recognise his outstanding efforts in representing union members and his unwavering support for workplace rights, fairness, and transparency.
Oni’s work as a delegate has been invaluable, and we thank him for the time, energy, and commitment he has shown in standing up for PSA members and his contributions have helped ensure IRO is a better, fairer workplace for everyone.
Oni’s departure leaves us needing to find a member who might be interested in the opportunity to become a PSA Delegate for IRO.
Did you know that the PSA provides training and ongoing support for new delegates, with access to up to twelve days of paid Trade Union Training (TUT) leave every two years.
If you are interested in getting involved as a delegate, now is the perfect time to step forward so keep an eye out for further details regarding the upcoming delegate election or if you would like more information on becoming a delegate contact your Organiser Mel Ciraolo
On behalf of the PSA and its members, we thank Oni for his tireless advocacy and wish him all the best for the future.
Delegates take issues to senior management: eFPT Working Group update
The PSA would like to thank again all our members who provided feedback in the Enterprise Financial Planning Tool (eFPT) survey. Your detailed and comprehensive responses informed our advocacy to the Secretary about the depth and breadth of continuing concerns about the eFPT and the impacts on SAMs and BMs. We pressed the Department to establish a specialist eFPT Working Group to commit to resolving the issues and to ensure a fit for purpose ‘school-centric’ operating system and simple clear procedures to enable you to do your work effectively.
We have heard from members since the Department’s implementation of eFPT that the ‘Simplifying the School Budget’/eFPT only increased complexities and added new processes which have significantly increased the workload of SAMs and BMs. This thwarts your ability to provide Principals with accurate and current budget and financial information.
PSA actions on eFPT: Survey results sent to Education Secretary
When the PSA initially raised this issue on the Joint Consultative Committee agenda (two years ago) and wrote to the Chief People Officer, we noted the lack of User Acceptance Testing at the school level and the failure to consult with the union before implementation.
The PSA also called for clarity concerning respective responsibilities of Business Managers (BMs) and School Administrative Manager (SAMs) using the system, noting high-level financial/budget responsibility does not sit within the SAM Statement of Duties and we know many SAMs (and School Administrative Officers) are being relied upon by schools to undertake these tasks.
In March 2025 the PSA wrote to the Secretary copied to the Chief Operating Officer and Employee Relations, expressing the ongoing concern with the dysfunctionality of the eFPT in schools. The PSA provided the Survey Results, indicating 89 per cent of SAMS and BMs did not understand or trust the data in the eFPT School Dashboard, 75 per cent did not find the resources accessible or helpful and 65 per cent did not have time to access the resources to assist them to do their work on eFPT.
In light of the persistent concerns raised by members, the PSA has indicated that the implementation of a work ban was considered a measure of last resort, contingent upon the Department’s demonstrated willingness to engage meaningfully with our concerns. To facilitate the communication and resolution of these issues, a dedicated Working Group has been established, comprising of PSA delegates and key operational representatives from the Department. This group is tasked with collaboratively addressing the concerns and developing practical, sustainable solutions.
eFPT Working Group: First meeting
On 26 May 2025 PSA industrial staff and delegates met with the Department’s relevant operational personnel to commence eFPT Working Group discussions. The Department communicated that the purpose of the initial meeting was ‘to listen’ to the PSA’s more detailed concerns. Together with PSA industrial staff, the Schools Departmental Committee Executive Delegates and experienced delegates from the PSA’s School Admin Working Group attended.
The PSA outlined issues from members including:
There needs to be a ‘school-centric’ simplified operating system
Role clarity between SAMs and BMs using eFPT in relation to financial and budget responsibilities.
Professional Learning/Training: improved access to fit for purpose, tailored training for the SAM and BM roles, and time to undertake this training.
An improved, simplified dashboard and processes to reduce SAM and BM workloads, providing reliable and current data.
The Department listened to the systemic issues and the PSA’s detailed examples. The PSA advocated it is Department’s responsibility to support staff to use eFPT effectively. This should not result in unreasonable workloads or incur additional expense for the school.
Other issues raised by the PSA included:
long wait times for assistance from EdConnect Shared Services and unsuitable/inconsistent remedies provided by them.
The need for a specialist finance support centre staffed by subject matter experts, which assists and meets the needs of individual school finance and budgeting requirements.
Many schools are engaging external consultants to assist with eFPT management, at school expense. The PSA maintains that this service should be provided by the Dept and made available to all schools.
Journals causing confusion in eFPT due to ‘double-entries’.
The need for clear and trusted ‘actuals’.
The PSA also expressed concerns regarding the 6100-fund code, where funds are deposited late in the year, only to be taken back by the department as part of the year end process.
The department thanked the PSA for the detailed feedback and has agreed to continue with a regular cadence of eFPT Working Group meetings, with the next meeting to be arranged early in Term 3.
PSA commitment to supporting members
You can be assured that your PSA delegates and industrial staff are committed to ensuring that the department resolves the eFPT issues, and that you have clarity and appropriate delegation of duties, tailored training and manageable workloads as SAMS and BMs, supporting the Principal and NSW school communities across the state.
Know someone who still needs to join the PSA?
Encourage your colleagues to join the union. You can support the work of the PSA and delegates to get better outcomes for everyone just by asking your colleagues to JOIN.
The CPSU NSW would like to invite all members who work out of Western Sydney University at Parramatta to come down and have a free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate on us.
This will give you the opportunity to have conversations with fellow members in an informal setting. CPSU NSW and PSA staff, that represent a wide range of agencies, will be on hand to discuss any issues or concerns you may have.
Details
Date Tuesday, 24 June Time 9:30am-11:00am Location Chambers Fine Coffee, 1 Parramatta Square Parramatta.
Coffee will be free for CPSU NSW members. We are more than happy to talk to people interested in joining the CPSU NSW, too. Bring a colleague along with you and come and say hello.
See you there!
Please contact Mike Galvez, Industrial Officer and Jose Vasquez CPSU NSW Organiser if you have any questions.
NSW Upper House Inquiry Should Call Premier Not Staffers
“Our members shouldn’t be pawns in parliamentary parlour games with upper house MP’s posturing to get media coverage,” said Mr Little.
“If upper house MP’s want to know the facts they need to concentrate on getting the Premier to appear before them, or the relevant Ministers.
“In a parliamentary democracy it’s the elected members who call the shots and the responsibility lies with them, the buck stops there. They are accountable to the public through the electoral process as are departmental heads and senior bureaucrats.
“Pulling in staffers is the pits, drag in ministers or the senior departmental heads by all means, but junior public servants and parliamentary staffers have no bearing or consequence or meaning on the political process.
