Serco is a place where you can grow
Join a team of 12,000+ professionals across APAC and experience a place of challenge, opportunity, and reward.
We offer lots of headroom for you to grow and flexible benefits to suit you in every stage of your life and career, including:

• Working only 165 days a year on our current rosters
• One full week off a month
• Hourly Rate $30.88 (1st 3 months), moving to $33.63 and $36.27 (at 24 months)
• Potential to earn more with overtime
• 5 weeks annual leave
• Paid on the job training
• Uniforms provided
• Subsidised meals
• Share2Care 12 weeks of paid parental leave to eligible employees
• Access to 24/7 Safety, Medical and Mental Health Care via the Sonder (including family members)
• Generous Employee Referral Program
• Flexible salary packaging available

Make an impact at Serco
As a Detainee Service Officer, you will maintain security and order within detention facilities, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of detainees. You will primarily work in APOD locations in and around the Cairns geographical areas and may be required to travel to other Centres or areas, as required. We are seeking casual or permanent employees offering the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
As a Detainee Service Officer, you’ll make a positive impact by:

• Actively interacting and listening to detainees, and promptly informing management of any abuse, impropriety, health, or general concerns.
• Regularly rotating between posts and cross-deploying as required, maintaining the smooth running of assigned areas to ensure detainee safety, security, and well-being.
• Screening people, property, and vehicles and responding appropriately to emergency situations.
• Producing logs, reports, individual management plans, and monthly casework to ensure accurate and thorough documentation.
• Performing accurate security checks, headcounts, and searches, and complying with all reasonable and lawful instructions.

Serco is a place for you
If you've got the heart, integrity, and drive to make a difference, you're our ideal candidate.

• No experience? No worries. We’ll train you from day 1, ensuring you're supported for the journey ahead.

To be successful in this role you’ll have:

• The ability to effectively interact with detainees, colleagues, and supervisors, both verbally and in writing.
• The capacity to handle high-stress situations calmly and maintain professionalism under pressure.
• Skills to de-escalate conflicts and manage challenging behaviour constructively.
• Keen observation skills to monitor detainee activities and identify potential security risks.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a dedicated team, supporting colleagues and contributing to a cohesive work environment.
• The ability to think quickly and develop practical solutions to complex situations.

As a fast-growing and successful global company, Serco’s services span across the areas of justice, immigration, defence, space, customer services, health, and urban mobility.
In joining us, you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with trusted leaders that will help you achieve your goals.
Please note:

• This position carries trust and responsibility. To support this, a comprehensive probity assessment, including a Federal Police Check, is a key part of the selection process for this role.
• Our team members in this role must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our team. Please take this requirement into account when applying.

Are you ready to do important work that really matters?
At Serco, we bring together the right people, the right technology, and the right partners to create impactful solutions that address some of the world’s most urgent and complex challenges.
We focus on serving governments all over the globe. The work we do has touched the lives of millions in Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong, and offers unique opportunities to leverage your skills across our core capabilities in health, defence, maritime, justice, immigration, and community services.


We seek and celebrate diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds and cultures including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGTBQI+, veterans and people with disability.
By joining Serco you’ll have access to Employee Networks led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.
Impact a better future at Serco.