More than 90 years ago, a new clause was inserted into the PSA Rules which continues to have a lasting effect on the union to this day. The clause established the PSA Women’s Auxiliary which is known today as the Women’s Council.
All female members of the Association are members of Women’s Council.
Women’s Council is an advisory body to Central Council on issues affecting female members of the Association.
The business of the Women’s Council shall be conducted by a Women’s Council Committee. Women’s Council Committee is made up of elected members along with female members of the Executive and Central Council.
The elected office bearers of the Women’s Council Committee are known as the Women’s Steering Committee .
Women’s Council and the PSA have had many successes over the years in improving the situation of women members.
Women’s Council has worked on issues around:
However, there is always more to do.
Women’s Council Committee comprises of 20-24 members elected by financial women members across 10-12 electorates. They are joined by Women members of the PSA Executive or Central Council as ex officio members of the Women’s Council Committee.
The aim of Women’s Council is to watch the interests of the Association’s female members and to consider any question which affects them.
As such, it is important that the Women’s Council Committee has as broad a representation as possible. This includes representing women from male-dominated workplaces, as well as those with even gender balance and those dominated by women. It should also take into account the diversity of roles that women fill in the public service both in positions and wide-ranging Government agencies and employers.
The Women’s Council Committee should also represent the range of workplace locations, including representing workplaces in the city, large metropolitan centres and the country. While many issues are similar, many are different, so to effectively “watch the interests” of all women members, these basic philosophies need to be reflected in the forming of electorates for the Women’s Council Committee.
The Women’s Council Steering Committee acts as the executive of Women’s Council. The Women’s Council Steering Committee shall consist of
Elections to Women’s Council Committee shall be held every two years and such elections will be held by 31 October of the Election year. Twenty-to-24 eligible members are elected and representative of the 10-12 electorates.
At the first meeting following the taking of office of the newly elected Women’s Council Committee, the Committee elects the Women’s Steering Committee, from among its members elected.
Meetings of the Women’s Council Committee are held on the second week in February, April, July, September and December. Approval from the Association’s General Secretary is required for funding of additional meetings, or in accordance with PSA Rules.
Women’s Council’s Annual General Meeting is held over two days in September and is referred to as Women’s Conference.
HIGHER EDUCATION – Michelle Dillon, Deanne Hill
DISABILITY SERVICES – Kylie O’Conner
OTHER NATIONAL SYSTEM EMPLOYERS – Leanne Smith
COMMUNITIES AND JUSTICE (COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH) – Antonella Giannaula, Linda Gosbell
COMMUNITIES AND JUSTICE (JUSTICE) – Carmen Wells, Emma Firth, Tracey Rule, Sharday Stirton
EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS – Carol Erskine, Pennie Holley, Nichola King, Kylie Thomas
CUSTOMER SERVICE – Cassandra Coleman, Kylie Sorenson
CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER – Claudia Bianchi
PREMIER & CABINET AND TREASURY – VACANT
TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL NSW – Natacha Hes
Nicole Jess – President; Corrective Services, Silverwater
Juliet Sizer – Senior Vice President; Department of Education, Bangalow PS
Shelley Odewahn – Vice President; University of NSW
Alison Corrigan – Community Services
Bernadette McMahon – Housing – DCJ
Carol Rose – Department of Primary Industries
Cassandra Coleman – Revenue NSW
Donna Glover – NSW Police Force
Heather Shields – Resilience NSW
Jeanette Crawford – Dept of Education
Jillian Butler – Rural Fire Service
Joanne Nieass – Dept of Education
Julie Westacott – Ministry of Health
Karen Rogers – Dept of Education
Lauren Simpson – CSNSW – POVB
Lee-Anne Stanford – Transport for NSW
Lisa Kennedy – Housing
Natalie Howes – CSNSW -POVB
Nicole Harding – State Emergency Services
Rachel Smoothy – Electoral Officer
Savannah Walker – CSNSW POVB
Suzanne Evans – Youth Justice
Tanya Pople – Dept of Education
Vanessa Spitznagel Dept of Planning, Industry and Environment
If you would like more information about Women’s Council or the Women’s Unit, please contact