OSCA occupation

452234 Private Investigator

Conducts investigations for clients regarding legal, financial and personal matters, and prepares evidence for court proceedings.

Major group: 4 Community and Personal Service Workers
Unit group: 4522 Security Officers and Guards
Edition: OSCA 2024
Skill level: Level 4

Should you use OSCA or ANZSCO?

OSCA 2024 is the current Australian occupation classification for storing, organising and reporting occupation information. Use this OSCA record for current Australian statistical and analytical classification work.

Some migration and administrative programs still specify ANZSCO 2022. Check the exact system named by the agency or form rather than replacing the code automatically.

Check the current ABS guidance on OSCA and ANZSCO use

Official ANZSCO correspondence

ANZSCO 442214 Private Investigator Exact correspondence in the ABS table

Role overview

Conducts investigations for clients regarding legal, financial and personal matters, and prepares evidence for court proceedings.

Use this page to confirm the official title, the parent unit group, the task list and the related ANZSIC industry context before using the occupation in classification, reporting or migration-adjacent workflows.

Occupation facts

Skill level: 4
Major group: 4 Community and Personal Service Workers
Sub-major group: 45 Protective Service and Security Workers
Minor group: 452 Security Workers
Unit group: 4522 Security Officers and Guards

Tasks

Conducts interviews and gathers information from various sources, including public records and databases, to investigate cases regarding legal, financial and personal matters
Conducts surveillance and observes individuals to gather evidence
Makes enquiries concerning property and investigates insurance claims
Seeks, obtains and supplies information pertaining to the personal character, financial position, occupation or whereabouts of any person
Collects and analyses data and evidence, and prepares detailed reports and documentation of findings
Collaborates with law enforcement agencies and Legal Professionals
Testifies in court and presents evidence during legal proceedings
Maintains client confidentiality and ensures the security of sensitive information
Uses specialised equipment and technology, such as binoculars, microphones and video or audio recording devices to obtain evidence for investigations

Skill level guidance

Skill level helps place the occupation inside the ABS hierarchy. Use it as a classification cue, then check the actual task list and occupational context before making a decision for HR, visa or reporting work.

How to use this occupation page

Start with the official OSCA title and task list. Then confirm the parent unit group and compare the related occupations on this page if the job title is broad, overlapping or used differently across employers.

The ANZSIC links are there to help when the same occupation appears across several industries and you need the business-side classification as well.

Related occupations

Industry context

Alternative titles

No alternative titles are currently attached.

Compare before choosing

Compare OSCA 452234 with related occupations

Compare roles in the same OSCA unit group by their official definition, skill level, tasks and recognised alternative titles.

Comparison point	Current code452234 Private Investigator	452231 Alarm, Security or Surveillance Monitor	452232 Cash In Transit Officer
Official role definition	Conducts investigations for clients regarding legal, financial and personal matters, and prepares evidence for court proceedings.	Monitors security alarms, closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems and other surveillance equipment, and contacts supervisors, police or fire brigades if security is breached or fire is detected.	Provides escort for transportation and delivery of cash and other valuables.
Skill level	Skill Level 4	Skill Level 4	Skill Level 4
Key tasks	Conducts interviews and gathers information from various sources, including public records and databases, to investigate cases regarding legal, financial and personal matters Conducts surveillance and observes individuals to gather evidence Makes enquiries concerning property and investigates insurance claims Seeks, obtains and supplies information pertaining to the personal character, financial position, occupation or whereabouts of any person	Monitors security alarms, CCTV and other surveillance equipment Contacts supervisors, police and fire brigades by radio or phone if security is breached or fire is detected Observes and reports any suspicious activities or incidents Maintains accurate records of security breaches and incidents	Collects and ensures the safe transportation and delivery of cash, payrolls and valuables Follows established procedures and protocols for the handling and transportation of cash and valuables Monitors and maintains communication with control centre or base during transportation Conducts regular inspections of vehicles and equipment to ensure they are in proper working order

Comparison uses occupation definitions, skill levels, tasks and title variants from the ABS OSCA data files.

In this section

Official source

Official source: ABS OSCA 2024 release and correspondence tables
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17

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