Cool careers in quarantine
Would you like to work with animals? Are you keen to protect Australia's natural environment and agricultural industries? If so, then a job with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) could be for you.
AQIS employs over 3,000 people around Australia. Some typical jobs include:
Quarantine officer
Role: inspect goods coming into Australia to check for exotic pests, weeds and diseases.
Location: airports, seaports, mail handling centres, cargo facilities and other sites in cities and regional centres.
Suits: someone meticulous and careful, and passionate about protecting Australia's environment. Officers working at airports will need good people skills.
Training: as part of their induction training, successful applicants will complete a Certificate III in Government.
Highlights: meaningful work, and interaction with a diverse range of people (particularly at airports). Officers generally rotate so you may spend time at airports, mail centres and other sites too.
Lowlights: detailed work will not suit all personalities; shift work.
Detector dog handler
Role: As a Quarantine officer work with detector dogs to inspect luggage and/or international mail for quarantine risk material.
Location: airports, mail handling centres and seaports (cruise ships) in major cities.
Suits: someone who is patient and loves working with animals and people.
Training: succesful applicants will undertake a six week quarantine course (handlers often start out as quarantine officers) and an eight week dog handler course.
Highlights: working with dogs to help manage quarantine risk to Australia's animal, plant and human health status.
Lowlights: places are limited, so if you want to work with animals, include this among a range of job options.
Vet
Role: AQIS employs vets for a wide range of jobs. Some inspect livestock for export. Some inspect animals bound for local abattoirs, to check they are healthy and safe to eat. Some even travel overseas or to remote places to do field surveys, checking for early warning signs of exotic pests and diseases.
Location: cities and regional centres throughout Australia.
Suits: people interested in animal science, the health and welfare of animals and research.
Training: qualifications required for vet positions are detailed in vet recruitment selection documentation.
Highlights: rewarding and interesting work and good pay.
Lowlights: it is extremely competitive to get into veterinary science degree courses, so make sure you have some alternative career ideas.
Other
Other fields you could find yourself working in as part of AQIS include checking goods for export, inspecting imported goods, pest monitoring, shipping, plants or horticulture.
Keep your options open: If you like natural sciences and working with people, quarantine is just one of many places you could work. Other potential employers include local government, an environmental agency, a government agricultural department, a school or university, or CSIRO. Do some research and make a list of all the jobs available out there for somebody with your skills and interests.
To learn more about the types of cool careers with AQIS, read these real-life stories:
Imported Food Inspector
Manager Torrens Island Avian Facility