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Variation to the PPCBU collective agreement
A variation to the Primary Principals’ (Collective Bargaining Union) Collective Agreement (PPCBU) has been agreed and introduces a small number of payroll-related changes.
Effective dates
- The agreement term has been extended to 16 April 2028.
- From pay day 21 July 2026, PP08, payslips will show new and updated allowances.
New and updated allowances
Mentoring provisionally certified teachers (PCT)
Principals at U1 and U2 schools are now eligible for the allowance to mentor Provisionally Certified Teachers (PCT) when no eligible teacher is available to fill the role.
The allowance was introduced at the start of term two 2026. It is $5,000 per annum and is paid fortnightly with the principal’s salary, including periods of paid leave.
If the principal at your school has been selected as a mentor, please complete a Mentor allowance (EP36M) form to request this allowance.
For more information, see clause 6.2.14 of the PPCBU.
Curriculum change allowance
This new allowance recognises the leadership required to deliver current education reforms. It will be paid in five instalments from 17 March 2026 to 14 March 2028.
Eligibility
Principals must notify the Ministry to receive their instalments. (If they notify the Ministry after the first instalment has been paid, they can only request future instalments eg, 2-5.)
You can read more about this in the Ministry’s 13 March Education Circular.
Exceptions
This allowance is not available to principals who are on leave without pay:
- For a continuous total period of six months or more that falls in the pay period the instalment is due, or
- In the pay period the instalment is due.
What if an eligible principal is on leave without pay (less than six months) in the pay period the instalment is paid?
When the principal returns to work, they will need to submit a payroll request on a General Enquiries (EP31) form.
For more information see clause 6.2.15 of the PPCBU.
Employment agreement updates
- A new PPCBU Individual Employment Agreement (IEA) is being introduced to reflect the variation.
- A new payroll code will be used to identify employees on the updated agreement.
- Authorised users enter details by submitting an EP22 form, using pay code CCAI.
Primary principal career stage allowance
From 20 July, we will begin phasing out the current codes for primary principal career stage allowances while we make some configuration changes in the background. You may notice these changes on your SUE reports. The codes will change as follows:
As we make these changes, you may see both old and new codes on your SUE report.
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Education Payroll