Primary Products Inspector (VIC)

Education and Training:

To become a meat inspector you usually have to complete a VET qualification in meat processing, specialising in meat safety. To become a sugarcane analyst/auditor you usually have to complete a VET qualification in laboratory skills or laboratory techniques. To become a primary products inspector in a field such as dairy or seafood you usually have to complete a VET qualification in the field of specialisation. To become a quarantine inspector you must first become an employee of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). Once employed by AQIS, you will be required to undertake a VET qualification in government and participate in on-the-job training. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information. You may be able to study through distance education.

You can also become a meat inspector through a traineeship in Meat Processing (Meat Safety). Entry requirements may vary but employers usually require Year 10. Ask your career adviser about the possibility of starting some of this training in school.

Related Courses:

While the following courses are related to this occupation, they may not necessarily lead directly to employment, nor provide the most direct pathway to the occupation. Courses which provide preliminary or informal training, as well as those which provide additional job skills following initial qualifications may also be listed.

*Course is offered by more than one institution. Click link for details.

Employment Opportunities:

Quarantine inspectors are officers of the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and work with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). They are employed at airports and seaports throughout Australia.

Meat inspectors usually work at establishments that slaughter or process meat for export or domestic consumption. Opportunities may arise for meat inspectors with AQIS.

Employment opportunities for sugarcane analysts/auditors are mainly in Queensland, with limited opportunities in NSW and WA. Sugarcane analysts/auditors work in laboratories located within a sugar mill, and most work rostered shifts.