Protective Services Officer
What the work is
Maintains public order and enforces laws within designated locations, such as public transport infrastructure, government buildings, police stations, and large public venues and events.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- 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
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a fictional football stadium on match day, and the shopping centre next door. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A crowd of thousands files out calmly and every gate runs the way it should
- You spot a problem on the cameras before anyone else even knows it is there
- A lost child is back with their family within minutes of you finding them
Hard days
- Standing at a gate in the rain for hours while people are rude to you
- Telling someone they cannot come in, and having them take it out on you
- A night shift alone in a quiet building where every noise makes you look up
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 452235, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.