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Monitoring Centre Operator - Danny's Story

Danny O'Kane

Danny works as a monitoring centre operator. Until recently he was working for RonTech Security, which was bought by ART Security in July 2009.

His job involves data entry, responding to different types of alarms such as industrial and residential, and analysing CCTV footage input. Data input relates to updating client requests with regard to follow up action after their alarm has gone off. Responses to alarms are handled within a given timeframe in line with Australian standard procedures for each type of alarm. He also handles enquiries and directs calls to areas such as service or sales.

Danny Workstation

Different types of alarms can be identified by the different colours displayed on monitoring screens. There are priorities for duress or hold-ups, there are door reader alarms, glass break sensor alarms, heat sensor alarms and external beams. He responds to each alarm in a different way. Responses include notifying the client’s nominated person, calling the police for a particular duress alarm, calling an ambulance for medical alarms or sending a security patrolman to attend to an alarm.

The monitoring centre is a 24 hour operation with a rotating roster and up to nine staff working on the weekly rotating shifts. He works 40 hours over four days. His shift is 7am – 5 pm.

What Danny enjoys most about his job are the flexible hours and the varied range of work. He says you can’t know everything when you walk into a job, and he really appreciates the fact that he’s learning something new every day and gaining a good grounding which will lead to other areas of security work in the future. Installation and servicing of alarms and integrated systems are areas of particular interest to him.

To enter the industry Danny completed the Certificate II in Security Operations. He’s always keen to keep learning and has completed several other courses, such as trainer and assessor training, the Diploma of Security Management, an OH& S course, as well as a fire warden and first aid course. The company encourages and supports staff to attend training that will benefit their performance at work.

Danny believes employment prospects in the industry are excellent. The more technology evolves, the cheaper it will get and the more the general public will be security conscious and embrace electronic security technology for their homes and businesses.

Danny has a young family and the work hours allow him to spend time with his daughter. He enjoys working out at the gym and continues to work part time in his previous employment area of manpower, as well as doing some training at a local TAFE.