We are thrilled to welcome members back for Term 3. You are not only coming back to a pay rise but also a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) won for you by the PSA.
This $1000 COLA payment and extra $120 into your superannuation was built into the last pay deal that your union won for you.
The pay increase came through in the pay run during the school holidays. Your COLA payments will be paid in the next pay period on 30 July 2026.
Did you see our schools update during the holidays?
If you haven’t read the bulletin we sent out during the holidays, take some time to catch up on everything the PSA has been doing for members. Stay informed by reading the bulletin HERE.
This bulletin gives an update on:
- 2026 pay increase: how much and when it will be paid
- Cost of Living Adjustment: union wins $1000 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
What the PSA will be continuing work on this term
- New updates in the PSA ‘Workload Watch’ bulletin highlighting the pressures felt by all classifications in schools to profile the issues our members are experiencing in the workplace.
- Ensuring genuine consultation around the rollout of the new Thriving Kids initiative and keeping a careful eye on the impacts on school support staff.
- Continuing to push for better communication around School Learning Support Officer and School Learning Support Officer, Student Health Support (SLSO SHS) duties and when an SLSO SHS is required.
- Actively pursuing boundaries around the use of Functional Summary Statements for all classifications but particularly for General Assistants (GA) to ensure the GA role descriptions guides all work of GAs.
- Identifying and addressing instances where schools are introducing unauthorised role descriptions for General Assistants, locally developed Statements of Duties for SASS, or advertising positions that fall outside approved classifications and do not comply with applicable legislation and awards.
Your organisers
Metro
- Tracey McGuire
- Marisa Bosco
- Susan Chee Quee
- Alison Crittenden
- Monique Anderson
- Peta Noke (General Assistants and Farm Assistants)
Regional
- Jo Aboud (Newcastle/Hunter)
- Rebecca Reilly and Mik Smart (North Coast/Mid-North Coast)
- Bart Mackenzie and Shane Elliot (South Coast)
- Steve Mears (North West)
- Belinda Pearce (Central West)
- Tom Hooper (South West)
If you are a member with an individual issue, you can contact the PSA on 1800 772 679 for advice and support.