OCBA - Definition

You are considered to be acting as a security agent if you perform one or more of the following work functions:

Crowd controlling;
Security systems work associated with:
- providing advice, hiring out or otherwise supplying, or installing or maintaining security alarm or surveillance systems;
Security guarding associated with:
- protecting or guarding a person or property or keeping a person or property under surveillance;
- preventing, detecting or investigating the commission of an offence in relation to a person or property, or
- hiring out or otherwise supplying dogs or other animals for the purpose of protecting or guarding a person or property (ie, Canine Handling).
You are considered to be acting as an investigation agent if you perform one or more of the following work functions:
Collection work associated with:
- ascertaining the whereabouts of or repossessing goods that are subject to a security interest;
- collecting or requesting the payment of debts;
- executing legal process for the enforcement of a judgement or order of a court;
- executing distress for the recovery of rates, taxes or money.
Inquiry work associated with:
- obtaining or providing (without the written consent of a person) information about the personal character or actions of the person, or about the business or occupation of the person; or
- obtaining evidence for the purpose of legal proceedings (whether the proceedings have been commenced or are prospective).

Licence Not Required
The Act does not apply to a wide range of people. You are not required to hold a licence as a security agent or investigation agent if you are:

a member of the police force of South Australia,
a sheriff, deputy sheriff, sheriff's officer, bailiff or other officer of a court or tribunal, while performing official functions;
a person who holds the required qualifications in loss adjusting while practising as a loss adjuster;
employed as a shop assistant who provides advice on security alarm or surveillance systems only as an incidental part of their duties; or
acting in the ordinary course of the profession or business and you are

a person registered as an agent under the Land Agents Act 1994;
a person who practises as a legal practitioner, or
a person performing only clerical or secretarial functions on behalf of an agent.

Please refer to Section 4 of the Act and Regulations 4 and 5 for a complete list.

Process Servers
Process servers, who, for fee or reward, serve a writ, summons or other legal process, are now negatively licensed. This means that a licence is no longer required to practice this occupation. However, if you intend to run a business or employ someone to perform this type of work you (and your employee) will be required to hold certain qualifications specified in the Regulations and must not have been convicted of any offence contained in Schedule 1 of the Regulations.

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