About whole-of-government cleaning services

As part of the NSW Government’s commitment to review contracting arrangements for cleaning in public schools, a broader assessment of whole-of-government cleaning services was undertaken. The review identified opportunities to strengthen service delivery, improve oversight and better support the workforce – particularly in education settings. 

Following the review, the NSW Government announced that the Department of Education will manage new whole-of-government cleaning service arrangements from 1 January 2026. These arrangements will apply to all public schools, as well as participating whole-of-government agencies and other eligible entities across the state.

From 2026, cleaning services will be delivered through 2 programs:

• Whole-of-government cleaning contracts to support most regions across NSW, excluding the Hunter and Central Coast.
• Direct employment of cleaning services staff in the Hunter and Central Coast regions.

This change presents an opportunity to better align service delivery with the needs of schools and participating whole-of-government agencies and eligible entities, while continuing to support fair employment and working conditions, consistent cleaning standards, and clearer operational oversight.

NSW public schools and other Department of Education sites account for up to 78% of the sites covered under the current cleaning arrangements. With this scale and demonstrated capability in managing large-scale in-house and contracted services, the department is well positioned to deliver safe and high-quality cleaning services across NSW. 

Whole-of-government cleaning contracts

The NSW Department of Education is leading the procurement process for new whole-of-government cleaning contracts for all regions across the state, excluding the Hunter and Central Coast. The new contracts will commence on 1 January 2026.

Until then, the current whole-of-government cleaning contract arrangements, managed by NSW Public Works, will remain in place and will continue without disruption at all covered sites in the current arrangements.

The department is progressing work to ensure a smooth handover and uninterrupted service delivery under the new model. 

Hunter and Central Coast 

In the Hunter and Central Coast regions, the NSW Government is introducing a direct employment program for cleaners from 1 January 2026. Under this model, cleaners will be employed directly by the NSW Department of Education.

These regions were selected for the initial direct employment program because they include a mix of metropolitan and regional schools and government facilities. This will help inform future approaches to cleaning services in both regional and metropolitan NSW.

This program will provide valuable insights into how direct employment can support fair wages, manageable workloads, and stronger local connections with communities.

Feedback to support the 2026 cleaning arrangements

We value your feedback and input to help shape the delivery of the whole-of-government cleaning arrangements commencing in January 2026. Please complete the short feedback form to share your insights and experiences.

If you have any questions, please email CleaningServices@det.nsw.edu.au.