PSA negotiates a Flexible Working Hours Agreement 2026 for NSW Education Standards Authority GSE employees
18 May 2026
It was great to meet with PSA members at NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) in late April 2026 in person and online, and to elect and welcome some new delegates, with more on that to come. Presently, we want to update you on the negotiations between NESA and the PSA to establish a Flexible Working Hours Agreement for NESA GSE clerk grade roles, to bring consistency of practices across NESA and alignment of those practices with the implementation of the MyWorkZone, whole-of-government payroll, finance and human resources system, due to go live this year.
A new flexible working hours agreement for NESA
As previously advised, the PSA has been in discussions with NESA for a Flexible Working Hours Agreement for NESA employees covered by the Association. These discussions have sought to establish an Agreement that reflects NESA’s commitment to the benefits of flexibility for all roles on an If Not, Why Not? basis, ensuring transparency and consistency of entitlements across NESA, and balances NESA’s operational requirements with employee work–life balance.
At the time of our last report back, we had engaged in several constructive meetings with NESA IR and People and Culture. Since then, the PSA has reviewed and discussed NESA’s draft and provided tracked changes responses with recommended amendments and comments. The parties have exchanged and progressed several revised drafts on a without-prejudice basis and now believe we have landed on an in-principle agreed final version. The final draft has been approved by Public Sector IR and the PSA is ready to proceed to endorsement of the Agreement.
After consultation and feedback from the established member collective call (IDC10014874), the PSA is confident that members will welcome the following:
- The If not, why not? principle of flexibility, and a strong commitment to manageable workloads and non-fortfeiture of hours is embedded in the Agreement.
- The number of hours that can be accrued as flex (taken as flex leave) has been increased to bring consistency of practice between the GSE Clerk Grade roles and Teaching Service Roles at NESA.
- Flexible Bandwidth (ie, the hours an employee can work flexibly and accrue flex time) has been increased but not at the expense of directed overtime entitlements.
- Definitions and entitlements in the provisions are clear, including clearly outlining the limits on managers imposing ‘standard hours’ and striking an important balance between operational requirements and individual employee flexibility.
In addition, the PSA has secured a commitment from NESA that training and collateral materials to brief and educate all staff on flexible working principles and practices, will be rolled out with the implementation.
Implementation of MyWorkZone
The PSA remains in consultation over the broader implementation of the MyWorkZone accounts and payroll system. This will include the introduction of electronic flex sheets, in due course, intended to improve transparency and strengthen management accountability across finance, payroll, and employee leave records. The PSA will continue to monitor this project to ensure members’ interests are protected.
Yours in Union, PSA
Contacts
Katy Ambler Industrial Officer