On 22 October 2021, the Fair Work Commission published a statement about an application from the Federation of Parents & Citizens Associations of NSW seeking to extend coverage of the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award to specifically cover Parents and Citizens Associations employers.

Progress of the application in the FWC will be monitored and information in this article will be updated as required.

We encourage you to review this article regularly for further updates.

Award coverage depends on who employs the staff:

• a private school
• a public school
• a Parents and Citizens Association, or
• an independent shop or caterer.

Private schools

The Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award covers employees of school canteens & uniform shops.

Public schools

The Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) covers public schools in Victoria, ACT and Northern Territory. Generally, these employees are covered by an agreement.

Public schools in all other states aren’t covered by the FW Act. They’re covered by the state system. These employees should refer to their state industrial relations body to find out if there’s an instrument that covers them.

Parents and Citizens Associations (P&C)

Whether a P&C is covered by the FW Act depends on the state and how the P&C is set up.

P&Cs covered by the FW Act:

• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Northern Territory
• Australian Capital Territory
• South Australia
• New South Wales - if the P&C is incorporated and engages in substantial trading activities
• Western Australia - if the P&C is incorporated and engages in substantial trading activities.

Employees of a school uniform shop are covered by the Retail Award.

Employees of a school canteen are covered by the Fast Food Award.

P&Cs in the following states aren’t covered by the FW Act: 

• Queensland
• New South Wales - if the P&C is unincorporated
• Western Australia - if the P&C is unincorporated.

They are covered by the state system. Employees of a P&C in the state system should contact their state industrial relations body.

Independent shops

The Retail Award covers employees of a school uniform shop run independently.

The Fast Food Award covers employees of a leased canteen.

Give us feedback on this article

Use our Feedback form to give us feedback about the information in this article.

If you have a question about pay or entitlements or need our help with a workplace issue, you can submit an online enquiry.