PSA industrial staff attended a Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting with workplace delegates and district management on 24 August for the Western Sydney district.
JCCs are an important platform to address workplace concerns and members are encouraged to reach out to PSA delegates and staff about any workplace issues they would like raised at the meetings. They are an opportunity for members to speak out and ask any questions they may have about workplace rights. You are the power of your union. Please note only collective issues are discussed at JCCs. Individual matters are managed privately.
Key discussions on 24 August included:
Relocation of Parramatta office
The interim location in the foyer of the new Parramatta relocation on Marsden Street opened on 31 August 2026. Management explained a number of risk management controls had to be put in place before the office opened. The changes included:
Front-of-house toilets
- A frosted glass wall separates the toilet area from the waiting area, providing privacy while maintaining appropriate separation
- A security guard is stationed in the area during operating hours
- Closed-circuit television (CCTV) has been installed to monitor the surrounding area
- Toilets to remain locked with access controlled by security
- Convex mirrors have been installed to improve visibility and oversight of the area
Client phones
- To address concerns around their use, they will be located on the staff side of the counter
- For translator services, an additional handset with an extended cord will be available in the staff area, allowing clients to participate in conversations while maintaining appropriate workplace safety controls
Size of client desk and counter at housing booths
- Privacy panels have been installed between housing booths to improve client privacy and confidentiality
- The client side of each booth includes a 30cm overhang, providing space for clients to review and sign documents
- Higher chairs have been arranged to assist clients accessing the higher counter height comfortably
High-risk interview room
The interview room was designated a high-risk client interview room by Child Protection and Permanency. As such, it meets the required safety standards, including:
- Desk heights consistent with other Homes NSW offices and interview rooms
- Emergency exit via push-button door release rather than swipe-card access, allowing a quicker exit if required
- Duress alarm systems
- CCTV
- Removal of selected sections of frosting from the glass panels to improve external visibility, enabling security staff to more easily observe interactions within the room
Additionally, management said Temporary Accommodation appointments will be done over the phone and tenancies are to be done via scheduled appointments.
The permanent location on level 1 is expected to be completed in 12 weeks.
If members continue to have concerns about the relocation and the controls that have been put in place, they can contact the Member Support Centre and quote case number C10021941 in the subject line to let us know.
There are no planned moves for the other offices in the district: Blacktown, Penrith or Mount Druitt.
Work health and safety and the Psychosocial Action Plan
The Western Sydney district developed a Psychosocial Action Plan earlier in the year. Management confirmed it is now under review. Members are encouraged to get involved with the consultation process if invited.
It’s important that members know about and understand the Psychosocial Action Plan as it will provide important information around the controls management has in place for managing psychosocial hazards such as role overload, exposure to traumatic events, workplace violence and bullying. Under the new Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 workplaces ‘must implement control measures to eliminate psychosocial hazards so far as is reasonably practicable’.
The PSA would expect the Psychosocial Action Plan to comply with SafeWork’s Code of Practice.
Members are reminded to continue to report all incidents through Safety Suite and share with the PSA.
Please also complete the PSA’s Occupational Violence & Workplace Safety survey. Mark sure your voice is heard in this important survey that will highlight to government the huge issue around workplace violence for our frontline staff. Client-related verbal abuse and threats continue to be a high risk area for members.
The PSA also encourages members to know who the Health and Safety Representative (HSR) is in their office. HSRs are elected to represent you on work health and safety (WHS) issues in the workplace. They identify and resolve WHS matters, and can issue a provisional improvement notice (PIN) if they reasonably believe the WHS law has been broken.
Workers’ compensation reforms
Members are also encouraged to review any communications the district has provided about the reforms to workers’ compensation. The process for making a psychological claim has changed considerably and members are advised to be across these changes.
Work from home and leave consideration
Members have raised concerns about losing allocated WFH days if they have sick or take other leave the same week. The department has made it clear in its Flexible Work Procedure that staff ‘taking any form of leave on a day they are scheduled to work at an approved work location do not need to make this time up in lieu’. Please let your workplace delegates or organiser know if there are any ongoing concerns around your WFH days.
Members are the power of the union. The PSA provides the structure and members provide the strength to make sure rights and entitlements for every worker are upheld. The more you engage with your union, the more powerful you are to bring meaningful changes to workers’ rights. Come along to member meetings, read your bulletins, engage with your delegates, learn how to speak up to management politely and professionally. The PSA supports you to raise issues with management so you don’t have to go it alone.
Winning transformative change is never easy but your union is here to help you build confidence, hope and unity.
The next JCC meeting is scheduled for November. Members are encouraged to share any workplace concerns they have with their workplace delegates or organiser. If you have any questions about your rights in the workplace, please get in touch.
Contacts
Member Support Centre
1800 772 679
Delegates
PSA industrial staff