Public Sector Reform 2025

SEPTEMBER 2025

Last Wednesday, 3 September 2025 the CPSU/CSA held a Corporate Services Online Briefing for CPSU/CSA members whose role functions fall under 'Corporate Services'.

CPSU/CSA Branch Secretary, Melanie Bray, provided members with the latest updates concerning Government's Critical Path 2 of the reform and new developments as they apply to Corporate Services roles, as well as addressed key member questions and concerns. Watch a short preview of the briefing below...

Additional resources, as well as a full copy of the briefing above, will be made available exclusively to members via email and on the CPSU/CSA Member Portal soon, so keep on the lookout! Not a member? Join the CPSU/CSA today!

Unsure if your role is covered under 'Corporate Services'?
Visit our Corporate Services FAQ page for more information.

AUGUST 2025

On Wednesday, 3 September 2025 from 12:00pm - 1:00pm, your union will hold an important PSR Corporate Services Online Briefing for CPSU/CSA members whose roles fall under 'Corporate Services' and may be impacted by the Public Sector Reform. As part of the briefing, we will review Critical Path 2 and discuss the specifics of how this will apply to Corporate Services roles as Stage 2 progresses, as well as address questions and concerns put to us by members.

For more details on this and other union events, visit our Member Action Events page. Please note, this is a member-only event. If you are not a member, join today!

We invite members to submit PSR questions and feedback ahead of the Corporate Services Briefing on 3 September by completing our online feedback form.

Unsure if your role is covered under 'Corporate Services'?
Visit our Corporate Services FAQ page for more information.

JULY 2025

As Stage 2 of the Public Sector Reform continues to progress, our priority is that members remain informed and can have their voices heard at the highest level of the workplace. From 23rd-24th of July 2025, we will hold several Special Joint EDCs to provide Delegates with updated information, including:

An overview of the process so far and getting to know your new agency.
Stage 2 Critical Path Overview.
Bringing together new Elected Delegates Committees to plan for a way forward.
Establishing new Joint Consultative Committees and how they align and interact with Agency Implementation Group meetings.

We invite Delegates whose agencies are impacted by the reform to register for the Special EDC's that reflect you and/or the members under your representation. Delegates may represent members across a number of Agency Implementation Groups, so are encouraged to attend more than Special EDC, if needed.

Visit our Member Action Events page to view the full details of each session and to register.

Members are encouraged to speak with Delegates prior to the Special EDC's so that your issues, queries and/or concerns can be raised as part of the meeting.

Have a specific question or feedback about the Public Sector Reform you wish to have answered?
Submit it via our online feedback form below!

JUNE 2025

On Monday, 26th May 2025, the Public Sector Commission shared a Change Management Principles for Corporate Services publication with Departments impacted by the 2025 Public Sector Reform.* This document provides Agencies with a means of identifying Corporate Services staff and making funding and resourcing assessments.

The Change Management Principles identify ‘Corporate Services’ as roles and teams that deliver internal support for the department’s ‘frontline functions’ and are contained in approved cost allocation models.

Your union has met with the Government to gain further insights into how members who fit within the Corporate Services definition will transition through the stages of the reform project. On Wednesday, 11^th June, members who self-identified and/or received letters from their Agency identifying their roles as ‘Corporate Services’ joined us online for a Corporate Services Briefing. CPSU/CSA Branch Assistant Secretary, Ness Brett, guided the briefing attendees through the updated reform project timelines established for Corporate Services roles as established by Government and provided answers to members’ questions.

Additional resources, as well as a full recording of the Corporate Services Briefing, have been made available exclusively to members via email and on the CPSU/CSA Member Portal.

Not a member? Join the CPSU/CSA today!

*Government has since removed the 26/05/2025 version of their Change Management Principles for Corporate Services publication from their website as of September 2025.

JUNE 2025

Last Wednesday, 28 May 2025, members attended an Online Briefing to learn more about Government’s Public Sector Reform project. In the briefing, CPSU/CSA Branch Secretary, Melanie Bray, provided members with an overview of what to expect during Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the reform and answered popular questions submitted by attendees. Members also received advice on how best to prepare for the transition to protect their rights and safeguard existing leave balances, flexible arrangements and AWAs, workstation accommodations and other workplace arrangements.

Additional resources, as well as a full recording of the Corporate Services Briefing, have been made available exclusively to members via email and on the CPSU/CSA Member Portal.

Not a member? Join the CPSU/CSA today!

MAY 2025

On Monday, 12 May 2025, the Public Sector Commission(PSC) published a revised version of their Public Sector Reform Q and As (Government has since removed the 12/05/2025 PSA Q and A's publication from their website). Your union has been working hard to review this new information and ensure that the Public Sector Reform FAQs on our website reflect the Government’s recent updates. Key differences between the Q and As first published by Government on March 2025 and the revised publication made in May 2025 include:

A recognition in the updated Q and As of the impact of the reform process on Corporate Services and the need to take a different approach/timeline in line with the Public Sector Commission Change Management Principles – Corporate Services.
Updates to information about changes to Directors General. The updated Q and As now include a reference to Premier Cook’s media statement made on 17 April 2025 about the leadership positions (DGs) and recruitment. This can be found under Question 12.
Additional information with respect to the provision of existing flexible working arrangements (such as working from home) for those moving to a new department. The May 2025 Q and As now better reflect the PSC Change Management Principles (as published in May 2025) in relation to the holding of a position for 3 months. A further breakdown of this information can be found under Question 18 of the new Q and As.
Further details about how existing recruitment processes will be managed have also been updated to reflect the PSC Change Management Principles, making the recruitment principles less onerous than was originally provided for in the March 2025 version of the Q and As. This information applies heavily to Question 21 of the new document.
A new section about Salary Packaging has been added to the updated Q and As. For a further breakdown, see Questions 25 – 29 of the new document.

On Wednesday, 28^th May 2025, your union will host an Online Member Briefing. The briefing is open to all CPSU/CSA members affected by the Public Sector Reform project and will aim to provide members with a more in-depth analysis of these recent changes; give updates on our meetings with the Government, the PSC, Agencies and your workplace delegates; and provide members with an opportunity to submit questions about the reform.

Have a question or feedback about the Public Sector Reform?
Use our Feedback form to tell us what's on your mind.

MARCH 2025

On Monday, 31st of March 2025, the Cook Government formally announced its Public Sector Reform project to restructure nine departments across the public sector, including:

Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science, and Innovation
Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries
Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation, and Safety
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Department of Transport
Department of Health
Department of Finance
Department of Communities
Department of Treasury

Following Government's announcement, the CPSU/CSA took proactive steps to advocate on behalf of our members, meeting the following day with the Premier’s office to discuss the changes directly with the Cook Government and lay the groundwork for ongoing consultation. On Monday, 7th of April 2025, our leadership team, Melanie Bray and Ness Brett, met with the Public Sector Commissioner to learn more about the Steering Committee and consultation groups.

“Public sector workers are at the front line of delivering the Government's aims and promises over the next four years and need to be adequately supported and resourced to deliver the public services West Australians rely on each and every day, and we will ensure the Government is held accountable to that.” - Melanie Bray, CPSU/CSA Branch Secretary

The extent of the Cook Government's Public Sector Reform changes will become clearer as our meetings progress over the coming weeks, and the union will keep members informed as we proceed. We know that members will have many questions, and we are working quickly across the union to provide members with as much information as possible.
Have additional questions? Send an email with your full name, agency, member ID and your question to [email protected].

During times of change, being a union member becomes especially important.
Strong union workplaces are best equipped to navigate change together.
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Public Sector Reform 2025