Trades & Services
Private Investigator
Private investigators work confidentially on behalf of clients to investigate and gather information and evidence.
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Entry-level education
VET qualification
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Job outlook
What does a Private Investigator do?
Private investigators work confidentially on behalf of clients to investigate and gather information and evidence in areas such as insurance fraud or missing persons.
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Work activities
As a private investigator, you would:
- conduct surveillance
- take photographs or videos as evidence
- follow leads to find missing people
- search public or court records to uncover clues
- conduct financial and background checks
- verify employment and income details
- locate and interview witnesses to find evidence
- work on behalf of individuals, lawyers, and businesses
- gather information required for legal proceedings.
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Key skills and interests
To become a private investigator, you would need:
- excellent observational skills
- an unobtrusive nature
- good communication skills
- confidence for court appearances
- a thorough knowledge of legal issues
- strong computer research skills
- the ability to keep information confidential.
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Working hours and conditions
Working Hours
As a private investigator you would work irregular, and perhaps long, hours depending on what information you are trying to obtain.
Conditions
Many private investigators are self-employed. You would work in an office or from home but spend a lot of time travelling to gather information. If you are undertaking surveillance, you might spend lengthy periods of time sitting, waiting and observing.
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How to become an Private Investigator?
Entry Level Education
To become a private investigator you usually have to complete a VET qualification in investigative services.
You may also become a private investigator through a traineeship in Investigative Services. Generally, employers would require a junior secondary school certificate or equivalent.
Most States require you to have a licence to operate as a private investigator. In order to obtain this licence, you would need to be at least 18 years of age and provide a Criminal History Check.
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Job outlook
Employment of private investigators is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Demand for private investigators will continue to grow as a result of security concerns, the need to protect confidential information, and the ability of individuals to pay for private investigations. Strong competition can be expected for jobs.
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