PSA Delegates and Industrial Staff have met with department representatives for the first Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) Meeting for 2025.

On the agenda for discussion with the department were the following matters:

Student records

The PSA has requested that the Department engage with the union in any Change Management Plan that relates to how student records are managed. Your union raised the issue that some schools keep physical records in a cumbersome manner. The Department has advised it will respond formally to concerns raised.

School Development Days

Following changes to the Teachers Award in 2024 and the increase in School Development Days (SDDs) for Teaching Staff, PSA Delegates have raised with the Department the ongoing need for improvement to staff training for School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS).

In addition to how the Teaching SSDs can be better aligned with SASS, the PSA is also in discussions with the Department for improved face-to-face training and classification specific professional learning.

Tree audits

The PSA has raised with the department that the annual tree audit is no longer visible to schools via FM Web. PSA Delegates have advised Asset Services and the department will investigate further.

Workforce planning

The PSA has requested from the department data on the breakdown of School Administrative Officers performing the specific duties in relation to Science Laboratory, Food Technology and Library. While the its systems are currently unable to do this, the Department will continue to look for a solution.

The PSA will continue to pursue this important information along with campaigning at all levels for staffing entitlement improvements to deal with workload, work intensification and violence.

General Assistant staffing and formula

The PSA continues to consult around the staffing formula for General Assistants (GAs). Your union has proposed that staffing levels be based on the assets a GA must maintain rather than the student numbers at a school. The PSA has requested a freeze on reducing any GA hours due to a drop in student numbers.