This bulletin is to update our members on ongoing advocacy on behalf of Youth Justice staff and to introduce the É«ÀÇÉçÇørepresentatives who will be supporting members across the Youth Justice portfolio moving forward.
Introduction
The PSA’s Youth Justice industrial and legal representation will now be led by Kim Villanti, Industrial Officer, and Jim Minns, Solicitor, who have assumed responsibility for the portfolio from Gino Di Candilo and Latu Sailosi. Gino will still be around for the remainder of the year.
Kim and Jim are committed to continuing the strong advocacy undertaken on behalf of Youth Justice members and look forward to engaging directly with staff and delegates across the state on the issues that matter most.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank Gino and Latu for their significant contribution and commitment to Youth Justice members over many years.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøremains committed to ensuring Youth Justice staff have a strong voice at the highest levels of government and departmental decision-making. Recent meetings with Jihad Dib, Minister for Youth Justice, and Kelly-Anne Stewart, Executive Director Youth Justice, have provided an important opportunity to raise the issues that members consistently identify as priorities across the state. These discussions form part of the PSA’s ongoing campaign to improve safety, staffing, operational practices and workplace support for Youth Justice employees
Meeting with Minister Dib and Youth Justice Executive
Recently, É«ÀÇÉçÇørepresentatives met with Minister Jihad Dib and Youth Justice Executive Director Kelly-Anne Stewart to discuss several critical operational and workplace issues that have been consistently raised by members.
The discussions were constructive and focused on improving staff safety, workforce stability and operational practices across Youth Justice.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøhighlighted the following key priorities:
- Permanent Staffing and Workforce Stability
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøcontinues to advocate for a transition away from an overreliance on casual staffing arrangements and towards an increased number of permanent Full-Time Equivalent positions.
Members have repeatedly identified workforce instability, recruitment challenges and excessive reliance on temporary staffing as significant operational concerns. The É«ÀÇÉçÇøwill continue pushing for permanent workforce solutions that provide greater certainty for staff and improve service delivery outcomes.
- Assaults on Staff and Police referrals
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøraised concerns regarding the handling of assaults against Youth Justice staff.
We have advocated for Centre Management to assume sole responsibility for immediately referring all staff assaults to the relevant NSW Police Local Area Command. The É«ÀÇÉçÇøfurther requested that all referrals include the recording of the NSW Police Event Number to ensure accountability, transparency and the ability to monitor outcomes.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇømaintains that assaults on staff must be treated seriously and that appropriate external law enforcement processes should be consistently followed.
- Section 28 transfers following serious assaults
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøadvocated for the immediate consideration of transfers under Section 28 of the Children (Detention Centres) Act 1987 where a detainee aged 18 years or older commits an assault on staff.
Member safety remains a priority and the É«ÀÇÉçÇøwill continue to pursue measures that strengthen protections for frontline employees.
- Court transfer search procedures
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøraised concerns regarding current search practices associated with detainees attending court appearances.
We have proposed amendments to operational procedures that would replace routine physical pat-down searches with electronic metal detector screening where appropriate. The objective is to improve safety outcomes while ensuring effective security measures remain in place.
Payroll Issues
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøis also aware of the ongoing payroll issues affecting a large number of Youth Justice staff.
Members continue to report significant concerns relating to underpayments, overpayments, allowances, roster-related discrepancies and delays in resolving payroll queries.
Please be assured that the É«ÀÇÉçÇøis actively working on these issues behind the scenes and continues to engage with the Department regarding systemic payroll concerns. While this work is ongoing, resolving these issues remains a priority and we will provide further updates as discussions progress.
Moving Forward
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøremains committed to advocating strongly on behalf of Youth Justice members and ensuring your concerns are raised directly with senior departmental leadership and Government.
We encourage members to continue reporting workplace issues, safety concerns and payroll discrepancies to the É«ÀÇÉçÇøso that they can be raised and addressed collectively.
Further updates will be provided as discussions with Youth Justice continue.
The importance of union membership
The achievements and advocacy outlined above are only possible because members stand together through their union.
The PSA’s ability to meet directly with senior department executives, advocate before ministers, pursue industrial disputes, and challenge unsafe workplace practices is driven by the collective strength of its membership. Every new member strengthens our capacity to influence workplace policy, improve safety outcomes, and protect the conditions of Youth Justice staff.
At a time when members continue to face significant operational, safety and payroll challenges, a strong and united membership remains our most effective tool for securing positive workplace change.
Justice Legal Fund
Members are also reminded of the benefits available through the PSA’s Justice Legal Fund (JLF).
The legal fund, modelled on a similar scheme available to prison officers, provides a range of enhanced legal services for members commonly exposed to difficult and dangerous situations in the course of their employment including:
- alleged criminal offenses arising out of or in the course of employment
- making a claim under the Victims Right and Support Act 2013 which arises out of or in the course of employment
- any Coronial Enquiry where the interests of the member and their employer diverge
- any commission of enquiry or tribunal conducting an enquiry whose findings could have an adverse effect upon the member of the Legal Fund.
Membership of the É«ÀÇÉçÇøJustice Sector Legal Fund is available to É«ÀÇÉçÇøMembers for as little as $2 a week.
If you know colleagues who are not yet É«ÀÇÉçÇømembers, we encourage you to speak with them about the benefits of joining. A stronger membership means a stronger voice for all Youth Justice staff.
In Solidarity,
Contacts