This instrument is the Aviation Transport Security (Screening Officer Requirements) Determination 2022.

This instrument commences on 1 July 2022.

3 Revocation

Aviation Transport Security (Screening Officer Requirements) Determination 2021 (LIN 21/050) is revoked.

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

Note 2 Some terms used in this notice are defined in the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 (the Regulations), including ASIC and properly displaying.

In this instrument:

Act means the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004.

independent screening decision means a decision whether 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.

5 Application

This instrument determines requirements under section 94A of the Act for specified screening officers.

6 Qualifications

(1) A screening officer must hold either of the following qualifications:

(a) Certificate II in Transport Security Protection;

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

(2) Subsection (3) applies to a person who was engaged or employed as a screening officer before 16 January 2022 by:

(a) a screening authority under the Act or the Regulations; or

(b) a port facility operator or regulated Australian ship under the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 or an instrument made under that act.

(3) The person must hold any of the following qualifications:

(a) Certificate II in Security Operations;

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

(4) A person mentioned in subsection (2) must not:

(a) have ceased to be engaged or employed as a screening officer by a screening authority, port facility operator or regulated Australian ship for a continuous period of more than 24 months at any time from 16 June 2020; or

(b) cease to be engaged or employed as a screening officer by a screening authority, port facility operator or regulated Australian ship for a continuous period of more than 24 months at any time from 1 July 2022.

Note The Secretary may exempt a class of screening officers from any of these requirements—see Act, section 94B.

7 Training

(1) The training requirement for a person who is a screening officer is that, until the person’s supervisor is satisfied the person is competent as a screening officer and while on duty as a screening officer, the person:

(a) is supervised by a screening officer capable of making an independent screening decision; and

(b) does not make an independent screening decision.

(2) The person may make an independent screening decision only if:

(a) the person’s supervisor is satisfied that the person is competent as a screening officer; or

(b) the person undertakes additional on-the-job supervised training until the person’s supervisor is satisfied the person is competent as a screening officer.

(3) Before being assessed as competent under this Determination, a person who is a screening officer must complete at least 40 hours of on-the-job training specific to the person’s role if the person:

(a) was first engaged or employed as a screening officer on or after 1 July 2022 by a screening authority under the Act or the Regulations, unless the person was previously engaged or employed prior to 1 July 2022 as a screening officer by a port facility operator or regulated Australian ship under the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 or an instrument made under that act; or

(b) ceased to be engaged or employed as a screening officer for a continuous period of more than 24 months at any time from 1 July 2022 by:

(i) a screening authority under the Act or the Regulations; or

(ii) a port facility operator or regulated Australian ship under the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 or an instrument made under that act.

(4) For subsections (2) and (3), 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 sterile areas;

(f) training on methods and techniques for screening;

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

Note The Secretary may exempt a class of screening officers from one or more of these requirements—see Act, section 94B.

8 Continuing professional development

A screening officer must complete at least 12 hours of continuing professional development training specific to the screening officer’s role each calendar year. This may include receiving training on the following:

(a) X-ray image interpretation software;

(b) upgrades to existing equipment;

(d) detection and concealment techniques.

Note The Secretary may exempt a class of screening officers from one or more of these requirements—see Act, section 94B.

9 Aviation security identification cards

A screening officer must:

(a) hold an ASIC; and

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

10 Uniforms

A screening officer must wear a distinctive and recognisable uniform.

11 Record keeping

(1) A screening authority must make an electronic record of the following for each screening officer engaged or employed by the screening authority:

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

(b) the date the person is assessed as competent as a screening officer and the name of the supervisor who assessed the screening officer as competent;

(d) the training undertaken by the screening officer for section 7;

(e) any activity undertaken by the screening officer for section 8;

(f) 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 subsection 6(2) or 7(3) applies, the screening authority must make an electronic record of any evidence relied on to determine that that paragraph applies.

Note This evidence can include records of qualifications held or any other information demonstrating that a person was employed or engaged by a port facility operator, regulated Australian ship, or other screening authority.

(3) A screening authority must keep records made under subsection (1) or (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).