OSCA occupation

452235 Protective Services Officer

Maintains public order and enforces laws within designated locations, such as public transport infrastructure, government buildings, police stations, and large public venues and events.

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 442217 Security Officer Partial correspondence in the ABS table

Role overview

Maintains public order and enforces laws within designated locations, such as public transport infrastructure, government buildings, police stations, and large public venues and events.

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

Undertakes high visibility uniformed patrolling and guarding within designated locations
Watches for antisocial behaviour, property damage, threats to public safety, and alcohol and transport-related offences within designated locations
Conducts searches on people and vehicles, issues warnings and fines, and places people under arrest for suspected involvement in criminal activity within designated locations
Maintains order at large public events and venues, such as sporting events or concerts, by enforcing laws and event rules and regulations, resolving minor conflicts, and preventing or dispersing antisocial behaviour
Responds to and reports on incidents occurring within designated locations in accordance with police regulations and protocols, which may include the use of force, speaking with witnesses, and collecting data for evidence

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.

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Compare OSCA 452235 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 code452235 Protective Services Officer	452231 Alarm, Security or Surveillance Monitor	452232 Cash In Transit Officer
Official role definition	Maintains public order and enforces laws within designated locations, such as public transport infrastructure, government buildings, police stations, and large public venues and events.	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	Undertakes high visibility uniformed patrolling and guarding within designated locations Watches for antisocial behaviour, property damage, threats to public safety, and alcohol and transport-related offences within designated locations Conducts searches on people and vehicles, issues warnings and fines, and places people under arrest for suspected involvement in criminal activity within designated locations Maintains order at large public events and venues, such as sporting events or concerts, by enforcing laws and event rules and regulations, resolving minor conflicts, and preventing or dispersing antisocial behaviour	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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