Update from the Prison Officer Vocational Branch on Centre closures
We acknowledge the age of the Victorian Era cells and infrastructure. However, reforms by Corrective Services NSW, including Benchmarking and Prison Bed Adjustment Capacity Program PBCAP, have led to reduced frontline staffing, increased inmate violence, higher workers compensation claims and sick leave, more inmate lock-ins, and a growing budget deficit of over $170 million.
These impacts have contributed to the announced closure of Goulburn Correctional Centre and Silverwater Womens Correctional Centre, adversely affecting both staff and the local communities.
We do not accept the closure of Goulburn Correctional Centre, this closure will impact not only on staff at Goulburn but the wider community.
The long forgotten female system is in dire need of repair. Silverwater Womens Correctional Centre has, since its inception, bore the brunt of the worst women in custody have to offer. They have huge levels of self-harm, inmate non associations and the highest rate of staff assaults in the state. With the news that Silverwater Women’s is closing management have offered little to no plans of how or where the mental health or behavioural inmates will be rehoused, or what they will do to curb the rates of self-harm and staff assaults.
Mary Wade has been informed that they will transition back to a female cohort with no idea of what classification or programs will be run there.
Dillwynia are now in for a massive change becoming the primary women’s facility. They do not have the facilities or staff to receive fresh custody inmates, house mental health or behavioural inmates, category 5 or the large levels of RIT inmates that will now be coming their way.
While Silverwater have been informed of the change, Mary Wade and Dillwynia have been left out of any major communications or consultation.
What’s needed is an investment in Operational Reforms, not closures.
The Inmate population is currently 14200 and continues to climb.
Over the coming weeks, we will be meeting with your delegates and discussing the path forward and will keep you updated.
Do you work at Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and are impacted by the restructure?
Your PSA Industrial Officer Thomas Gao and Organiser Adalynn Cole will be hosting a members meeting this Thursday to provide members with an update on the restructure and provide the opportunity for members to raise any issues with your Union.
Why should you attend?
Meet your new Workplace Delegate.
Meet your PSA Industrial Officer and Organiser and receive industrial update on the restructure and workplace presence.
Raise any concerns about issues that affect you and your team.
Meeting details
Date Thursday 26 March 2026
Time 1:30pm-2:30pm
Location Parramatta Square, L7.MR.09
Know someone who isnt a member? Invite them along so they can learn more about their union! And ask then to join the PSA HERE.
Contacts
Thomas Gao Acting Industrial Officer
Adalynn Cole Organiser
The PSA NSW has 125 years of proud history, and you stand on the shoulders of more than 40,000 members who know we are stronger together.
Did you know your union also offers you:
Free emergency ambulance cover
Free Journey Insurance peace of mind if you have an accident travelling to and from work.
FREE Personal & Accident insurance lump sum claims for injuries and broken bones and for $11 extra get your whole immediate family covered (exclusive of broken bones )
Substantial shopping discounts with Union Shopper
Free will and Legal services and many other benefits
Joint Consultative Committee Report Child Protection and Permanency
The Public Service Association and Departmental Committee delegates met with Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) Child Protection and Permanency on Tuesday 17 March 2026 for the Statewide Joint Consultative Committee (JCC). We provide the below summary of matters discussed.
Length of Service Awards
Many members were given Service Awards towards the end of 2025 with some members advising that they were not recognised.
The Department advised that this time it was a Division initiative focused on Child Protection and Permanency (CPP). Some people may have been outside the CPP division so werent picked up in their review. Moving forward the Deputy Secretary has advised she is seeking to expand the recognition of staff across the Divisions.
If you are in the CPP Division and were not recognised for 15 years or longer of service, we advise that you speak with your manager and HR.
Evolve Leadership and Mentoring Program
As part of the Ministers commitment to improving workplace culture and leadership, the Department has developed the Evolve Leadership and Mentoring Program for Child Protection (CP) staff, including leadership and Caseworkers. This program has been developed with consultation from the PSA, Delegates and CP staff.
The program has started rolling out with the first component, Leading from the Front, to senior managers and non-frontline directors. This will be followed by, Leading with Direction, for frontline Directors and Executive Directors.
The program will be further expanded in the coming months to other managers and caseworkers, with a module each fortnight over a period of 26 weeks. This training is to be completed in work time and recorded in your workload planners.
Casework Specialist and Manager Practice and Permanency (MPP) Change Management Plan
The Department has advised that the MPPs will now be going to an expression of interest (EOI) due to a large number of impacted staff nominating the same role/s for appointments. Casework Specialists are in a similar position with many applying for limited number of roles either in their area/district or the same available roles (I.e. Senior Advisor Child Protection).
We continue to advocate for members to be appointed in their preferred roles and supported if the roles are based out of District and are acutely aware of the time this matter is taking and its impact.
Fleet
Telematics roll out is progressing. DCJ are looking to create driver behaviour guides with clear thresholds for speed etc, so staff are aware. The PSA continues to maintain telematics is not to be used in a punitive way. While safety is key and discussions should be had around expectations, there should be no punitive use.
Electric Vehicle (EV) roll out is being reviewed with Public Works involved with installation of charging stations where possible. Some sites may not have capacity for EV charging stations and serious considerations must be taken in regional areas where distance is a significant issue.
Fuel supply concerns with the current geopolitical situations have been looked at with advice that contracted fuel supplies have no disruptions at this time. DCJ have included access to premium fuel for areas where other fuels are limited or unavailable.
The next Statewide JCC will be held on Tuesday 16 June 2026.
Got Questions? Meet the PSA at Blacktown Community Service Centre
Do you work from Blacktown CSC? The PSA is holding an in person and online members’ meeting. Whether youre in the office or working from home Organiser Andrea Cartwright will be available to discuss member issues.
Are you interested in becoming a Workplace Delegate?
Were looking for passionate representatives from your work site to join us at the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting for the Department of Community Services. This is your chance to have a voice, drive positive change, and represent your colleagues where it really counts!
If youre keen to get involved and help shape what happens in your workplace, we want to hear from you!
Come along to the lunch time meeting – this is a great opportunity for both members and non-members to:
Meet your PSA Organiser.
Learn the benefits of using the Workload Planner.
Learn more about becoming a Delegate and the PSAs role in your workplace.
Share ideas on how your union can best support you and your colleagues.
Whether youve got something specific to raise or just want to stay informed, wed love to see you there!
If you know any non-members that would like to learn more about your union, invite them to attend.
Meeting Details:
Date:
Wednesday 25 March 2026
Time:
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Location:
Blacktown Community Service Centre
Room 0.5 Warratah Interview (4)
14 Prince Street
Online:
If you cannot make it in person, there is a Teams option:
The PSA NSW has 125 years of proud history, and you stand on the shoulders of more than 40,000 members who know we are stronger together.
Did you know your union also offers you:
Free emergency ambulance cover
Free Journey Insurance peace of mind if you have an accident travelling to and from work.
FREE Personal & Accident insurance lump sum claims for injuries and broken bones and for $11 extra get your whole immediate family covered (exclusive of broken bones )
Substantial shopping discounts with UNION SHOPPER
Free will and Legal services and many other benefits
NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Water Group Functional Review Stage 2 announced
The Public Service Association has been invited to an in-person briefing on proposed changes in NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Water Group at 9am, Monday 23 March. At this stage the PSA has no information regarding the nature of the changes.
The PSA is aware directly impacted staff are being invited to confidential individual and group meetings early in the week with an all-staff town hall scheduled for Thursday 26 March per communications sent to staff.
The PSA has your back
PSA Industrial Officer Michael Sinclair and PSA Organiser Michael Parsons will be in 4PSQ on Monday to support members.
You are entitled to a support person in your one-on-one meetings with management regarding this proposed change. If you are directly impacted and would like a support person please contact your PSA Delegates, or the PSA staff on the details below.
Management are aware of their obligations to consult meaningfully on organisational change and have already announced consultation will run for 4 weeks from Thursday 26.
The PSA will be engaging our members regularly throughout this period, please keep your eye out for a meeting notice in the coming days.
Once the Change Management Plan has been provided, please send your feedback whether positive, constructive or neutral to PSA Member Support Centre at , and Organiser Michael Parsons at mparsons@psa.asn.au. Please quote the case number C10014884
We are stronger together
Organisational change doesnt only impact PSA members. Encourage your co-workers to consider joining to ensure their voice is heard throughout the change process. Become a member today.
Earlier this year, over 750 schools were set to receive an increase in General Assistant (GA) staffing as part of a new allocation methodology aimed at addressing workload concerns and better aligning GA resources with school needs.
However, recent feedback has highlighted several issues:
Many GAs are unaware if their school received an increase, relying on leadership for updates.
Additional hours are not consistently offered to existing part-time GAs.
In some cases, funding is being used for purposes other than GA entitlements.
These concerns have been raised directly with the Department, the PSA is concerned that the implementation of the increases have undermined the intent of the changes.
We want to hear from you
Help us understand how these changes are being implemented in your school by taking five minutes to complete the survey: HERE
Your feedback is vital in ensuring GA workload and resources are properly addressed.
Restructure of Independent Review Office: members’ meeting
Members at Independent Review Office (IRO) are invited to a PSA meeting with your PSA representatives.
The PSA was advised on 18 March of a restructure with changes proposed to the Offices organisational structure and staff role descriptions.
All PSA members are encouraged to attend an online meeting to discuss your feedback on the proposal. The consultation period continues until 1 April 2026 and we ask you to submit any commentary or questions to us by close of business Monday 30 March 2026.
PSA members are also invited to forward your concerns or feedback to . You can also speak to a member support officer on 1800 772 679 by quoting CASE ID C10016614.
On 18 March 2026, affected icare NSW staff and the PSA were notified of two proposals for change within icare NSW in:
Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF)
Dust Diseases Care (DDC)
We understand that affected staff have been provided with copies of the relevant proposals.
Consultation is open for two weeks from 18 March 2026. To better understand what is being proposed, the PSA has sought further detail for both change proposals in the following areas:
A clear explanation of what is changing and why.
The overall number and grade of roles being deleted.
The overall number and grade of new roles being created.
A current vs. proposed FTE table, by team and grade, including permanent, temporary and vacant positions.
Clarification of what constitutes a slight role change vs impacted, and what triggers at?risk or redeployment status.
Clarification of the placement process.
Details of the training that will be provided to staff who may move into new or changed roles.
PSA feedback
The PSA will be providing feedback on both proposals.
Members are encouraged to provide feedback through the channels outlined in the change proposals, and to also send any questions or concerns to Anne Kennelly, PSA Senior Organiser
PSA meeting
To assist in preparing feedback and to ensure your voice is heard, the PSA will be holding a union meeting.
All PSA members in icare NSW are encouraged to attend, including members not directly affected.
Agenda
HBCF Change Proposal 12:30pm-1:00pm
DDC Change Proposal 1:00pm-1:30pm
Note: The meeting is structured in two parts. You may attend the full meeting or join only the section relevant to you.
Details
Date Friday 27 March 2026 Time 12:30pm-1:30pm
The meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams at THIS LINK. Meeting ID 487 406 986 601 68 Passcode XR293Gx7
Do you work at Sydney Metro and are impacted by the restructure? Your PSA Industrial Officer Thomas Gao and Organiser Adalynn Cole will be hosting a members’ meeting tomorrow to provide members with an update on the restructure and provide the opportunity for members to raise any issues with your union.
Why should you attend?
Meet your new Workplace Delegate
Meet your PSA Industrial Officer and Organiser and receive Industrial update on restructure and workplace presence
Raise any concerns about issues that affect you and your team.
Details
Date Tuesday 24 March 2026 Time10:30am-11:30am Location Bradman Room, Level 43, 680 George Street Sydney
The meeting can also be accessed via Microsoft Teams. You can join the meeting HERE. Meeting ID 459 606 103 516 98 Passcode My2Sz3n3
Know someone who isnt a member? Invite them along so they can learn more about the union! www.psa/join.nsw.asn.au.
Department of Communities and Justice, Information and Digital Services restructure
The PSA has received notification of a restructure within Information and Digital Services at the Public Service Senior Executive level.
If you are a member and will be impacted by this restructure you can contact the PSA for advice. Please call the Member Support Centre on 1800 772 679 by close of business on 26 March 2026.
On 27 February 2026, the Public Service Association of NSW (PSA) attended a further conciliation conference at the Industrial Relations Commission regarding the Psychologists Award dispute.
PSA Proposal
The PSA asked the Industrial Relations Commissioner to make a recommendation that would provide interim relief to psychologists by providing a mechanism for agency heads to approve requests for psychologists to have increments accelerated. This was proposed as a short-term measure, alongside an interim attraction and retention allowance to help address the serious attraction and retention issues affecting psychologists in the NSW public service.
However, the Industrial Relations Secretary had already indicated that it would not support accelerated increments as an interim measure.
During the conference, the Crown Solicitors Office (CSO), representing the Secretary, confirmed that:
The Secretary opposed the recommendation to accelerate increments.
The Secretary believed this type of relief was not appropriate.
The Secretary argued that the making of any recommendation in which the Secretary acknowledged retention and attraction issues would prejudice it during any arbitration of the dispute.
The PSA made submissions to the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) highlighting that:
The State had previously not disputed the factual basis of the PSAs dispute notification that there is a serious attraction and retention crisis affecting public service psychologists.
It was concerning that the State now appeared to be stepping back from acknowledging these issues.
The State has not taken proactive steps to resolve the retention and attraction issues identified by the PSA in its dispute.
Addressing the crisis is in the interests of both psychologists and the State, as the retention and attraction crisis directly impacts the States ability to deliver critical services.
The IRC Commissioner ultimately did not make the recommendation.
Next Steps in the case
The PSA requested that the matter be formally timetabled for arbitration concerning an interim award creating an attraction and retention allowance for psychologists to ensure that progress towards a decision could continue without delay.
A hearing for the interim award application has been set down for 10 14 August and 17 August 2026. The PSA must file its case in support of the interim award by 4 May 2026.
The proposed interim award the PSA is seeking would establish a Psychologists Attraction and Retention Allowance for a period of 12 months, payable in equal instalments each fortnight. This step is proposed to allow the sizeable task of preparing evidence in relation to the final relief, being the making of a new psychologists award with significant increases to pay and conditions to be completed in a manner which will provide the best result.
A work value assessment for the pay of psychologists in the NSW Public Service has not occurred since at least when the Crown Employees (Psychologists) Award was made in 2006. The work value component of the PSAs claim for the Psychologists Award must be established on its own evidence.
As the current salary rates for School Psychologists were reached by agreement, without the involvement of the IRC, it is not a given that the Commission would award the same or substantially similar rates if the necessary evidence demonstrating work value and other considerations cannot satisfy the Commission that the changes are necessary to set fair and reasonable conditions.
Award negotiations
As noted previously, on 12 December 2025, the IRC recommended that the Crown is to provide its representative in these proceedings, the Industrial Relations Secretary, bargaining parameters in relation to the PSAs salary and conditions claim concerning the Psychologists Award by no later than 16 March 2026.
On 16 March 2026, the Secretary sought the PSAs consent to extend the timeframe to give the Secretary further time to consider the interim relief sought by the PSA and consider its response. It is the PSAs position that the interim relief has no bearing on the substantive claims made by the PSA for the negotiation of a new Psychologists Award and interim relief has only been sought due to the delays of the Secretary obtaining bargaining parameters which would allow negotiations to continue. The PSA rejected the request of the Secretary.
The failure of the Secretary to comply with the recommendation is something that can be considered by the IRC when it exercises its functions, including in determining the interim and final relief. No reasons have been provided about why the Secretary has not complied with the recommendation.
The PSA has repeatedly expressed its desire to continue to negotiate with the Secretary to resolve the Psychologists Award claim. However, given the urgency of the attraction and retention crisis, the PSA will not pause the arbitration process. The PSA does not need the Secretary to obtain bargaining parameters to arbitrate either interim or final relief.
Next steps in campaign
The PSA is also seeking members who are willing to assist with our media campaign and those who may be prepared to act as witnesses in proceedings before the IRC. If you are interested in participating, please contact Chris Auld, Senior Organiser, or your Psychology Award working group members.
The PSA will also hold an online meeting for members and potential members to provide an update, answer questions, and discuss how individuals can become more involved in the PSAs campaign (details to follow).
Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport seeks alignment of Flexible Working Hours Agreements
On 10?March 2026 the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport (DCITHS) wrote to the PSA to advise that it wished to commence consultation with the PSA in relation to consolidating seven existing?Flexible Working Hours Agreements (FWHA) into one DCITHS FWHA.
The information provided included:
Draft proposed DCITHS Flexible Working Hours Agreement?SEE HERE
Current Flexible Working Hours Agreement comparison document?SEE HERE
?The PSA requested a meeting with the Department which occurred on 16?March for an update on the proposal. DCITHS advised that staff would be provided with the following briefings:
McKell Building
Wednesday 18 March 9:30AM 10:30am
(targeted towards all DCITHS employees)
80 George Street, Sydney
Wednesday 18 March 1:00pm 2:00pm
(targeted towards employees on DPE agreement)
McKell Building
Thursday 19 March 10:00am 11:00am
(targeted towards employees on DPE agreement)
80 George Street, Sydney
Friday 20 March 9:00am 10:00am
(targeted towards employees on DPE agreement)
The PSA advised DCITHS that the proposed consultation period which ends on 24 March was too short and we have requested an extension.
Today the Department has responded to advise the consultation period will be extended until Friday 27 March.
Once consultation is concluded negotiations will occur between the PSA and the Department in relation to this proposal.
The FWHAs proposal impacts members across DCITHS. It is divided up to the following Agencies:?
24 Hour, Screen and Sound ?
Corporate Services??????
Create NSW?????????????????????????
Destination NSW????????????????????????
Hospitality and Racing
Office of the Secretary
Member feedback required Please send your feedback to:?or 1800772679 by cob 27 March 2026. Please quote case ID C10016449
