The PSA has received a ‘Baseline Remuneration Adjustment and Cost of Living Adjustment Payment’ offer of 10.5 per cent (including superannuation increases) from the Premier’s Department.

While the offer has been widely reported in the media, this offer does not apply to School Psychologists who recently won an increase in pay through the Crown Employees (School Psychologists – Department Of Education) Salaries Award 2022 (School Psychologists’ Salaries Award).

This School Psychologists’ Salaries Award was made by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission between the PSA and the NSW Department of Education (DoE) after arbitrated proceedings, to ensure salary certainty for School Psychologists. This Award commenced from 1 January 2024 and does not expire until 8 October 2024. A variation was made to the Award on 22 January 2024 to award significant pay rises for each classification and to ensure continuing salary parity with School Counsellors.

The School Psychologists’ Salaries Award establishes the rates of pay, salary progression and industrial instruments governing the conditions of employment for School Psychologists, Senior Psychologists Education and Leaders, Psychology Practice.

Your pay rises

The PSA recently won a large pay rise for School Psychologists, backpaid to 9 October 2023 and incorporated this as a new salary structure in the varied Award, as outlined above. Future pay rise offers will be negotiated under the terms of the Heads of Agreement made between the PSA and DoE to affect this award variation and will apply from 9 October 2024.

Your Conditions of Employment

Section 7.1 of your Award confirms that your workplace rights and entitlements are governed the following industrial instruments:

ü   Government Sector Employment Act 2013 (“GSE Act”) 

ü   Government Sector Employment Regulation 2014 (“GSE Rules”)

ü   Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2009 (“COE Award”) 

ü  Flexible Working Hours Agreement 2022 (*a Local Arrangement between the PSA and DoE enforceable under S10 of the COE Award)

 The PSA is the union with coverage of School Psychologists. As your union, we advocate on your behalf to uphold your workplace rights and entitlements and to maintain fair pay for the valuable work you do as a School Psychologist.

If you have colleagues who are not PSA members, encourage them to join. We are also eager to engage with new Delegates and will be putting out expression of interest information soon.

Need PSA assistance?

If you would like advice and support about a workplace issue, contact the PSA on 1800 772 679, Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm.

PSA industrial staff

Julie-Ann Bond
Industrial Manager

Katy Ambler
Industrial Officer

Alison Crittenden
Organiser