As the mid-year point draws near, we know you are all looking forward to school holidays starting next week.
The PSA hopes you all have a well-earned break and enjoy not only this year’s union-won pay increase but also the extra $1000 payment that we won for you to ease cost of living pressures.
In this update:
- 2026 pay increase: how much and when it will be paid
- Cost of Living Adjustment: union wins $1K for workers
- PSA Schools Recognition Week
- Allied Health and external providers
- 100 new preschools
- SASS Professional Learning – conferences in term 3 and 4
- School devices
- Chemical Management Improvement Plan
- Special Education Working Group update
- General Assistant Conference locations
- Admin Conference locations
Your 2026 3 per cent pay increase and Award negotiations
All SASS will receive the 3 per cent annual pay increase, the last pay increase won by the PSA in the 2024 – 2026 wages deal which has seen an overall increase of 10 per cent.
The pay increase will come through on 16 July 2026 being the first full pay period on or after 1 July.
This means that the PSA is currently in the process of preparing to negotiate for the next round of salary increases with the NSW government as well as continuing discussions in relation to both the SASS Award (conditions of employment) and General Assistants Award.
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) payment – thank a union member!
As part of the last pay deal, the PSA negotiated that if the annual average Sydney Consumer Price Index exceeded 3.5 per cent for the preceding year that it would enter negotiations for a COLA payment.
The COLA is a one-off payment of $1000 (pro-rata and taxable) and we have confirmed with the Department of Education that the payment will be paid to eligible SASS on 30 July 2026; this includes all permanent full-time, part-time, long-term and short-term temporary SASS.
It is only because of union members that we are able to do this. Talk to your colleagues today about joining and being part of the fight for a fairer working life for all support staff in schools.
More information about this payment will be coming out soon from the Department of Education.
PSA Schools Recognition Week 2026: 31 August to 4 September
Our theme for the 2026 PSA Schools Recognition Week is Thriving Schools Start With Us.
This year the PSA goes green! The union will be launching a more accessible online resources pack to support your recognition week.
Put the dates in the diary and keep your eyes out for more information on how we will be reaching even more members this year.
If you would like a PSA meeting at your school, contact your organiser directly, call our Member Support Centre on 1800 772 679 or email us at
Joint Consultative Committee report
As part of the consultative arrangements, the PSA meets with the department on a quarterly basis through the Joint Consultative Committee to address matters of mutual significance. The JCC last met on 27 May and discussions were had on the following:
Specialised Allied Health and other external providers
This has become an increasingly significant issue for many members with increased administration and classroom disruptions affecting many SASS classifications across both office and learning support staff, as we last reported in our Workload Watch bulletin, which can be read HERE.
In response, the PSA raised this with the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and has met with significant stakeholders within the department including Inclusion and Wellbeing, Probity and School Operational Excellence to discuss workload and other concerns resulting from the significant increase of these service providers working within schools.
The key stakeholders broadly acknowledged that they were aware of the workload issues that this was causing in schools. While there is no immediate short-term fix, there is a commitment that the department will continue to consult with the PSA to look to improve how this operates to reduce the impacts.
The PSA also has concerns that the upcoming introduction of the Thriving Kids program will further exacerbate these issues. We have begun high level discussions, including across government agencies, to better understand and assess the way this will be implemented and will report back to members further.
New preschools
This will be a standing item going forward as the 100 new preschools are built and come into operation, to provide us with an overarching update to the program.
The PSA continues to advocate on issues around staffing formula for administration and General Assistant support that are again impacting on the significant workloads of SASS.
Professional Learning
The PSA’s ongoing campaign to advocate for better access to PL for all SASS, especially during the School Development Days (SDD) continues, where we believe there can be significant direction from the department to schools to ensure that SASS have better access to training opportunities in this time.
SASS are entitled to four SDD each year. There will be one at the start of Term 3 and one at the start of Term 4. Remember, these days are for your professional development not just to support other staff at the school.
We are pleased to see that after many years of advocacy, two admin conferences and two Learning Support Officer conferences are being held this year.
School devices
The PSA has continued to raise concerns that the rollout of school devices needs to include SASS and that the administration of the rollout should not create additional work on already stretched staff in schools.
The department has given assurances that there should be no increased administration tasks and will continue to consult with the PSA as to SASS resources and devices.
Chemical Management Improvement Plan (CMIP)
The CMIP is a significant and comprehensive two-year project being managed through the department’s Health, Safety and Staff Wellbeing Directorate to update the current Chemical Safety in Schools (CSIS) package.
As part of the project, PSA delegates from both the SAO – Science Laboratory and General Assistants Advisory Groups have been attending fortnightly workshops with other key stakeholders to provide valuable input into areas such as hazardous chemical storage and risk assessments for use of hazardous chemicals.
WHS concerns for SAOs working in science continues to be a major concern for the PSA.
Special Education Working Group bulletin
For more information on issues impacting School Learning Support Officers check out the Special Education Working Group update HERE.
GA/FA Conference schedule and locations
Bankstown (Bankstown Sports Club)
Tuesday, 7 July 2026
Dubbo (Dubbo RSL)
Thursday, 9 July 2026
Wollongong (Sage Hotel)
Tuesday, 14 July 2026
Wallsend (Diggers Club)
Thursday, 16 July2026
Admin Conference locations
Coff Harbour (Pacific Bay Resort)
Monday, 20 July 2026
Revesby (Revesby Workers Club)
Monday, 20 July 2026