PSA Union Enterprise Bargaining Update – Professional Officers & Corrections Officers

13–19 August 2025

New leadership has been in office for just five weeks, and there have now been more EB meetings than weeks in office, highlighting the urgency of delivering fair outcomes for public sector workers. 

The Enterprise Bargaining process is finally taking shape, and the pressure to make a proper wage offer is building. Recent meetings have focused on Professional Officers (POs) and Corrections Officers (COs), on the 13 August and 19 August respectively, giving members the chance to speak directly about the issues unique to their work - and why they must be addressed in this EB.

The declared employer has presented a number of proposals to date that include additional increments for some classification schedules. The PSA will prepare a summary of items in the near future for member consideration. We are taking important steps forward. 

Professional Officers: Skilled, Essential, Underpaid
Professional Officers are a highly skilled, diverse workforce including geologists, ecologists, veterinarians, marine biologists, curators, arts and culture specialists, child protection case workers, and scientific researchers across multiple agencies. Their work safeguards South Australia’s environment, economy, public health, and community safety. 

Yet POs are being paid $30,000–$40,000 less than comparable roles elsewhere, and around $20,000 less than similar positions interstate. Career progression is limited, workloads are unsustainable, and starting salaries are low despite the qualifications required. Without action, South Australia risks losing irreplaceable expertise and facing economic, environmental, and public health consequences.

Members spoke up:

“We go into work every day and feel defeated. It feels like our skills are taken for granted.”
“You top out quickly – there’s nowhere to go. That’s why we lose experts to the private sector. We need to create genuine career paths.”
“These roles are highly specialised - you can’t just replace someone overnight. Without proper handover, the work suffers. The government will have to spend more to fix this.”

The PSA has now received a formal employer proposal from the Attorney General’s Department regarding the classification schedule for POs. The PSA welcomes the proposal but has indicated it is likely to be rejected by members and reserved acceptance pending member feedback.

PO Stream First Offer.pdf

Corrections Officers: Breaking Point
Corrections Officers keep South Australians safe in the face of drugs, violence, trauma and overcrowded prisons - yet they remain among the lowest paid in the nation. Members made their voices heard:

“I can’t take a day off because I can’t afford my mortgage.”
“Police, firies, ambos, nurses all got pay rises. We carried this state through COVID and now we’re forgotten.”
“Officers are working 16-hour shifts just to make ends meet. When did overtime become survival?”

Key issues raised include:

• New CO3 Increment – Recognition of experience and skills.

      

• Increase to the Correctional Industry and Vocational Training Allowance – Retention for officers with 2+ years’ service and trade qualifications.

      

• Barriers to progression – CO2s should not be blocked from CO3 roles once they have reached the top of increment CO2, completed certificate IV and are doing identical work.

      

• Trauma and mental health leave – Due to daily exposure to critical incidents and assaults.

      

• Officer in Charge – This is appropriately classified as a CO5.     

      

• Retention crisis – Officers leaving for better pay interstate or in private prisons, forcing remaining staff into relentless double shifts.

As presented again in the Corrections EB meeting, a 20% pay rise isn’t ambitious - it’s an appropriate step to bring South Australian public sector wages in line with interstate equivalents. Over 40,000 government workers are demanding fair pay, appropriate resourcing, and dignity.

The fight is for every public sector worker in South Australia. Public sector workers will not be left behind while interstate colleagues are valued more. Join the PSA - together we can secure the pay, career paths, and recognition we deserve. If we do not receive a proper EB and wage offer soon, we will need to consider whether we need Industrial Action. We will be in touch about this soon.

If you have emailed us recently, please bear with us. We are working through a very high volume of calls and emails and expect to respond to you soon.