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Company Secretary

Company Secretary
ANZSCO Code: 221211 / Group B

A Company Secretary plans, administers and reviews corporate compliance activities and effective practice concerning company board meetings and shareholdings, ensuring all business matters and transactions are managed and implemented as directed by the board.

Occupation description

A Company Secretary plans, administers and reviews corporate compliance activities and effective practice concerning company board meetings and shareholdings, ensuring all business matters and transactions are managed and implemented as directed by the board.

Occupations not considered under this ANZSCO code:

  • Secretary (General)
  • Legal Secretary
  • Personal Assistant
  • Corporate Treasurer

These occupations are classified elsewhere in ANZSCO or are not at the required skill level.

Company Secretary is a VETASSESS Group B occupation

This occupation requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the educational level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher.

 

Group B - October 2025

Description of Pathways 

The information below describes the available pathways for a Skills Assessment under Group B. Please note that in order to achieve a successful Skills Assessment Outcome, a positive assessment for both qualifications and employment is required.

Pathway 1 

This pathway requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher degree and in a field highly relevant to the nominated occupation. 

Bachelor degree or higher degree includes AQF Master Degree or AQF Doctoral Degree.

In addition, it is essential for applicants to meet the following employment criteria:

  • at least one year of post-qualification employment at an appropriate skill level, undertaken in the last five years,
  • working 20 hours or more per week, and
  • highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Pathway 2

This pathway requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher degree and in a field not highly relevant to the nominated occupation. 

Bachelor degree or higher degree includes AQF Master Degree or AQF Doctoral Degree.

An additional qualification in a highly relevant field of study at a minimum AQF Diploma level is required. Additional qualifications in a highly relevant field of study include those comparable to the AQF Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma or AQF Associate Degree or AQF Graduate Diploma.

In addition, it is essential for applicants to meet the following employment criteria:

  • at least two years of post-qualification employment at an appropriate skill level, undertaken in the last five years,
  • working 20 hours or more per week, and
  • highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Pathway 3

This pathway requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher degree and in a field not highly relevant to the nominated occupation. 

Bachelor degree or higher degree includes AQF Master Degree or AQF Doctoral Degree.

In addition, it is essential for applicants to meet the following employment criteria:

  • at least three years of post-qualification employment at an appropriate skill level, undertaken in the last five years,
  • working 20 hours or more per week, and
  • highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Pathway 4

This pathway requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher degree with or without a highly relevant major field of study to the nominated occupation.

Bachelor degree or higher degree includes AQF Master Degree or AQF Doctoral Degree.

In addition, it is essential for applicants to meet the following employment criteria:

  • at least six years of employment at an appropriate skill level that includes at least one year of highly relevant employment within the last five years before applying,
  • working 20 hours or more per week, and
  • highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Qualification and Employment Criteria

AQF Bachelor degree or higher degree*

*This includes qualifications assessed at AQF Bachelor, Master and Doctoral level.

Highly relevant major fields of study include:

  • Corporate Governance
  • Risk Management
  • Public Administration
  • Law and Business

Employment

Highly relevant tasks include, but are not limited to:

  • Arranging, giving notice of and attending meetings of directors and shareholders.
  • Advising organisations’ governing boards on matters concerning compliance with stock exchange listing rules, relevant legislation and corporation practice.
  • Supervising organisations’ share capital by preparing documents and share issues, and handling share transfers.

Additional tasks may include:

  • Advising the board and its committees on governance matters.
  • Monitoring to ensure that board and committee policy and procedures are followed.
  • Coordinating the timely completion and despatch of board and committee papers.
  • Ensuring that the business at board and committee meetings is accurately captured in the minutes.
  • Helping to organise and facilitate the induction and professional development of directors.

Employment Information

Based on the size and resources of a company, the Company Secretary can be considered the chief governance specialist within an organisation, and it is a role which is increasingly relied upon by the board to provide advice and implement good governance practices.

Company Secretaries may have legal responsibilities in addition to their work in support of the board. These will vary according to the specific needs of the organisation.

Supporting material for assessment

Applicants nominating this managerial occupation must submit an organisational chart. An organisational chart should include:

  • The company letterhead,
  • Your job position,
  • The job position of your superiors and subordinates, as well as,
  • All positions reporting to your immediate supervisor and to your direct subordinates.

If you are unable to obtain an organisational chart from your employer, please provide a statutory declaration outlining the required information and the reasons why this information cannot be provided.

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