The 2026 PSA CPSU NSW Women’s Conference focused on the role women have in shaping the future.

“Women make a clear majority of the public sector, and most other agencies our union covers will have similar gender make-ups,” said Women’s Council Chair Leanne Smith. ”

Koori entrepreneur Binowee Bayles opened conference, speaking of her diverse background of many Aboriginal communities, which means she has a place to sleep “anywhere from Redfern to Townsville”.

Ms Bayles told the room “country does not see colour” and that all women had a role in improving working lives.

“There are no words for goodbye in the many Aboriginal languages I have learned,” she said. “Instead, we will see you later.”

Ms Smith later spoke at the lectern, welcoming delegates, praising the membership’s diversity and urging attendees to support the PSA CPSU NSW’s campaign for a bigger public role in combatting domestic and family violence.

“Every show of support helps build momentum,” she said.

Ms Smith also threw her support into getting better reproductive and menstruation leave provisions, and discussed her determination to get these into an Enterprise Agreement that covered her workplace. Adding a personal note to her fight, Ms Smith mentioned her own reproductive issues and her battle with endometriosis and talked about how important it is that such issues are discussed freely rather than cloaked in shame.

“We aren’t the first generation to go through menopause,” she said. “But we are the first to talk openly about it.”

Outgoing President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), Michele O’Neil, was welcomed to the stage, introduced as “a great friend of our union” by PSA CPSU NSW General Secretary Stewart Little. Along with recently retired ACTU Secretary Sally McManus, Ms O’Neil was part of the first all-woman duo to run the union body.

Ms O’Neil, whose father was a card-carrying union member who worked in the public sector, praised the “often unseen” work done by government workers, and urged her hosts to continue their fight against privatisation and outsourcing.

The outgoing union leader also praised the PSA CPSU NSW for straying from a narrowly industrial focus and launching campaigns on issues that will assist broader society. She singled out the DV Needs Public Services campaign as an example of a union that is “not just fighting for yourselves, you are fighting for all of us”.
“I know how important that work is,” she said.

Ms O’Neil also talked about moves to force employers to take a more proactive approach to sexual harassment in the workplace. She told attendees a “positive duty to prevent sexual harassment” meant “no-one should have to choose between employment and safety”.

Ms O’Neil praised younger women bucking generational trends by joining their unions and shaping the future of Australian workplace.

Looking back on her term as ACTU President, Ms O’Neil said she was happy to see the gender gap had shrunk, particularly since the election of a Labor Government in 2022.

“The long struggle results in real change,” she said. “There are always people with powerful interests standing in our way.

“None of these happen by chance. Wins like this are not easy.”

A common theme to emerge throughout the conference was housing, which Ms O’Neil said was a vital fight “for workers and for women”.

“We need to expand public housing,” she said. “Public housing should not be a home for last resort.

“Think of it as basic infrastructure.”

NSW Young Person of the Year, Milli Weaver, took to the stage to discuss the organisation she established; the Australian Endometriosis Foundation. Ms Weaver talked about how women can shape the future and overcome the country’s difficulty getting reproductive and menstrual issues taken seriously.

She talked about her own struggles getting medical personnel to take her health issues seriously, to the extent she began to doubt her own ability to “toughen up” and ride out debilitating pain.

Enduring endometriosis, a condition she had never heard of until she was 19 years old, was a challenge, she said, pointing out there was a lack of research conducted into the condition.

“One in seven women lives with endometriosis; someone you love, know or work with,” she said.

“Bravery isn’t obvious. Ask for a second opinion and don’t let yourself be fobbed off.”

APHEDA Union Aid Abroad held a presentation on women suffering under the dictatorship in Myanmar, before General Secretary Stewart Little and President Nicole Jess welcomed attendees.

Later, Ms Jess and Communications and Campaigns Manager Marianne Ledic chaired a forum on how campaigning together can shape a better future for women.

Later in a panel on women shaping their communities, three members talked about what the union meant to them.

“The best thing about my job, as a delegate is that I mentor a lot of young women,” said Amy Riddle, from Community Corrections. “Without the union, I wouldn’t have this job and I would have dead colleagues.”

Christina Nicholas of Taronga Zoo said she “was always looking for something” and found this in being an active delegate.

Ruth said younger colleagues need to join their union and help shape a better future for their colleagues.

O’Bray Smith, President of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association, said her union supported the PSA CPSU NSW’s DV Needs Public Services campaign.

She revealed your typical union member is a woman in her 40s: often a nurse, and not the blue-collar men more commonly associated with the movement by the conservative media. She said therefore it is vital the union movement campaign on issues important to these members in the future.

“Women still retire with less superannuation and do more unpaid work,” she said. “Economic independence puts the steering wheel in the hands of the woman. Financial insecurity is one of the major reasons women stay in abusive relationships.”

The following day PSA CPSU NSW Women’s Industrial Officer Simone Scalmer talked about some of the wins the union has secured for women. She highlighted that while rules are there for members, it is vital managers know how conditions need to be applied in the workplace.

A panel consisting of Zeina Issa of Multicultural NSW (MNSW), Trina Leask from Service NSW and Trudy Penni from the Office of the Sheriff talked about how wins improved members working lives, including an overtime ruling at Service NSW, full-day pay for MNSW workers and health and safety wins in court houses.

The conference next moved to a presentation by Ms Ledic and Senior Organiser Glenn Duncan pushing for better campaign and organising strategies, with the pair outlining how to best get action.

“Conversations build participation,” said Ms Ledic, who demonstrated on screen how delegates can develop interest in union issues by focusing members’ attention towards issues that are of importance to them.

The event ended with information on the housing survey presented by Ms Jess, Principal Policy Analyst Anna Patty and Senior Organiser Belinda Tsirekas.

The trio talked about the importance of affordable housing, particularly with women over 50 being the fastest-growing sector of the homeless population.

At the conference’s conclusion, Ms Jess said the issues raised pointed to a stronger future, shaped by activist women in the workplaces represented by the PSA CPSU NSW.

“The event, as always, gave us a chance to exchange ideas and work for a world where women shape the future for all,” said Ms Jess. “When we get women like our attendees together, we can thrive.

“We look forward to the 2027 PSA CPSU NSW Women’s Conference.”