After years of campaigning by the PSA, the State Government has promised to give 6000 workers secure jobs.

For decades, the school system was overly reliant on workers in insecure roles. School support staff were often hired for one-year roles, depending on enrolments at their workplaces. In some cases, workers endured insecure conditions for more than a decade, every year wondering if they would have a job the following year.

Leading up to the election, the PSA and the NSW Teachers Federation campaigned to stop the state’s overreliance on insecure roles held by teaching and non-teaching staff. Before facing voters, both the Government and the then Labor Opposition agreed to the unions’ demands and create pathways for thousands of staff to gain permanency.

After discussions between the PSA and the Minister Prue Car and senior staff late into the night, it was announced an initial 6000 School Support Staff would be made permanent.

“This decision is great news for all our members: SAS Staff, Student Support Officers, School Psychologists and General Assistants,” said Mr Little. “Outlined in the announcements from the Acting Secretary for Education, Murat Dizdar and the Premier, there will be 16,000 temporary Teachers and Support Staff made permanent.

“For PSA members this means at least 6000 SAS staff will be made permanent. These are among the most valuable employees in the Department of Education.”

The 6000 members moving to permanence is just the beginning. The transition to permanency will be completed in phases, so more members can receive secure roles later.

The transition requirements are still subject to negotiation between the Department and the PSA and Teachers Federation.