Train Examiners

ANZSCO ID 599517

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
150
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
93%
Female Share
14%
Average age
47

Summary

Train Examiners inspect rolling stock in railway yards, terminals and stations to ensure adherence to safety standards and operational rules and regulations.

Specialisations: Locomotive Inspector.

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Train Examiner. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in rail safety or another related field.

Tasks

  • Conducts visual checks of the mechanical, structural, electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems of railway wagons, carriages and locomotives for condition and correct classification.

Characteristics


Outlook

Employment 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, Inspectors and Regulatory Officers, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 93% of people employed as Train Examiners work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 27 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 45 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

1
Transport, Postal and Warehousing
42.2%
2
Mining
31.8%
3
Manufacturing
6.5%
4
Public Administration and Safety
5.8%
5
Other industries
9.1%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

13.2% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

40.3% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

4.4% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

6.9% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

35.2% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

0.0% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.0% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.0% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Train Examiners All Jobs Average
NSW 13.2 31.6
VIC 40.3 25.6
QLD 4.4 20.0
SA 6.9 7.0
WA 35.2 10.8
TAS 0.0 2.0
NT 0.0 1.0
ACT 0.0 1.9


  • Around 45% of Train Examiners live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Western Australia and Victoria have a large share of employment relative to their population size.

    The region with the largest share of workers is Western Australia - Outback (North).

    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

Age In Years
47
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
14%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Train Examiners is 47 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 14% of the workforce. This is 34 percentage points below 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)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Train Examiners All Jobs Average
15-19 0.0 5.0
20-24 4.3 9.3
25-34 19.8 22.9
35-44 19.8 22.0
45-54 24.7 21.6
55-59 15.4 9.0
60-64 11.1 6.0
65 and Over 4.9 4.2
Median Age 47 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 Train Examiner. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in rail safety or another related field.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Local Government and Public Sector VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

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.
Type of Qualification Train Examiners All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.0 10.1
Bachelor degree 2.1 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 2.1 11.6
Certificate III/IV 50.0 21.1
Year 12 14.1 18.1
Year 11 12.0 4.8
Year 10 and below 19.7 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 Inspectors and Regulatory Officers who have a good attention to detail, strong people skills and a good work ethic.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 46%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 45%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 45%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 43%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 41%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 41%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 41%

    Equipment maintenance

    Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.

  • 41%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 41%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 41%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 41%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 39%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 39%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 39%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 37%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 36%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 34%

    Science

    Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

  • 32%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 29%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 29%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 76%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 48%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 47%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 46%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 45%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 44%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 43%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 42%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 38%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 36%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 36%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 32%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 32%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 30%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 29%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 26%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 25%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • 25%

    Physics

    The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.

  • 24%

    Building and construction

    Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.

  • 22%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 55%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 52%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 46%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 45%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 45%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 45%

    Extent flexibility

    Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • 43%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • 43%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 43%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 43%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 43%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 43%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 41%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 41%

    Hearing sensitivity

    Tell the difference between sounds.

  • 41%

    Manual dexterity

    Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

  • 41%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 39%

    Auditory attention

    Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.

  • 39%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 39%

    Multilimb coordination

    Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • 37%

    Depth perception

    Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 66%

    Doing physically active work

    Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.

  • 60%

    Handling and moving objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.

  • 54%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 53%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 52%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 50%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 50%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 50%

    Working with mechanical equipment

    Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.

  • 49%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).

  • 48%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 48%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 46%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 45%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 45%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

    Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

  • 40%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 38%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 36%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 35%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 30%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 29%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.


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.

  • 95%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 81%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 57%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 29%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 19%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

  • 19%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 76%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 55%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 48%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 48%

    Independence

    Work 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.

  • 43%

    Recognition

    Advancement 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.

  • 43%

    Relationships

    Serve 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.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 98%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 94%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 91%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 91%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 88%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 88%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 87%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 87%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.

  • 85%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 81%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 80%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 79%

    Consequence of error

    Work where mistakes have serious consequences.

  • 77%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 77%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

  • 77%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

    Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.

  • 77%

    Responsible for outcomes

    Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.

  • 76%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

    Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).

  • 76%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 76%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 76%

    Walking and running

    Spend time walking and running.

Occupational Information Network
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, 53-6051.07 - Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation.


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