School Administrative and Support Staff: it’s almost break time, have a peaceful and restful holiday season
Have a Restful, Peaceful and Happy Festive Season these School Holidays
The PSA General Secretary, delegates and staff would like to wish you all well at the end of what has been a very eventful year.
As always you, our hard working and dedicated members in schools, have done an amazing job supporting students and your school communities.
2025 has had challenges along the way that you have worked through with dedication and commitment making invaluable contributions to public education.
This year, as we have in years past for members impacted by bushfires, floods and other difficult events, the PSA would like to acknowledge the school communities in Bondi and the surrounding areas who are persevering through such a horrific and senseless event. We know that the impact of this will run deep in those communities for some time.
The union will always stand for solidarity, unity and respect. It is at times like this that the collective of the PSA membership in schools comes together to support each other.
All of you are due a very well-earned break over the next few weeks and we hope you take this time to be with family, friends and community.
In this update:
- SASS Award Negotiations
- eFPT Working Party
- SAO Science
- Long Term Temporary SASS – no contract for 2026
- Advice on driving buses
SASS Award negotiations
The PSA met with the Secretary and senior Industrial Relations staff as part of the ongoing discussions with the department. The PSA has provided a comprehensive list of claims.In short, they center around three key areas:
- Fixing the formula
It is a strongly held view by the Schools Departmental Committee that if the department were to fix the staffing formula and increase School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS) staffing in schools, this would go a long way to addressing most issues faced by SASS members, especially with regard to ever increasing workloads.
- Professional learning
Throughout 2025 the union has continued to advocate for more face-to-face and skills-based training for SASS. Outside of the Award discussions, the PSA is also meeting with Talent, Capability and Performance to look at where we can make those changes to support these outcomes.
- Pathways to permanency
The Temporary Workforce Transition (TWT) which saw over 7000 long term temporary SASS made permanent was a significant achievement by the department, but without having in place an ongoing system, the issue will revert back to being a significant problem. Also, for a number of reasons, a still fairly high number of long term temporary staff were unable to gain permanency through TWT, so the PSA will continue to advocate for a better pathway to permanency for long term temporary SASS.
Outside of the ‘big three’, the PSA has put forward a number of other claims that have been raised from members, including a new classification for School Administrative Officer (SAO), Science Laboratory and access to Family and Community Service (FACS) leave for religious observances in line with teaching staff.
The department is considering the claims and discussions will continue throughout 2026 as we prepare for a new Award in 2027.
eFPT Working Group
PSA delegates on the eFPT working group have met regularly with Department stakeholders from Schools Planning, Budgeting and Reporting, and Finance, Strategy and Performance throughout the year.
Unfortunately, we have yet to get to a point where improvements to the system that will reduce workloads can be implemented, but we are of the view that genuine steps towards this have been made, and we will continue to pursue real outcomes from this group in 2026.
SAO – Science Laboratory
Outside of the longstanding issue surrounding the classification, other concerns raised on behalf of members, particularly with regards to Work, Health and Safety and training for SAO – Science Laboratory, have been at the forefront of the SAO Science Advisory Group.
Following a meeting with the Secretary in Term 4, a renewed focus on these areas will be seen in the new year with staff from across the department including Health, Safety and Staff Wellbeing, Learning and Development and Secondary Science Curriculum, will meet with PSA delegates to develop a better coordinated approach to support this role.
Long term temporary SASS: no contract 2026
While the TWT, as reported above, saw a large number of long term temporary staff gain permanency, this is a reminder for any SASS with three or more years of temporary employment with NSW public schools who have not had their employment renewed for 2026 to contact to the PSA for further support.
Driving buses: not part of your role
SASS statements of duty and the General Assistant role description do not include driving a bus or even the requirement to hold a driver’s license.
The PSA has raised concerns with the department about schools asking staff to drive buses, including WHS risks and liability if an accident occurs. So far, the department has not provided answers.
The privatisation of the NSW bus network and the impact of COVID left many regional bus companies broke; combined with the ongoing pressure on our public schools to do more with less, we understand that for many schools the hiring of buses is no longer viable.
While we want students to enjoy excursions, asking the lowest-paid staff to take on extra duties outside their role is unfair and unsafe.
You cannot be directed to drive a bus—it is not in your role description.
Some schools are attempting to bypass this by asking staff to respond to an EOI to drive the school bus and sign a letter releasing the school from their responsibility to ensure staff do not work outside their statement of duties or role description.
Working outside your role, even out of goodwill, often becomes an expectation. This leads to job creep and undervaluing of roles.
Making sure students are appropriately supervised during trips is also a concern. If the school bus has students on board, then there must be a teacher as they have student supervisory responsibility.
The more we speak with members, the clearer it becomes that this is a widespread issue. The PSA will continue to press the department for a fair solution in the new year. In the meantime, we encourage members to talk to colleagues about this issue and consider how changing expectations often lead to undervaluing and lack of recognition.
Two easy things you can do to support your union:
- Support the work of the PSA and delegates by asking your colleagues to JOIN their union.
- If members you work with have not received this bulletin and are already members forward this bulletin to them and ask them to update their details through our MEMBER PORTAL