All financial PSA CPSU NSW members and their immediate family have free access to Gidget Foundation’s programs to support expectant and new parents experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety .
In October 2025 Gidget Foundation celebrated the opening of a brand-new Gidget House at Stockland Piccadilly. This is the first Gidget House in the Sydney CBD which will provide opportunities for expectant and new parents who work or live close to the city to get support in a convenient location.
Bookings are open for bulk-billed individual psychological counselling to support those experiencing or at risk of developing perinatal depression and anxiety. Support is also provided to those who have experienced birth trauma or pregnancy-related loss.
Gidget Foundation is continually expanding its services, having recently opened locations in Griffith, Green Hills and Armidale with other locations in development. There are also a wide range of resources and other support that they provide including telehealth services and village group programs.
PSA CPSU NSW Women’s Industrial Officer Simone Scalmer and Organiser Kim Villanti attended the opening of the new centre.
Poo balls, asbestos dumping and lead contamination to go unchecked due to planned staff cuts at EPA
What: PSA Rally to Save the EPA (100+ people) When: 1:00pm, Wednesday 5 November 2025 Where: Parramatta Square (outside EPA building/ABC Building)
Poo balls, asbestos dumping and lead contamination to go unchecked due to planned staff cuts at EPA
Poo ball detectives, asbestos dumping inspectors and lead contamination monitors are all to be sacked if the Minns Government presses ahead with plans unveiled late last month to cut 1 in 10 positions from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
The Government has announced they will cut 150 jobs.
Dozens of EPA workers will rally in Parramatta Square today to protest the Minns Government’s devastating decision to cut critical environmental protection roles.
The rally, organised by the Public Service Association (PSA), will take place at 1:00pm on Wednesday 5 November 2025 outside the EPA headquarters in Parramatta Square.
PSA General Secretary Stewart Little said the Minns Government’s actions amount to environmental vandalism at a time when NSW faces growing environmental crises.
“Our members clean up mystery poo balls when they wash up on Sydney’s beaches, they stop criminals dumping asbestos in bushland, they monitor lead levels in mining towns like Broken Hill to keep local kids safe,” said Mr Little.
“They make sure radioactive medical waste is transported and disposed of safely, that PFAS firefighting foam doesn’t contaminate our drinking water, and that soft plastic doesn’t end up in our waterways.
“Cutting these jobs doesn’t save money – it guarantees more environmental damage and health risks for the people of NSW.
“While the Government talks about sustainability, it’s gutting the very agency tasked with keeping our air, water and land safe.
“It is of concern that the Environment Minister Penny Sharpe doesn’t realise the value of EPA staff and the essential work they do.”
Recent pollution incidents, including “poo balls” washing up on Sydney beaches and rising lead contamination in Broken Hill, highlight the vital work EPA staff do every day to protect the public and environment.
The cuts also come as the EPA is under pressure to regulate major issues such as:
PFAS contamination around airport firefighting sites in Richmond and Williamstown
Illegal logging on the North Coast
Asbestos fill concerns in parks in Liverpool
Safe disposal of flammable lithium ion batteries
Transportation and safe disposal of radioactive medical waste
Mystery poo balls washing up on Sydney’s beaches
Lead contamination in mining towns like Broken Hill
“NSW needs a stronger, not weaker, environmental watchdog,” said Mr Little.
“This short sighted decision to save a small amount of money is going to cost us much more in the long run.
“If these cuts go ahead, the EPA will be reduced to a toothless tiger – and the community will pay the price.”
Northern District Housing Services Realignment (Functional Review) consultation.
The PSA provided the extensive feedback we received from our members on Monday to Homes NSW Executives. The feedback letter sent to Homes NSW can be viewed HERE.
The PSA is acutely aware that the delay starting the realignment has placed further pressure and workload on some of our members, however we have other members who have not been provided the information they deserved before the realignment go live date. While it might seem positive for some, other members have been disadvantaged. The PSA will be working with Homes to speed up this consultation process. It’s now up to Homes NSW to provide the information requested and consult with the PSA further on this major change. If Homes NSW had of provided the Change Management Plan when requested then this process wouldn’t have been delayed.
Call for nominations: Clarence Correctional Centre Advisory Group
CPSU NSW is calling for nominations for the Clarence Correctional Centre Advisory Group.
This is an opportunity for members in Clarence to represent their colleagues and to help fight for their workplace.
Elections are open for full-time members of staff and will close on the Tuesday 18 November 2025
Each nomination must be seconded by two other members in the same electorate as the nominee. The call for nominations is as follows:
7 Delegates Required
Positions
Delegates Required
Correctional Case Officers (1 from Initial Response Team)
4
Supervisor
1
Trade Instructors
1
Non-custodial
1
Nominations and Closing Date
Nominees, nominators and seconders must be financial members of the Association as at 29 October 2025.
Nominations must be submitted via Survey Monkey HERE
Nominations close Tuesday 18 November 2025. Forms must be completed via Survey Monkey by 5pm on Tuesday 18 November 2025.
If there is a ballot, candidates who wish to have a profile available for voters to read should provide a brief statement of 300 words or less stating how they will best represent members’ interests.
Space is provided for this purpose on the form available through Survey Monkey.
Please email any questions to
Chris Colosi
for Kerrie Butson Deputy Returning Officer
Call for nominations: Petty Sessions Officers Association Advisory Group
Nominations are called for positions on the: Petty Sessions Officers Association Advisory Group (PSOA) for PSA members employed in the Courts and Tribunals and Service Delivery branch of the Department of Communities and Justice.
Each nomination must be seconded by two other members in the same electorate as the nominee. The call for nominations is as follows:
13 Delegates Required
Electorate Name
PSA Region
Delegates Required
Electorate 1
Metro & Greater Metro
7
Electorate 2
Hunter, North Coast & North West
3
Electorate 3
Central West, South East & South West
3
Nominations and Closing Date
Nominees, nominators and seconders must be financial members of the Association as at 29 October 2025.
Nominations must be submitted via Survey Monkey HERE
Nominations close 17 November 2025. Forms must be completed via Survey Monkey by 5:00pm on 17 November 2025.
If there is a ballot, candidates who wish to have a profile available for voters to read should provide a brief statement of 300 words or less stating how they will best represent members’ interests.
Space is provided for this purpose on the form available through Survey Monkey.
Please email any questions to
Chris Colosi
for Kerrie Butson Deputy Returning Officer
Your Union will visit your workplace on Tuesday, 28 October 2025.
We will also discuss current issues, the upcoming Petty Sessions Offices Association (PSOA) Advisory Group elections and member benefits including Union Shopper and the Free Will Service for members
Non-members are also welcome to call in and have a chat about the benefits of joining the PSA.
TfNSW Operating Model Consultations, member meetings and the importance of providing feedback
As has been reported in previous bulletins, a major theme from branches already undergoing consultation has been a lack of “direct matching” for roles that are graded the same as current roles, with slight changes in the role description. The PSA has been providing specific analysis from our members comparing these roles and highlighting that these are actually the same roles that members have been performing. This led to the announcement of a new 4 week “Internal Gated Process”, aimed at maximizing opportunities for at-grade placement within branches before the mobility phase begins. You can review our previous bulletin here.
It is important that if your branch is undergoing consultation, and you feel that “new” roles are in fact the same, or extremely similar, as the role you are currently performing, to send this feedback to the mailbox. The more specific analysis you provide us, the more comprehensive our submission can be, and the more likely we are at securing changes to the “determined” model.
It is also important to provide specific examples of structures you believe may need more staff, or regraded role to handle workload. The consultation period is the time to submit all this feedback, so that changes can be secured before determination.
The PSA provides an example below of a table you could use to provide feedback.
Role Description
Proposed “new” Role
Current Role
Comments
Primary Purpose
Key Accountabilities
Key Challenges
Key Knowledge and Experience
Essential Requirements
Member Meetings this week
The PSA will be holding further members meetings this week, to discuss the various Operating Model branch design consultations and determinations occurring this week. You can find the details below:
The POVB State Executive recently sent out a motion regarding Hearing of charges as part of the Inmate Disciplinary process. This motion remains active for the protection of members.
Further discussions will be undertaken with delegates at the November Delegates to Management Committee.
Roles and Responsibilities at Cooma, Cessnock, and Shortland
Representatives of the Prison Officers Vocational Branch (POVB) Executive attended Cooma, Cessnock, and Shortland Correctional Centres to establish roles and responsibilities and update post duties into the Statement of Duties format.
Shortland is currently undertaking an operational review and only completed the GOVERNORS Instrument of delegation. The Statement of duties process will be completed when the operational review is implemented.
Junee Correctional Centre
The State Executive attended the formal Commissioning of Junee Correctional Centre.
The POVB welcome Junee Correctional Officers to the POVB.
Casual-to-Ongoing Process
The process by which Casual Officers can transition into permanent positions has progressed well with over 100 Officers applying through the link (click below) to Success factors Expressing an Interest in ongoing roles.
The POVB State Executive have attended Subbranch meetings at Geoffery Pearce CC, South Coast CC, Emu Plains CC, Junee CC and Bathurst CC CSI members over the last month.
If Subbranches wish the State Executive to attend, please just send us an invitation.
State Executive members have also supported members during the misconduct process at various centres.
Section 24 (One Escorting Officer)
CSNSW are still to provide a procedure for the process of conducting one out escorts.
As soon as we are provided with the procedure, we will distribute it
Shortland Update
We are still awaiting feedback from CSNSW on the proposed hybrid model for Shortland Correctional Centre.
Control/Monitor Room and Inmate Knock Ups
Can all staff remain vigilant and professional when performing Monitor room duties.
We have recently started receiving an alarming amount of PSI referrals for inappropriate responses to inmate knock ups
Colleagues Not Receiving Bulletins
If you know a fellow PSA member who is not receiving bulletins, ask them to log in at membership.psa.asn.au using their membership number and password. If they don’t have a password, they can generate a new one on the same page.
Once logged in, they should scroll down to Communication Preferences and ensure that Main Members List is ticked.
Water NSW update on proposed structure and position descriptions
The CPSU NSW will be holding a online members’ meeting for Water NSW next Thursday 9 October at 2:00pm to discuss the proposed structure and position descriptions.
The feedback on the proposed structure and the position descriptions is due on Friday 17 October 2025.
Members can find the response to your concerns about water monitoring in the new structure, which was also discussed at the PCG on 1 October 2025, HERE.
This is an opportunity for members to meet with your CPSU NSW industrial officer Xanthe Thomson, Organiser Mel Ciraolo and delegates for update on PSA and CPSU NSW activities and progress with consultation.
Members can provide feedback directly to Water NSW or to the CPSU NSW by Thursday 16th October 2025 by contacting the PSA Member Support Centre on 1800 772 679, or and quote the call no #C10008756
The CPSU NSW has recently been requesting the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to take steps to identify and rectify the continued issues from the external payroll provider Definitiv.
At this stage Definitiv conducted an audit on the Payroll Software Build: this identified that the system was triggering an automatic three hour minimum of overtime entered in the timesheet from between Monday and Friday inclusive. For example: if an employee enters 30 minutes of overtime worked in the timesheet on a Monday, the system would automatically record this as three hours of overtime (150 per cent for two hours and 200 per cent for one hour).
The CPSUNSW position is that the fault lays squarely with National Heavy Vehicle Regulator for engaging an external payroll provider, however employees still need to repay any overpayments.
Fixing an overpayment
What members need to know when overpayments occur, the employer and employee should discuss and agree on a repayment arrangement. If the employee agrees to repay the money, a written agreement should be made which sets out the following:
Reason for the overpayment – if members are in any doubt or don’t understand the breakdown or the amount of money overpaid request a review and an explanation.
(Do not enter into any agreement until you are satisfied its correct)
The way in which repayments will be made (for example, cash, cheque or electronic transfer) and how often (this has to be reasonable).
Members should have received the recovery letters by this time which includes several options on repayment and offers employees an avenue to discuss and take into consideration hardship.
PSA Lunchtime Action: Protect Jobs and Services at the EPA
All Environment Protection Authority (EPA) members and supporters are invited to join a lunchtime rally on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, to protest the NSW Government’s devastating cuts to jobs and services announced on 22 October 2025.
The Government plans to slash $20 million from the EPA’s budget and “delimit” 370 roles. (Jargon for “cut’). Of these, 182 staff are directly impacted, including 55 temporary and 69 permanent employees who have been earmarked to go.
These cuts will undermine the EPA’s capacity to safeguard the community and environment. The areas of expertise at risk include (but are not limited to):
Regulation of contaminated sites, including groundwater contamination at Botany, historic landfills at Sydney Olympic Park, and remediation of the Rhodes Peninsula
Oversight and response to PFAS contamination near airports and firefighting training grounds
Management of the Broken Hill lead contamination issue
Oversight of James Hardie asbestos fill concerns in the Parramatta area
Regulation of Sydney Water and other utilities, including sewerage and water infrastructure
Licensing and regulation of high-risk industrial premises, including major hazardous facilities and landfills.
Assessment of state significant projects such as Sydney Metro and WestConnex
The EPA’s incident response capacity, where Unit Heads currently play a crucial role as duty managers providing advice and field support.
These are not just job cuts. They are cuts to the vital environmental protections that keep NSW safe and healthy.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, 5 November 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Outside the ABC Building, Parramatta Square
Bring your creative placards and your voice – let’s make sure the Government hears us loud and clear!
Industrial Dispute
This rally is in addition to the industrial dispute the PSA has lodged with the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, which will be heard on Monday, 2 November 2025.
Spread the Word
Encourage all your colleagues to attend. These cuts will increase workloads for every EPA employee and diminish vital public services.
Regional Members
If you can’t attend in person, show your support by:
Taking a photo with your co-workers and placards
Sending your photo to your PSA Organiser for PSA socials
Emailing through a message of support from your office to be read at the rally.
Together, we can protect our environment, our colleagues, and the critical work of the EPA.
Stand strong. Stand together.
Northcott EBA update: Log of Claims and call for delegate nominations
The CPSU NSW has submitted a Log of Claims as part of Enterprise Bargaining negotiations with Northcott.
The Log of Claims sets out key issues that CPSU NSW members have raised when it comes to their conditions of employment.
The Log of Claims is not an exhaustive list, and the CPSU NSW reserves the right to raise, withdraw, modify, adjust, or amend existing or additional bargaining items as they may arise during bargaining negotiations and consultation with our membership.
The Log of Claims can be found HERE. Sleepover and hourly pay were the issues raised most frequently by members over the past year. The log of claims seeks that members be paid for sleepover shifts and receive pay increases of 15 per cent to make up for the lack of wage increase for many members in the recent years.
Since initially meeting with Northcott in June, and submitting the Log of Claims, the CPSU NSW has contacted Northcott about the schedule of meetings for negotiations on a number of occasions. Northcott have advised the CPSU NSW that they are awaiting logs of claims from other unions involved. Northcott have indicated that they will be able to provide dates and times by the end of this week.
Call for delegate nominations
As part of EBA negotiations, the union is calling for delegates to represent the membership.
As the day-to-day face of the union in the workplace, delegates play a crucial role in the CPSU NSW. Delegates represent the collective strength of the membership and provide support and advice to members on workplace issues. Without delegates, the CPSU NSW would not be able to function.
Delegates will be critical in expressing the views and concerns in the current EBA in order to work towards a better agreement.
Please get in touch if you are interested or would like to nominate as delegate.
