This instrument is the Aviation Transport Security (Screening Officer Requirements) Determination 2025.

This instrument commences the day after it is registered.

This instrument is made under section 94A of the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004.

Note: The Secretary may exempt a class of screening officers from one or more of the requirements in this determination if the Secretary is satisfied an exceptional circumstance exists—see section 94B of the Act.

4 Definitions

In this instrument:

Act means the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004.

Aviation accreditation test means a test approved by the Secretary that the Secretary is satisfied is appropriate to test the ability of a screening officer to:

(a) exercise a power mentioned in Division 5 of Part 5 of the Act that may be exercised by a screening officer; or

(b) perform a specified screening function.

Independent screening decision means a decision:

(a) made by a screening officer when exercising a specified power or a screening function; and

(b) related to whether or not to allow a person, personal effects, carry-on baggage, checked baggage, goods, or a vehicle to pass through a screening point without prompting or guidance from a supervising screening officer.

Maritime entity means a port facility operator or ship operator for a Regulated Australian Ship under the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003.

Maritime screening officer means a person who was engaged or employed as a screening officer by a port facility operator or ship operator for a regulated Australian ship under the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Act 2003.

Regulations means the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005.

Note 1: Some terms used in this notice are defined in the Act, including baggage, checked baggage, screening authority, screening function, and screening officer.

Note 2: Some terms used in this notice are defined in the Regulations, including ASIC, holder, and properly displaying.

Note 3: Some terms used in the definitions of maritime screening officer and maritime entity are defined in the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Act 2003, including screening officer, port facility operator, regulated Australian ship, and ship operator.

5 Schedules

Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

Part 2 Requirements relating to screening officers

6 Application of part

The requirements in this part apply to all persons authorised or required to conduct screening as a screening officer under the Act.

7 General qualification requirements

A screening officer must hold one of the following qualifications:

(a) a Certificate II in Transport Security Protection;

(b) any other qualification that the Secretary is satisfied will enable the holder to carry out the duties of a screening officer under the Act; or

8 Alternative qualification requirements for specified screening officers

(1) This section applies to a screening officer if the person:

(a) on or before 16 January 2022—was engaged or employed as a screening officer or as a maritime screening officer; and

(b) on or after 16 June 2020 — did not cease to be engaged or employed as a screening officer or a maritime screening officer for a continuous period of more than 24 months.

(2) A screening officer that meets the criteria in subsection (1) may hold one of the following qualifications:

(a) a Certificate II in Security Operations; or

(b) a qualification that the Secretary is satisfied is equivalent to a Certificate II in Security Operations; or

(c) if the person was formerly a maritime screening officer — training and experience acquired while working as a security guard that is sufficient to satisfy the requirements for obtaining a security guard license in the state or territory where the person intends to work as a screening officer.

9 Training requirements

(1) A screening officer must complete at least 40 hours of on-the-job training specific to their role if the screening officer:

(a) was first engaged or employed as a screening officer on or after 1 July 2022; or

(b) is re-engaged or re-employed as a screening officer after ceasing to be engaged or employed as a screening officer for a continuous period of more than 24 months occurring on or after 1 July 2022.

Example: If a person left their employment as a screening officer on 1 July 2022 and returned on 3 July 2024 seeking to be re-employed as a screening officer, the person must complete at least 40 hours of on-the-job training specific to their role. This training is required because they have ceased to be engaged for a continuous period of 24 months and one day, all of which fell on or after 1 July 2022.

(2) This section does not apply to a person who was a maritime screening officer on or before 30 June 2023, unless:

(a) they are subsequently engaged or employed as a screening officer; and

(b) following this initial engagement or employment, cease to be engaged or employed as a screening officer for a continuous period of 24 months or more occurring after 30 June 2023 and are later re-engaged or re-employed as a screening officer.

Example: A person who was a maritime screening officer on or before 30 June 2023, and is subsequently engaged or employed as a screening officer would not need to complete the training requirements unless have ceased to be engaged as a screening officer for a continuous period of 24 months after 30 June 2023, and are later reengaged or employed as an screening officer.

(3) For subsection (1), on-the-job training may include the following:

(a) supervised practice at a screening point, preferably live;

(b) training on X-ray image interpretation;

(d) training on weapons and prohibited items;

(e) training on maintaining the integrity of cleared areas;

(f) training on methods and techniques for screening; or

(g) training designed to ensure familiarity with legislation relevant to screening.

10 Testing screening officers

Requirement to pass an aviation accreditation test

(1) A screening officer must:

(a) before making any independent screening decision—pass an aviation accreditation test for each power or screening function the screening officer will exercise or perform; and

(b) at least once every 12 months—pass an aviation accreditation test for each power and screening function the screening officer exercises or performs as a screening officer.

(2) Before undertaking an aviation accreditation test, a screening officer must comply with sections 7 and 9.

(3) If no aviation accreditation test relates to a particular power or screening function that the person may use, the screening officer must pass, or have passed, any aviation accreditation test for other powers or functions, before exercising the power or performing the screening function.

Failure of an aviation accreditation test

(4) If a screening officer fails an aviation accreditation test related to a power or screening function, until the screening officer passes the aviation accreditation test, the screening officer must:

(a) be supervised by another screening officer who has completed and passed the relevant aviation accreditation test; and

(b) not make an independent screening decision using that power or screening function.

Note 1: Failing an aviation accreditation test will only prevent a screening officer from exercising the powers or performing the power or screening functions related to the specific test. Failing the test will not prevent a screening officer from exercising other powers or performing other functions for which the screening officer has passed the aviation accreditation tests for those other powers and functions.

Retaking an aviation accreditation test

(5) A screening officer who fails an aviation accreditation test may re-take the test at any time, but no more than three times in any 30-day period.

Note 2: The 30-day period would commence from the date of a screening officer’s first unsuccessful attempt at a specified aviation accreditation test

Example: If a screening officer made an unsuccessful attempt at an aviation accreditation test on 1 January 2023, a second unsuccessful attempt on 2 January 2023, and a third unsuccessful attempt on 3 January 2023, the screening officer could not undertake a further attempt at that aviation accreditation test until 1 February 2023.

Requirements for an aviation accreditation test

(6) An aviation accreditation test must be:

(a) administered by a person approved by the Secretary; and

(b) completed using the Department’s ICT systems.

11 Continuing professional development

(1) A screening officer must complete at least 12 hours of continuing professional development training specific to the screening officer’s role every 12 months from the date the screening officer passed their first aviation accreditation test.

Example: If a screening officer passed their first aviation accreditation test on 1 July 2023, the screening officer must complete 12 hours of continuing professional development before 1 July 2024. The screening officer must then complete 12 hours of continuing professional development every subsequent year within 12 months from 1 July of every subsequent year.

(2) For subsection (1), the continuing professional development may include receiving training on the following:

(a) X-ray image interpretation software;

(b) upgrades to existing equipment;

(d) detection and concealment techniques.

12 Aviation security identification cards

(1) A screening officer must:

(a) be the holder of an ASIC; and

(b) properly display the ASIC at all times while on duty, or as otherwise required by the Regulations.

Note: Holder, of an ASIC, as defined in regulation 6.01 of the Regulations.

13 Uniforms

A screening officer must wear a distinctive and recognisable uniform.

Part 3 Record keeping

14 Record keeping

(1) A screening authority must make an electronic record, consisting of the following information, for each screening officer they engage or employ:

(a) the date the screening officer is engaged or employed;

(b) the qualifications held by the screening officer for sections 7 or 8;

(d) any continuing professional development undertaken by the screening officer for section 11; and

(e) the screening officer’s unique individual ASIC number, the name of the issuing body that issued the ASIC and when the ASIC ceases to be in effect.

(2) For a person to whom section 8 or subsection 9(2) applies, the screening authority must make an electronic record of any evidence relied on to determine those provisions apply.

Example: This evidence can include records of qualifications held or any other information demonstrating that a person was employed or engaged by a maritime entity or other screening authority.

(3) A screening authority must keep records made under subsection (1) and (2) for 2 years after the cessation of the screening officer’s employment or engagement (even if the screening authority ceases to be a screening authority during that time).

Schedule 1—Repeals

Aviation Transport Security (Screening Officer Requirements) Determination 2023

1 The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.