In this bulletin
- Update on School Psychologist Award negotiations
- NSW’s Public Sector Wages Policy
- PSA Consultative meetings
- Working within your Role Description
- Supervision for Provisional Psychologists
- Special Leave for Examinations
Update on School Psychologist Award negotiations
Award negotiations between the PSA and the Department are ongoing. The PSA is seeking a one-year Award to enforce the current maximum 2.5 per cent pay rise, backdated to January 2022. Through this Award we will also be advocating that professional board-approved supervision be provided by the Department to provisional Psychologists, for professional learning and Special Leave to undertake Examinations, and equitable salary progression through the bands.
Members will be kept updated on the progress of Award negotiations and the final Award proposal will be put to members for endorsement.
NSW’s Public Sector Wages Policy
In 2011, the NSW Coalition Government legislated to keep public sector wages down, setting 2.5 per cent as the maximum annual pay rise that public sector workers can claim without giving up conditions. The PSA lodges a pay claim each year on behalf of our members, but for the past decade, has been limited, by law, to claims of “up to 2.5 per cent”. This cap has meant that public sector workers’ wages have consistently fallen well below the rising cost of living and are steadily going backwards. This year the PSA has been joined by the Teachers, Nurses, and Transport workers (together with all NSW Public Sector unions) to challenge the unfair 2.5 per cent cap.
Unfortunately, the 2.5 per cent cap means that if more is claimed for a group of workers, such as School Psychologists seeking additional recreation leave as paid School Holidays, the current rules require the equivalent monetary value to be offset as a reduction in salary or against other non-cost neutral conditions.
PSA consultative meetings
The PSA is in the process of establishing regular, formal consultative meetings with the executive of the Child Wellbeing and Mental Health Services to address operational and equity issues for School Psychologists. Member concerns we intend to progress include the ability to request your role be assigned to another location [through GSE Act 2013 mobility provisions], improved staffing to support manageable workloads, board-approved professional supervision, upholding flexible working, accrual and leave entitlements, and ensuring that managers and Principals’ directions and advice is compliant with the industrial agreements that govern School Psychologists workplace conditions. The consultation meetings will be attended by your PSA Delegates.
The PSA understands that flexibility and being able to request assignment to another school is an important issue for members. The PSA advocates that the Department can access the mobility provisions in the GSE Act 2013 and such requests should be reasonably considered. The PSA has commenced representations to the department on this issue.
Working within your role description
School Psychologist members are reminded that your role description outlines the scope of your duties. The PSA advises our members to always work within the scope of their role description unless they are being appropriately remunerated for performing higher duties.
Supervision for Provisional Psychologists
The PSA advises members that the Department should provide Provisional School Psychologists with board-approved professional practice supervision. Contrary to what some School Psychologists may have been advised, there is no arrangement between the Department and the regulatory body, AHPRA or the Psychology Board, to allow 5+1 candidates to work unsupervised as a psychologist in a school; that is, to work without having a professional practice supervisor.
Special Leave for Examinations
Did you know you can apply for paid leave to sit your National Psychology Board Examination?
Section 84.5 “Special Leave – Examinations” in the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Award outlines this entitlement:
84.5.1 Special leave on full pay up to a maximum of 5 days in any one year shall be granted to employees for the purpose of attending at any examination approved by the Department Head.
84.5.2 Special leave granted to attend examinations shall include leave for any necessary travel to or from the place at which the examination is held.
84.5.3 If an examination for a course of study is held during term or semester within the normal class timetable and study time has been granted to the employee, no further leave is granted for any examination.
Do you need assistance at work?
If you are experiencing issues with any of the topics outlined in this bulletin the PSA is here to support you.
If you have any questions or concerns you can contact us for support, advice and advocacy on 1300 772 679, Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm.
Do you know a School Psychologist who isn’t a member?
As we increase PSA membership amongst School Psychologists, the more influential we become and the better results we will achieve!
Talk to your non-member colleagues about the issues the union is progressing for School Psychologists (such as Professional Supervision) and encourage them to JOIN the PSA today.