In March your elected General Assistant (GA) delegates and PSA staff held the first General Assistant Advisory Group (GAAG) meeting of the year. The NSW Department of Education Secretary attended the meeting and discussed key issues with the delegates. Topics covered included the GA Role Description, the staffing formula and regional conferences for 2025.

The Staffing Formula

In the meeting, the Secretary advised that he has personnel working on the formula and has set a deadline for the end of year to deliver proposed changes to GA staffing. Further input will be sought from the GA Advisory Group supported by industrial staff from the union.

The PSA has consistently raised the Staffing Formula for GAs in various official forums for some years now, including the PSA/DoE Consultative Committee meeting. The union has written to the Department of Education (DoE) to propose that GA staffing levels be based on the assets a GA must maintain rather than the student numbers at a school.

Furthermore, the PSA has asked for a ‘freeze’ on reducing any GA hours due to a drop in student numbers until the review of the GA Formula is complete.

The PSA has also ventilated our concerns around GA Staffing Levels with the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and will continue to pursue this important issue on behalf of members.

General Assistant Role Description Review

The Secretary also set a timeframe for completion of a review of the GA role description. This is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026. Consultation between the delegates and senior representatives of the Department of Education will continue and the PSA will update members as discussions progress.

General and Farm Assistant Conferences 2025

Delegates have put forward a proposal for the Department to host conferences in regional areas this year. Nominated locations include Batemans Bay, Wagga Wagga, Tamworth, and Grafton. The proposed timeframe to hold the conferences is during the October school holidays. Please keep an eye out for further information about GA conferences.

Training

Another great win by you union representatives is more role specific face to face training for GAs. In consultation with the Learning and Development team, a training package is being put together that will be run by TAFE. The PSA will keep members updated as development of the package progresses.

WHS

DoE are working on several key WHS areas that impact GAs including a revised Asbestos Management Plan, rolling out hearing tests for staff, and the use of fit for purpose equipment in schools. In particular, the issues around fit for purpose equipment to mow slopes has been put forward as a critical issue.

Survey

Please keep a look out for a survey that the GAAG/PSA will be sending out on paid ‘allowances’ for GAs. We need your input, so please take the time to complete the short survey.

Working Alone Risk Assessment

It is that time of year again so please don’t forget to do the Working Alone Risk Assessment for the upcoming school holidays.

General Assistant’s Advisory Group Elections

The GA Advisory Group elections will be held in the coming months. For anyone interested in becoming a representative for the GA membership, please keep an eye out for the “call for nominations” bulletin from the PSA.

Member Meeting

The union will be holding an online member meeting in the first week of May. We encourage all GAs to attend this meeting. There will be an update on the ongoing work done by the GA Advisory Group delegates and PSA staff representatives on your behalf.