Terms and Conditions

Membership Terms and Conditions

Our commitment to members

The PSA/CPSU is committed to being a strong, member-focused union that protects and advances the interests of members while promoting a fair, professional and respected South Australian public sector.

These Membership Terms and Conditions explain your rights and responsibilities as a member, together with the services and benefits available to you. They should be read alongside the PSA of SA Inc Constitution and Rules, which govern the operation of the Association.

By applying for membership, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and the PSA of SA Inc Constitution and Rules.

The PSA/CPSU may review and update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Any changes will take effect once published on the PSA/CPSU website.

If you have any questions about your membership or these Terms and Conditions, please contact membership@psaofsa.asn.au

Joining the PSA/CPSU

Membership commences once your application has been received, all required information has been provided, and your application has been accepted by the PSA/CPSU. Confirmation of your membership will be provided by email.

To ensure we can communicate with you regarding your membership, benefits and industrial matters, you must provide and maintain a current email address.

The PSA/CPSU is committed to supporting current members. Generally, we are unable to provide representation or commit union resources to workplace matters that arose before a person became a member. Information about these circumstances is available in the PSA/CPSU Pre-existing Issues Policy.

Your membership

When you join the PSA/CPSU, you will receive a welcome pack containing your Membership Card and membership number.

Your membership number helps us identify your records and should be quoted whenever you contact the PSA/CPSU for advice, assistance or other member services.

Your Membership Card may also be required to access selected member benefits and services available through the PSA/CPSU Member Benefit Centre.

Membership cards remain the property of the PSA/CPSU and cannot be transferred to another person.

Membership categories

The PSA/CPSU offers a range of membership categories to reflect different stages of employment.

Full Membership is available to employees employed under the South Australian Public Sector Act.

Casual Membership is available to employees engaged as On-Call Casual employees within the South Australian public sector.

Associate Membership is available to existing financial members who apply to become Associate Members at the time of retirement, or within three months of retiring.

Membership subscriptions

Membership subscriptions enable the PSA/CPSU to provide industrial representation, workplace support, campaigning, member services and benefits.

Subscription rates are determined in accordance with the PSA/CPSU Constitution and Rules.

Current subscriptions are calculated at 0.95% of your base salary plus GST, subject to the maximum subscription applicable to the highest salary prescribed for an Administrative Services Officer Level 5 (ASO5/4 - $95,413).

The PSA has temporarily frozen membership fees based on salaries as at March 2024 in light of cost of living pressures for our members

Membership subscriptions are tax deductible. Annual tax statements are provided to members each July.

Subscriptions may be paid monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually by direct debit. Members may also pay through approved payroll deduction arrangements where available.

Where subscriptions are paid by direct debit:

• monthly payments are processed on the first working day of each month;
• quarterly payments are processed on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October;
• half-yearly and annual payments are processed on the applicable membership anniversary.

Members are responsible for ensuring sufficient funds are available on the payment date.

If a payment is dishonoured due to insufficient funds, the PSA/CPSU will attempt to process the payment again on the next government pay day.

Members who pay by invoice are required to pay their subscription within the month in which it falls due.

Members whose subscriptions remain unpaid for three months or more may become unfinancial and may not be entitled to industrial representation, member benefits or other membership services until their membership is financial again.

Suspending your membership subscription 

The PSA/CPSU recognises there may be circumstances where members need to temporarily suspend their membership.

Members taking approved leave without pay may apply to suspend their membership by contacting the Membership Team and providing the approved period of leave.

Suspensions for leave without pay will generally only be approved where the period of leave exceeds one month and cannot be applied retrospectively.

Members experiencing genuine financial hardship may also request a temporary suspension of membership. Each request will be considered on its individual circumstances.

At the conclusion of an approved suspension period, membership subscriptions will recommence automatically unless another approved arrangement has been made with the PSA/CPSU.

Keeping your details up to date

Members are responsible for ensuring their personal, employment and payment details remain current.

This includes contact details, employment classification, working hours and payment information.

Members can update their details through the PSA Member Portal or by contacting the Membership Team.

To ensure changes to payment details can be processed before the next direct debit, updated financial information should be provided at least two working days before the end of the month.

Maintaining your membership

The PSA/CPSU understands that members may decide to resign their membership for a variety of reasons.

Members wishing to resign must notify the Membership Team in writing.

Resignations take effect from the date the written notice is received and cannot generally be backdated.

Members remain responsible for payment of all membership subscriptions owing up to the effective date of resignation.

Membership subscription refunds are generally not available once membership services and benefits have been made available.

Subscription refunds 

There are limited circumstances in which a membership subscription refund may be considered. 

All requests for refunds must be in writing and will be reviewed by the Administration Manager who will then make a recommendation to the General Secretary or delegate as to whether the refund should be applied.

Left The Service 

If a member leaves the service, the member must resign from the PSA in writing as soon as possible to avoid incurring subscription fees. If a member advises the PSA in writing within three (3) months of their resignation from the service, a request for refund may be considered. If a member fails to formally resign from the PSA within the three (3) month period no refund of the membership subscription fee will be considered. 

Administrative Error 

A request for a refund in relation to a member’s resignation after the three (3) month period may be considered where the member is able to demonstrate that they advised the union directly in writing, in accordance with the Association rules, of their intention to resign, the Association received the written notification, and the Association failed to process the resignation. 

Legal Services Scheme

The Association may consider granting a request for a refund if the member has been on leave without pay and were not aware that their membership fees could be suspended during the period of leave without pay. The member must provide evidence of the period of leave without pay for the application for a refund to be considered.

 In these circumstances the maximum refund will be no more than the equivalent of a three month period of subscriptions. 

Member benefits

Financial members have access to a range of services and benefits approved by the PSA/CPSU.

These may include industrial advice and representation, workplace support, member-only offers and other benefits determined by the PSA Council.

Member benefits may change from time to time.

Journey Accident Cover

Financial members are automatically eligible for Journey Accident Cover, subject to the terms and conditions of the insurance policy.

The scheme currently provides weekly benefits of up to $1,200 together with death and disability benefits of up to $100,000, subject to eligibility criteria and policy conditions.

Legal Services Scheme

Eligible full fee-paying members have access to the PSA/CPSU Legal Services Scheme.

The Scheme provides advice in many non-work-related legal matters, including:

• motor vehicle claims;
• criminal matters; 
• family law mediation; 
• personal and consumer protection matters; and 
• discounted wills and conveyancing.

Eligibility criteria and Scheme terms apply.

Associate Members are not eligible to access the Legal Services Scheme.