Sterilisation Technicians
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Sterilisation Technicians clean, sterilise and package surgical instruments and other hospital equipment, soft goods and linen, in a sterilisation service facility.
Tasks
-
Identifies equipment to be sterilised.
-
Cleans and sterilises surgical instruments and other hospital equipment.
-
Operates a variety of sterilisation machines.
-
Complies with infection control policies and procedures.
-
Prepares and packs medical items.
Characteristics
-
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
-
Informal or on-the-job
-
Practical
-
Administrative
-
Sedentary
-
Light
-
Medium
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Other Machine Operators, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 60% of people employed as Sterilisation Technicians work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 6 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 41 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
-
Most Sterilisation Technicians work in the Health care and social assistance industry.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Sterilisation Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 33.1 | 31.6 |
VIC | 26.8 | 25.6 |
QLD | 13.9 | 20.0 |
SA | 9.0 | 7.0 |
WA | 12.2 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.4 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.8 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.8 | 1.9 |
-
Around 65% of Sterilisation Technicians live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - South East
- Melbourne - West
- Perth - North West
- Sydney - Blacktown
- Sydney - Inner South West.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
-
The median age of Sterilisation Technicians is 50 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.
Females make up 72% of the workforce. This is 24 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Sterilisation Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.6 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 3.6 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 11.3 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 19.0 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 32.8 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 16.9 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 11.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 4.6 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 50 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Sterilisation Technician. Although some workers have a certificate III or IV in sterilisation services.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Chemical, Hydrocarbons & Refining VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Sterilisation Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 2.9 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 13.8 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 11.8 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 41.1 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 13.4 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 4.5 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 12.5 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Other Machine Operators who are hardworking, can work well with others and are reliable.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
45%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
43%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
43%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
43%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
41%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
41%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
41%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
-
39%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
39%
SpeakingTalking to others.
-
39%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
39%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
-
37%
Equipment maintenanceMaintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
-
37%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
37%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
-
37%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
-
37%
TroubleshootingFiguring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
36%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
36%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
-
29%
Management of material resourcesProviding the right equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do work.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
79%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
57%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
53%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
-
47%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
43%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
42%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
41%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
39%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
39%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
36%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
36%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
-
35%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
29%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
27%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
-
27%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
25%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
24%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
23%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
21%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
19%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
54%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
-
46%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
-
45%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
45%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
-
45%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
45%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
-
45%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
45%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
-
43%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
43%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
43%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
-
43%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
43%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
-
43%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
41%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
41%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
37%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
37%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
36%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
87%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
84%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
83%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
80%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
80%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
79%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
78%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
77%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
77%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
75%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
73%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
68%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
67%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
65%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
64%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
64%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
62%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
57%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
-
54%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
-
54%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
90%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
86%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
52%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
29%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
29%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
76%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
71%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
43%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
38%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
38%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
38%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
-
100%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
100%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
99%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
95%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
94%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
-
94%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
92%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
91%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
90%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
-
89%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
87%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
87%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
86%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
84%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
83%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
83%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
-
82%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
82%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
82%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
82%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 31-9093.00 - Medical Equipment Preparers.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
-
Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.