Sterilisation Technician

A sterilisation technician operates and maintains steam sterilisation equipment in healthcare facilities, laboratories, and dental surgeries to ensure medical instruments and materials are free from microorganisms. They prepare loads for sterilisation, monitor autoclave cycles, validate sterilisation parameters, and document results to comply with Australian Standards and infection control protocols. The role ensures the safety and efficacy of sterilised products that are critical to clinical practice.

Operate steam autoclaves and other sterilisation equipment, including tabletop and large-capacity units, following manufacturer specifications and documented standard operating procedures. Prepare instrument trays and loads by cleaning, sorting, wrapping, and arranging items according to sterilisation protocols and density requirements to ensure steam penetration. Load and unload autoclave chambers, ensuring proper placement of items to avoid blockage of steam pathways and contact between items. Monitor sterilisation cycles, record temperature, pressure, and time parameters on cycle logs and quality assurance documentation. Perform daily and weekly validation tests including empty chamber runs, Bowie-Dick tests, and chemical or biological indicator tests to verify autoclave performance. Document sterilisation records including load contents, cycle parameters, operator identification, and test results for traceability and compliance with Australian Standards for reprocessing reusable medical devices. Respond to autoclave alarms and error codes, troubleshoot minor equipment faults, and escalate maintenance issues to biomedical technicians or engineers. Maintain sterilisation areas by cleaning equipment, managing waste materials, and maintaining records of equipment servicing and calibration.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate II or III (ABS skill level 4). 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.

The work is repetitive and monotonous: you'll spend most days loading autoclaves, running the same cycles, and filling out paperwork. Pay is modest with limited advancement without further qualifications. The role also carries responsibility: if sterilisation fails, patients could be harmed, so the pressure to get every load right is constant.

Jobs concentrate in major cities and regional centres wherever there are hospitals, surgical centres, and dental practices. Practically speaking, you'll find work in metro areas and larger regional towns with healthcare facilities. Remote work isn't an option.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 7119, 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.

• Accept own accountabilitycore
• Adapt to emergency care environmentcore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Data Entry and Accuracycore
• Health Terminology Literacycore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Process Documentationcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Workflow Prioritisationcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Adhere to organisational guidelines
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Health Record Administration
• Problem Solving
• Process Improvement Identification
• Verbal Communication
• Workload Self-Management
• Written Communication

• 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