How About a Career in the Customs Service?

When you live on the world's largest island you are both isolated and protected from the rest of humanity by the huge oceans and seas that surround us.

But while we are relatively secure from outside interference, areas of Australia still need patrolling by the Australian Customs Service to prevent unwanted activities occurring.

One of the most obvious ways is by maritime surveillance with both planes and ships to try to detect illegal or unsavoury activities in our waters.

Dealing with people smuggling, illegal drugs trafficking and unsanctioned fishing in Australian territorial waters are the major public activities of the Customs service.

And with Australia having some 37,000 kilometres of coastline to cover - an area of more than 15 million square kilometers of water to protect - the guys and gals in Customs are pretty busy.

There are some 5000 Customs officers in Australia and those handling the Coastwatch are only a few of the overall team.

Customs officers also man our ports and airports looking out for drug traffickers and people who may be trying to import banned items into this country.

Customs also checks packages from overseas to see if they contain either prohibited items or things that need to have duty paid on them. This is the less publicly attractive side of the service.

Those interested in an active part of the service may try out for crew positions on eight Australian Customs Vessels. These are 35-metre ships with a cruising speed of up to 25 knots.

It is their patrolling duty to investigate incursions into Australian maritime zones by unauthorized vessels and visit remote areas of Australia's offshore territories.

There is also the new Customs and Fisheries armed patrol vessel Oceanic Viking. It's main role is to protect Australian fishing interests in the Southern Ocean guarding against poachers and illegal fisherman trying to take valuable Patagonian Toothfish.

To help in its mission the Oceanic Viking has two .50 calibre machine guns on its upper decks and high-speed boarding craft.

To apply to join the Australian Customs Service you must either be an Australian citizen, or eligible to become a citizen. You will need to undergo a security check and also a medical test.

Trainees for the Australian Customs Service must complete an intensive full-time, six-month training program before commencing work.

Trainees learn the legal aspects of the Customs Service, as well as getting coursework on the movement of goods and people into and out of Australia. You also get practical experience by being partnered with serving Customs Officers.

When selecting trainees the service looks at key areas of ability to work in a team, dealing with people and high standards of personal conduct.

There is also a Customs Graduate Training Programme that people who have completed a three-year Bachelor Degree, recognized by Australian authorities, can apply for.

If you are thinking about a career in Customs why not check out if it will suit you by clicking here, and what you can expect working for the service.

Links:
Australian Customs Service Official Web Site