It was great to meet with so many members on 11 June 2026.
As members were advised during the meeting, the PSA is continuing to pursue the matter of the NSW Department of Education’s failure to pay eligible employees the lunch meal allowance for one-day journeys of 100km or more (without accommodation) in accordance with Clause 29.1 of the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Award 2009 (“Crown COE Award”).
To inform and assist PSA’s preparation for disputation, we ask members to complete a brief survey. Link to the survey is HERE.
The survey will close on Friday, 26 June 2026.
NSW Department of Education denies allowances despite Award: PSA to challenge
The PSA raised concerns with the Department about their new ‘improved guidance’ on staff access to allowances, after members who regularly travel over 100km in one day, as part of the inherent requirements of their role, contacted the union. Members advised they have recently been informed that they cannot claim a meal allowance for such journeys.
The Department’s response demonstrates that the ‘guidance’ is not relying on award provisions, to support an additional condition that the travel must be ad-hoc. Nor has any clause been identified to exclude regular travel undertaken as part of the inherent requirements of a field-based role.
The Department claims that the guidance is merely a reminder of long-standing practice and is consistent with recent advice they received from Public Sector Industrial Relations (PSIR). However, the PSIR advice is not in published form nor has it been provided to the union, despite PSA’s request.
To challenge the Department’s position, the PSA is seeking member’s assistance to demonstrate that, in addition to the clearly articulated Award criteria, that in fact, long-standing custom and practice has been for eligible employees to have these claims approved and paid. Members have reported that, until recently, they routinely received the allowance for qualifying journeys.
The PSA has been pursuing the issue through discussions at the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meetings however the union is now preparing to formally challenge the Department’s position.
Have you had a claim declined?
To assist the PSA in preparing for industrial disputation, members are also encouraged to contact the PSA Member Support Centre and provide copies of your declined claims quoting case no. C10011128.
Contacts
Member Support Centre
1800 772 679