The PSA has written to the Minister for Education and Deputy Premier, Prue Car, outlining issues facing members in schools.

“As the union representing support staff in schools, we are confident the Minister will address issues we outlined,” said PSA CPSU NSW President Nicole Jess.

PSA Schools Delegates have identified the increasing demands on School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS) as one of the most significant issues facing members.

“Across almost all SASS classifications, members are reporting a rapid increase in the engagement, coordination and day‑to‑day management of specialist allied health practitioners and external service providers,” said Ms Jess. “This expansion is occurring without the accompanying staffing, systems, training, or recognition required to manage these additional responsibilities safely and sustainably.”

Other issues include staff being responsible for the onboarding and compliance checks of providers and School Learning Support Officers and wellbeing roles being lumped with responsibility of supporting students with disrupted classrooms and routines.

“The PSA’s position is clear, if schools are going to allow increasing numbers of external providers, the workload impact must be recognised, resourced, and managed – not absorbed by already stretched SASS staff,” said Industrial Manager Siobhan Callinan.

The PSA supports the Government’s commitment to build 100 new pre‑schools. However, the union has expressed reservations about whether the significant administrative, School Learning Support Officer (SLSO) and General Assistant (GA) workload associated with these sites has been properly assessed.

“It has long been the position of the PSA that the additional entitlement for preschools is inadequate,” said Ms Callinan. “But the roll out of the additional 100 locations brings with it significant workload.

The letter also raised serious concerns with the implementation of the increased GA staffing entitlement. The PSA is seeking an urgent review if this has impacted workload.
“For GAs there is often an expectation that they liaise with contractors, escalating workload pressures beyond the requirements of their substantive roles.”