Proposal affects 14 Catholic schools in Sydney
The Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch has lodged a dispute with the Fair Work Commission over a plan to introduce shared principals at 14 Catholic schools in Sydney.
Catholic Schools Broken Bay announced a proposal under which principals would split their time between two schools. Those schools are in Sydney’s Northern Beaches and North Shore.
According to the union, the employer breached relevant enterprise agreements by failing to consult school staff about what it describes as a major workplace change.
On 2 September 2026, the union said the dispute followed Catholic Schools Broken Bay’s announcement about the new principal structure.
Carol Matthews raises workload concerns
Branch secretary Carol Matthews said members were deeply concerned about “the employer’s plan for schools to have part-time principals”.
She said the change would affect staff, students and families at the 14 affected schools. Matthews also said the union could not see how the restructuring would benefit those communities.
Matthews said Catholic Schools Broken Bay did not consult the union about the impacts of the shared principal proposal when it made the decision.
For example, the union does not know whether staffing at affected schools will increase to make up for the loss of a full-time principal.
It also wants to know how principals would carry out their role across two separate schools.
Meanwhile, the IEU has called on Catholic Schools Broken Bay to provide more detail about the plan immediately and to consult with the union.
Matthews said the proposed changes would have significant implications for workload, school operations and work health and safety.
“The union will support members to ensure the employer meets all its legal obligations to staff,” she said.
The IEUA NSW/ACT Branch represents more than 32,000 teachers, principals and support staff. Its coverage includes Catholic and independent schools, early childhood centres and post-secondary colleges in New South Wales and the ACT.
Catholic Schools Broken Bay has not identified the 14 schools or said when the changes would start.
