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Secretary (General)

Secretary (General)
ANZSCO Code: 521211 / Group C

A Secretary (General) performs secretarial, clerical and other administrative tasks in support of Managers and Professionals.

Occupation description

A Secretary (General) performs secretarial, clerical and other administrative tasks in support of Managers and Professionals.

Occupations not considered under this ANZSCO code:

  • Personal Assistant (ANZSCO Code 521111)
  • Legal Secretary (ANZSCO Code 521212)
  • Office Manager (ANZSCO Code 512111)
  • Receptionist (ANZSCO Unit Group 5421)
  • Medical Secretary (ANZSCO Unit Group 5421)

These occupations are classified elsewhere in ANZSCO.

Secretary (General) is a VETASSESS Group C occupation

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

Applicants can fulfil the assessment criteria for this occupation in one of four ways.

Group C - December 2025

Description of Pathways 

The information below describes the available pathways for a Skills Assessment under Group C. Please note that in order to achieve a successful Skills Assessment Outcome, a suitable 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) Diploma or higher and in a field highly relevant to the nominated occupation. 

Diploma or higher includes AQF Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Graduate Diploma, Master Degree or 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) Diploma or higher and in a field not highly relevant to the nominated occupation. 

Diploma or higher includes AQF Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Graduate Diploma, Master Degree or Doctoral Degree.

An additional qualification in a highly relevant field of study at a minimum AQF Certificate IV level is required. Additional qualifications in a highly relevant field of study include those comparable to the AQF Certificate IV. 

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 3

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

Diploma or higher includes AQF Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Graduate Diploma, Master Degree or Doctoral Degree.

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 4

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

Diploma or higher includes AQF Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Graduate Diploma, Master Degree or Doctoral Degree.

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

  • at least four 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 Diploma or higher qualification.

This includes qualifications assessed at AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Graduate Diploma, Master and Doctoral level.

Highly relevant major fields of study include:

 

  • Business Administration 
  • Management
  • Office Management

Other disciplines which are relevant to the employment context may be considered on a case-by-case basis (if employment is highly relevant).

Highly relevant fields of study:

  • Business Administration
  • Management
  • Office Management

Employment

Highly relevant tasks include:

  • Liaising with other staff to arrange meetings, and to gain and provide information;
  • Preparing reports, briefing notes and correspondence, and proofreading work for typographical and grammatical errors;
  • Maintaining appointment diaries and making travel arrangements;
  • Processing incoming and outgoing mail, filing correspondence and maintaining;
  • Answering telephone calls, responding to inquiries and redirecting callers;
  • Taking and transcribing dictation of letters and other documents;
  • Greeting visitors, ascertaining nature of business and directing visitors to appropriate persons;
  • May implement management decisions and maintain records of meetings;
  • May handle bookkeeping and petty cash functions.

Supporting material for assessment

Applicants nominating this occupation may submit an organisational chart. An organisational chart should include the company letterhead, your job position and those of your superiors and subordinates as well as all positions reporting to your immediate supervisor and to your direct subordinates.

Applicants should also provide details of any relevant training or professional development courses undertaken. These may be detailed in the Curriculum Vitae/Resume provided.

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How to apply

If you're a professional choosing to migrate to Australia, chances are you're likely to be assessed by us. We assess 361 different professional occupations, assessing your skills, experience and qualifications.

1

Find

Find the VETASSESS occupation that most closely fits your skills and experience. 

2

Match

Match your skills and experience to your chosen occupation.

3

Prepare

Get ready to apply by preparing all the information and documents you need. 

4

Apply

Apply online when you’re ready. If you’re still unsure, skills assessment support is available when you need it.

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