A brighter future is something we achieve together, not alone.

When working people band together, they’re much more likely to get decent wages and be treated well at work.

In 2026 union members in Child Safety and Youth Justice will be campaigning to secure a brighter future, not only for your wages and conditions, but for the Queenslanders you serve each and every day.

Your Collective Agreement sets your pay and conditions. When it expires, Together members renegotiate, through collective bargaining, to secure higher wages, safer workloads, and better conditions. Under Queensland law, collective bargaining is the main way conditions are negotiated and won.

The State Wage Case has delivered a 4.75 per cent Award increase, reshaping backpay pressure and keeping the focus on wages and conditions.

State Wage Case: what it means for your pay and bargaining

17 September

The State Wage Case has delivered a 4.75 per cent Award increase, reshaping backpay pressure and keeping the focus on wages and conditions.

Negotiations for Child Safety and Youth Justice members continue, focusing on staffing, workload, and overtime claims, amidst a recent wage increase win for members.

No new offer but Departments seek further information on claims

17 September

Negotiations for Child Safety and Youth Justice members continue, focusing on staffing, workload, and overtime claims, amidst a recent wage increase win for members.

Child safety negotiations stall as departments remain unresponsive. Union members push for crucial changes while action escalates to demand accountability.

The Departments still haven't responded: Post rejecting their Status Quo Offer

10 September

Child safety negotiations stall as departments remain unresponsive. Union members push for crucial changes while action escalates to demand accountability.

Child Safety workers are urged to vote NO on the revised offer, which fails to address key workload and pay issues, maintaining the status quo instead.

Revised offer: same problems, no solutions.

17 August

Child Safety workers are urged to vote NO on the revised offer, which fails to address key workload and pay issues, maintaining the status quo instead.

Union members in Child Safety and Youth Justice escalate protected actions as departments fail to address urgent workload, vacancy, and cultural safety issues.

The Departments have had two weeks to listen, we are now increasing protected actions.

14 August

Union members in Child Safety and Youth Justice escalate protected actions as departments fail to address urgent workload, vacancy, and cultural safety issues.

The Departments have chosen the status quo in Child Safety negotiations, offering inadequate solutions to pressing workload and safety concerns.

Offer Made: The Departments had a choice. They chose the status quo.

4 August

The Departments have chosen the status quo in Child Safety negotiations, offering inadequate solutions to pressing workload and safety concerns.

What is bargaining?

What is collective bargaining?

Collective bargaining is how union members, through your union, negotiate a new agreement covering pay, hours, safety, progression and protections.

Why it matters in Child Safety & Youth Justice:

Better staffing and safer caseloads. Stronger supports after critical incidents. Recognising the realities of remote work and vicarious trauma. Fair pathways for AO classifications and specialist roles.

It’s not just about improvement: What could be at risk.

During bargaining, the employer can propose changes that may reduce your entitlements, cut allowances, or weaken protections. Without strong union participation, there’s a risk of losing hard-won conditions or seeing workloads increase. Bargaining is your chance to protect what matters most, make improvements , and to stop cuts before they happen.

Standing together matters most.

The more members who stand together, the stronger your voice. When you and your colleagues act collectively, you can secure improvements, defend your rights, and ensure the agreement reflects the real needs of departmental staff and the communities you serve.

A brighter future is something we achieve together, not alone.

Bargaining Updates