Hundreds of cleaners across New South Wales will be brought back into public employment for the first time in decades, following a landmark reform of school cleaning contracts by the Minns Labor Government. Set to roll out from early 2026, the new arrangements aim to deliver higher hygiene standards, greater accountability and improved conditions for the cleaning workforce.
From next year, around 600 privately contracted cleaners across the Hunter and Central Coast regions are expected to be offered employment directly through the Department of Education. This marks the first return to publicly managed school cleaning in more than 30 years, signalling a significant shift in how cleaning services are valued and delivered.
The reforms follow a comprehensive review of the state’s school cleaning system, prompted by widespread concerns over hygiene, resourcing and contract transparency. A survey of students, parents and staff revealed serious issues with cleanliness, particularly in school toilets, alongside reports of unmanageable workloads, reduced visibility during school hours and insufficient oversight when cleaners were absent.
In response, new cleaning contracts will be introduced across schools, TAFEs and participating government buildings, designed to strengthen service delivery, worker protections and site-specific accountability. Tailored cleaning specifications will ensure critical areas like toilets receive the attention they demand. Specialist services such as high-access window cleaning or deep carpet care will remain separately contracted, opening further opportunities for local providers, especially in regional areas.
Responsibility for managing the state’s whole-of-government cleaning contracts will also shift from NSW Public Works to the Department of Education, enabling more responsive, locally aligned management.
According to Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car, the changes aim to support both cleaner working conditions and better learning environments. “The COVID-19 pandemic made clear just how essential our school cleaners are. These reforms prioritise health and dignity for everyone in the system,” she said.
United Workers Union secretary Mel Gatfield welcomed the decision as a breakthrough after a 30-year campaign to revalue school cleaning work. “These changes should give cleaners the time and tools to do their jobs properly,” she said.
With 7000 cleaners currently employed under the government contract, and education sites accounting for 85 percent of its value, the reforms are expected to influence public cleaning standards well beyond the school gates.
