In a busy year across the education portfolio at the PSA, the union has been working hard on revitalising its delegate structures with the Schools Departmental Committee, General Assistants Advisory Group, School Administrative Officers working in Science Advisory Group and Department of Education – Education Support Staff Departmental Committee. All bodies held elections and met to plan out their strategic goals.

The new Schools Departmental Committee is preparing for a busy two years.

The newly elected Delegates to the Schools Departmental Committee met at PSA House in late October and again in November to discuss issues of concern to members, including safety and violence, the inadequacy of the staffing formula, permanency and the provision of role specific face-to-face training across all classifications.

Delegates will be kicking off 2026 with several big-ticket items important to members that will fight for change in schools, including the negotiation of the Crown Employees School Administrative and Support Staff Award 2024 which is due for review, continuing with working parties, meeting with senior department representatives about delivery of role specific face to face skills-based training to the membership and resolution of issues relating to the School Learning and Support Officer (SLSO) and SLSO Student Health Support Statements of Duties.

Discussions also commenced on the Award governing General Assistants’ (GAs’) conditions this year and will continue into next year. Delegates spoke passionately about the commitment of our GA membership to their roles and schools, as well as the need for fairer pay for this group. Campaigning for an uplift for General Assistants will be a key focus of the union in 2026 along with a continued focus on training, permanency, workload and recognition.

The newly elected Education Support Staff DC delegates fine-tuned the areas they want to focus on in 2026 at their meeting in November including the renegotiation of the Flexible Working Hours Agreement, continuing to support members through organisational change including a strong focus on ensuring public servants are doing the work, not contractors and contingent labour, and highlighting not only the change fatigue experienced by members but pushing for action on consistently poor areas of the People Matters Employee Survey results for ESS staff.

The Committee’s Executive (pictured) is:

Juliette Sizer; Chair

Emma Pearce; Secretary

Tanyiea Pople; Vice Chair

Kylie Thomas; Vice Chair

Joanne Nieass; Assistant Secretary

Sandra Burgin; Assistant Secretary.

“I look forward to working into the new year with the Schools Departmental Committee,” said PSA CPSU NSW President Nicole Jess. “They fight for the members our schools could not work without.”