About Us

The CSIRO Staff Association is a section of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU). It represents the industrial and professional interests of employees of the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation), the Anglo-Australian Observatory, and Co-operative Research Centres and supports members in the National Measurement Institute who were formerly staff of the National Measurement Laboratory in CSIRO prior to July 2004.

Our Cause

The CSIRO Staff Association works to protect and progress the interests of our members in the CSIRO Section and in society. We do this as the democratic voice for CSIRO staff. We advocate for CSIRO and science. We provide the means to promote a community of staff in CSIRO so that we can assist members to enforce their rights.

The Association's annual Financial Reports are now available to members. Read about our activities and business position from the 2007-08 financial year:

Download operating report (.pdf 4963kb)

Download financial report (.pdf 543kb)

Our Representation

Currently over 3000 of a total CSIRO staff of around 6300 are union members. All employees are eligible to join, including fixed term and casual appointees and contractors. We also offer retired membership to former staff members for a nominal annual fee. Click here to find out more about joining.

Members at each site are allocated to workplaces and represented directly by workplace delegates. Delegates and deputy delegates are elected in June each year for a 12 month term. They are the first port of call for assistance to members. Workplace delegates represent members in local issues and provide them with useful advice and information. To find out who your current CSIRO Workplace Delegate is, click here.

Delegates in each State or Territory form Sub-section delegates committees (SDCs) which meet on a regular basis to share information across workplaces and provide input to the CSIRO Staff Association (Section) Council. The SDCs are co-ordinated by an SDC Executive who run the SDC meetings, lead Association activities in the State or Territory. The SDC Executive positions are elected every two years by the membership in their State or Territory.

Workplace Delegates and SDCs are supported in their roles by our CSIRO Staff Association team of organisers, who are employees of the CPSU working out of CPSU facilities in the major centres around Australia.

The CSIRO Staff Association is managed by a Council and Executive who are elected every three years. The Secretary is Sam Popovski. All Executive positions are directly elected by the full membership. Councillors representing each sub-section (state or territory) are elected by members in that sub-section.

The CPSU is one of the most active and progressive unions in Australia. Its membership is open to employees in a wide range of services including represents federal and state public sector workers in Australia, and is at the forefront in defending the public sector and the essential services it provides to the community.

The CSIRO Staff Association has direct representation on the Governing Council of the CPSU, enabling members to have input into the overall activities and direction of the union. The Secretary and President are members of the Governing Council along with an elected Governing Councillor.

Getting Involved

The more active members we have, the more effective we will be as a union which enables us to help protect your rights at work. Whether it is becoming a formal representive or talking to your friends about an issue, we need your help. To get more involved, please email or call your local organiser.