Step Inside South Australia’s Courts Administration Authority: Your Fast-Track Guide to a Justice Career ⚖️🚀
If you’ve ever wondered what keeps the wheels of justice turning—from the Supreme Court to regional Magistrates Courts—look no further than the Courts Administration Authority (CAA). With nearly 650 staff, A$178 million in annual funding and a mission-critical digital platform that’s 99 percent paper-free, the CAA is a dynamic, statewide employer crying out for talent in law, tech, finance, security and customer service. Ready to see where your skills fit? Read on—this mobile-friendly explainer takes less than 60 seconds to scan and could change your career trajectory today.
AT-A-GLANCE
Name of Department / Council: Courts Administration Authority (South Australia)
Location: State-wide (head office: Sir Samuel Way Building, Adelaide CBD)
CEO: Ms Penny Croser, State Courts Administrator
Total Revenue: A$178.4 million (2023-24 total income)
Total Number of Employees: 647 headcount / 588.23 FTE (30 June 2024)
DID YOU KNOW? 🤔
Sheriff’s Officers welcomed 565,739 people through court security points last year—more than the population of Hobart!
After only two years in service, the Electronic Court Management System (CourtSA) lets the Magistrates and Youth Courts run 99 percent digital files, slashing paper and wait times.
THE QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO CAA
🎓 Top 5 Academic Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (LLB/JD) – vital for registry, policy and legal-officer roles.
Diploma of Justice Administration – equips frontline staff with procedural know-how.
Bachelor of Information Technology – supports CourtSA development and cybersecurity.
Bachelor of Business (Accounting/Finance) – manages A$178 m under Treasury rules.
Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security – safeguards sensitive digital evidence.
📜 Top 5 Certifications
Project Management Professional (PMP) – runs multi-million-dollar court projects.
PRINCE2 Practitioner – aligns with SA Government project methodology.
Certificate III in Court Administration – entry ticket to registry or security ops.
Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) – ensures public-sector financial compliance.
ITIL Service Management – underpins CourtSA help-desk excellence.
🛠️ Top 5 Trades / Professions
Sheriff’s Officer / Protective Security – keeps court precincts safe.
ICT Business Analyst – converts legal processes into digital workflows.
Records & Information Manager – curates evidence under strict acts.
Facilities Technician – maintains 19 metro & regional sites.
Learning & Development Advisor – powers staff inductions like “Our Courts, Our People”
💡 Top 5 Skills
Soft: Clear writing, conflict de-escalation, stakeholder negotiation, ethical judgment, resilience.
Technical: CourtSA case-management, SQL/data analytics, cybersecurity, policy drafting, TechOne finance.
General: Customer service, time management, Lean continuous-improvement, WHS awareness.
👔 Top 5 Work Experiences
Front-of-house or contact-centre service – mirrors CourtSA’s 170k+ annual enquiries .
Paralegal or clerk in private practice – aligns with daily registry tasks.
Military or emergency-services background – valued for discipline and risk management.
Government policy/program delivery – fits the SA Public-Sector framework.
Large-scale IT rollout – relevant to ongoing ECMS upgrades.
THE KEY FACTS
Name of Department: Courts Administration Authority
CEO: Penny Croser
Location: South Australia-wide
Year Founded: 1993 (via Courts Administration Act 1993)
Mission & Purpose: Provide courts and their users with services and facilities that enable the proper administration of justice—e.g., CourtSA’s 24/7 e-filing for the community .
Main Duties: Registry processing, jury management, courtroom security, digital evidence, IT support; for instance, the Sheriff’s Office empanelled 128 jury trials in 2023-24 .
Key Projects & Future Plans:
Port Lincoln “Boodliridi” Nunga Court—first new Aboriginal sentencing court since 2023
Five-year Strategic Plan refresh—staff & stakeholder consultations underway
District Courtroom upgrades (Rooms 8 & 18)—supporting multi-defendant “Operation Ironside” trials
THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE
Total Employees: 647 (headcount) / 588.23 FTE
Employees by Pay Level (snapshot):
Executives: 6 positions across Levels A-C
Judicial Officers: 89 positions spanning A$206k → A$886k
Administrative & Operational Staff: ASO1–ASO8 and Sheriff grades (registry, security, ICT).
Salary Bands:
ASO1 A$52k → ASO8 A$115k (2024 SA Public Sector)
Sheriff’s Officer A$65k–A$83k
Executive Level A$166k+
Average Salary: ~A$90.5k (employee spend ÷ headcount).
Total Revenue: A$178.4 million
Average Revenue per Employee: ~A$275.7k
GETTING A JOB AT THE CAA 📝
Which Academic Subjects Are Valued?
Certificate / Diploma Level
Justice Studies, Government, Security, Business Admin, ICT Support—fast entry to registry & security teams.
Bachelor / Master Level
Law, Criminology, Cybersecurity, Accounting, Project Management, HR—feed legal, digital and corporate streams.
PhD
Legal Research, Data Science, Psychology—drive analytics, policy and specialist advisory roles.
Trades & Professions in Demand
Security & Enforcement (Sheriff)
ICT Developers & Analysts
Finance & Audit officers
Records Managers
L&D Specialists
Work Experiences Valued
Customer contact (courts, banking, call-centres)
Complex stakeholder coordination (projects, events)
Major IT implementations
Regulatory or compliance roles
High-pressure logistics (defence, police, ambulance)
Skills That Shine
Soft skills: Empathy with distressed users, concise writing, calm conflict management, agile mindset.
Technical skills: SQL reporting, cyber protocols, MS Project scheduling, digital evidence handling.
General skills: Public-sector procurement, WHS, Lean or Kaizen improvement.
Hobbies & Interests That Align
Community volunteering or legal-aid clinics
Coding side-projects / hackathons
Debate clubs & public speaking
True-crime podcasts & legal history
Team sports (discipline & teamwork)
Want more information?
Website: https://www.courts.sa.gov.au
Jobs Portal: https://iworkfor.sa.gov.au (search “Courts Administration Authority”)
General Enquiries: enquiry@courts.sa.gov.au | +61 8 8204 2444
Head Office: 1 Gouger Street, Adelaide SA 5000
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DISCLAIMER
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available information, including annual reports. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the information on this article. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection, with the use of this article.