How to become a Biosecurity Officer

Inspects and assesses goods, conveyances, plants, animals and the environment for biosecurity risk to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, and to prevent the incursion and spread of exotic pests and diseases.

Main tasks

• Inspects goods, ships, aircraft, passengers, plants and animals, and assesses documentation to confirm compliance with biosecurity requirements
• Issues legal directions to control identified biosecurity risks
• Provides advice about biosecurity matters to customers, clients, staff and managers
• Identifies trends in biosecurity risks, and reports to superiors to assist in targeting intelligence and risk-based activities
• Participates in biosecurity response activities to control and manage biosecurity incidents
• Maintains records of biosecurity inspections, assessments and enforcement actions

Ways in

• University: Science degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
• University: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Public Safety (Biosecurity Emergency Response Operations) (PUA30922); Certificate IV in Public Safety (Biosecurity Emergency Response Leadership) (PUA40422); Diploma of Public Safety (Biosecurity Emergency Response Management) (PUA50622); Certificate III in Urban Pest Management (CPP30119); Certificate IV in Urban Pest Management (CPP41619); Diploma of Food Safety Auditing (FBP50221)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $69,160 a year
• About 3,900 people work in this job group now, and about 4,100 are projected by 2035. (+5.4%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Agricultural and Agritech Technician
• Animal Husbandry Technician
• Aquaculture or Fisheries Technician
• Fisheries Officer
• Irrigation Designer
• Meat Inspector

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Biosecurity Officer?

Ways in include: Science degrees; Health & Public Health degrees; Certificate III in Public Safety (Biosecurity Emergency Response Operations); Certificate IV in Public Safety (Biosecurity Emergency Response Leadership).

How much does a Biosecurity Officer earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $69,160 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Biosecurity Officer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 3,900 to about 4,100 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Biosecurity Officer?

Not always. 35% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Science degrees; Health & Public Health degrees; Certificate III in Public Safety (Biosecurity Emergency Response Operations); Certificate IV in Public Safety (Biosecurity Emergency Response Leadership).

Will AI change the work of a Biosecurity Officer?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04