History

More than 95 years ago, a landmark clause was introduced into the PSA Rules that continues to shape the union today. This clause established the PSA Women’s Auxiliary, now known as the Women’s Council.

All female members of the Association are members of the Women’s Council, which serves as an advisory body to Central Council on matters affecting women within the Association.

The work of the Women’s Council is carried out through the Women’s Council Committee, comprising elected representatives alongside female members of the Executive and Central Council. The elected office bearers of this Committee form the Women’s Council Steering Committee.

Over the decades, the Women’s Council and the PSA have achieved significant progress in advancing the rights and conditions of women members. Key areas of advocacy have included:

• Job security and the prevention of the casualisation of women’s work
• Pay equity
• Ground-breaking workplace rights for victims of domestic violence
• Flexible work practices
• Purchased leave
• Paid lactation breaks
• Support for women returning from maternity leave

While these achievements are substantial, the Women’s Council remains committed to continuing this vital work.

Women’s Council Committee

The Women’s Council Committee comprises between 20 and 24 members elected by financial women members across 10 to 12 electorates. These members are joined by women from the PSA Executive and Central Council as ex officio members.

The primary aim of the Women’s Council is to safeguard the interests of female members and to consider any matter affecting them. To achieve this, the Committee strives for broad and inclusive representation.

This includes women from male-dominated workplaces, gender-balanced environments, and workplaces predominantly staffed by women. It also reflects the diversity of roles women hold across the public service, spanning a wide range of agencies and employers.

Geographic diversity is equally important, with representation from city-based workplaces, large metropolitan centres, and regional and rural areas. While many challenges are shared, others are unique to specific settings, and effective representation requires this diversity to be embedded in the formation of electorates.

Women’s Council Steering Committee

The Women’s Council Steering Committee functions as the executive arm of the Women’s Council and is responsible for guiding its strategic direction.

It comprises the following office bearers:

• Chairwoman
• Vice Chairwomen
• Honorary Secretary
• Assistant Secretary

Elections

Elections for the Women’s Council Committee are held every two years and must be completed by 31 October in the election year. Between 20 and 24 eligible members are elected to represent the 10 to 12 electorates.

At the first meeting following the commencement of the newly elected Committee’s term, members elect the Women’s Council Steering Committee from among the elected representatives.

Meetings

Meetings of the Women’s Council Committee are held in the second week of February, April, July, September and December. Additional meetings may be convened with the approval of the Association’s General Secretary, or as provided for under the PSA Rules.

The Women’s Council Annual General Meeting is held over two days in September and is known as the Women’s Conference.