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.

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