Child Protection Workers finally have a new Award thanks to years of campaigning by the Public Service Association of NSW (PSA).

The new Award was finalised and “made” in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) on 22 September 2025. This followed intensive negotiations since members endorsed the making of a standalone Crown Employees (Child Protection) Award in July 2025.

“This would not have happened without a strong union, the PSA fighting on members’ behalf,” said the unions General Secretary, Stewart Little. “The making of the standalone Child Protection Award is the result of years of campaigning from PSA executive, staff, delegates and members to highlight a system in crisis.

“Whether they attended one of the many rallies, participated in industrial action in 2024, assisted us with responding to various surveys, or attended a meeting to discuss your concerns, members’ actions have helped the PSA force the NSW Government to finally put Child Protection front and centre and make the largest ever investment in child protection and out-of-home care in the state’s history.”

The Child Protection in Crisis campaign involved walkouts, member meetings and media engagements all over NSW. It was created in reaction to a Child Protection system that had been underfunded by successive state governments. Children were being accommodated in hotel rooms and caravan parks, often by untrained agency staff and at enormous cost to the taxpayer.

Now the Award is finalised, the salary transition endorsed by members can take effect. The transition allows for existing Caseworkers to progress up to three increments, resulting in pay increases of between 3 per cent and 19 per cent over the next 12 months. The advancement will be backdated to July 2025, which means an increase in pay going forward, as well as a “lump sum” amount of backpay to for the period of July through to the making of the Award.

The new Award also provides for the following:

• A further pay increase of 3 per cent in July 2026
• Overtime pay to end to forfeited hours
• A commitment from the NSW Government to recruit 200 new caseworkers.
• The creation of a Leading Caseworker position Department of Communities and Justice
• The Manager Casework grading will be revised from a salary equivalent of a Clerk Grade 9 to a salary equivalent of a Clerk Grade 9/10.

“While there is always more work to do, the making of the Award is a historic win for PSA members,” said Mr Little.