Biosecurity Officer

A Biosecurity Officer protects Australia's agricultural, aquatic, and natural environments by inspecting incoming cargo, plants, animals, and food products at borders and designated facilities to detect and prevent the entry of pests, diseases, and prohibited materials. They conduct physical and documentary inspections, collect samples for testing, and enforce compliance with Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) regulations and international phytosanitary and zoosanitary standards.

Inspect imported consignments of plants, animals, food, and organic materials using visual assessment and sampling techniques to identify quarantine risks. Examine documentation including import permits, phytosanitary certificates, and health certificates against DAFF requirements and trade agreements. Collect and prepare biological samples from cargo for laboratory testing to detect regulated pests, pathogens, or contaminants. Apply quarantine procedures and place holds on non-compliant consignments according to Import Conditions Adviser (ICA) requirements. Conduct field inspections at ports, airports, and inland facilities using biosecurity detection equipment and monitoring tools. Identify and classify pests, diseases, and weeds using visual identification guides, field keys, and reference materials. Record inspection data and compliance outcomes in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) and biosecurity IT systems. Issue inspection notices and biosecurity clearance documentation or demand notices for non-compliant imports.

The standard entry pathway requires a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need to get across dense DAFF regulations, international trade standards, and pest/disease identification: that's a real learning curve if you're coming from outside agriculture. The work is repetitive inspection tasks in warehouses and cargo facilities, often in hot or cold conditions. Pay tops out around the middle of the public service band, so it's steady but not lucrative. Automation of scanning and detection is slowly creeping in.

Some inland positions exist at distribution centres and regional inspection facilities. DAFF publishes no geographic breakdown, but practically speaking you need to be willing to work at a port or airport hub. Remote work is not an option for this role.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3113, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Check official documentscore
• Communicate health and safety measurescore
• Data Entry and Accuracycore
• Enforce sanitation procedurescore
• Ensure compliance with shipment regulationscore
• Handle freight inspection equipmentcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Inspect freightcore
• Perform inspections required by international conventionscore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Undertake inspectionscore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Communicate with customers
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Digital Literacy
• Keep task records
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Policy Interpretation
• Process Documentation
• Research and Analysis
• Respond to enquiries
• Team Collaboration
• Use different communication channels
• Write work-related reports

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026