These pages provide an overview of the Security Sector including:
Security workforce
The Security Sector of the property services industry is growing exponentially and covers investigative services, security operations such as guarding, crowd control, control room operations and dog handling, plus higher level security and risk management services. The fastest growing sector is technical security that includes installing electronic alarm systems and providing security monitoring services.
The sector comprises people and companies mainly engaged in providing security, protection and private enquiry services - other than units of police forces and government security agencies. The sector covers a wide range of occupations, products and services. These can be categorised into three broad service areas:
§ Electronic security – Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and surveillance, access control, video and audio intercom systems, integrated security and fire systems, home automation, building management systems, biometrics, alarms and alarm monitoring.
§ Manpower/guarding – crowd control, airport security, guard services, mobile patrols, concierge duties, traffic management, emergency response, cash-in-transit services and risk assessments.
§ Physical/barrier security – locksmiths, perimeter fencing patrols, security grill, bollards and boom gate installation, safes installation and maintenance, and records protection.
The sector also covers specialist services in investigations and risk management application.
There is an estimated security workforce of approximately 150,000. Guarding and security officer occupations alone are expected to grow by 3.2% over the next 5 years to nearly 51,000. The sector includes several major companies, international enterprises, plus many smaller operators at the general guarding/crowd control and investigative services end of the market.
Emerging trends in the sector
Apart from a general strong growth in demand for security services due to outsourcing of previous police or defence forces security roles, there is a very significant trend toward electronic security services. This includes sophisticated techniques in the biometrics area, radio frequency ID {tagging} and RFID3 chip technology for controlling access to premises as well as wireless home security systems. Latest developments are in CCTV mesh networks to cover very large areas with seamless surveillance. These types of technologies and new electronic security techniques will be in common use in the medium term for both private enterprise and government security measures.
GPS tracking of goods is already part of the transport and logistics industry operational practice and it is beginning to integrate with security considerations in much the way that communications and information technology already have. This indicates that the sector will require more highly skilled specialist technicians and equipment operators to take full advantage of the technology introduced. This impacts not just on new entrants to the sector, but also on the upskilling of many in the current workforce.
Training environment
The sector has invested heavily in the development of competency-based training in recent years with nationally endorsed units of competency and a Training Package first implemented in 1998. There are over 140 RTOs offering security training based on the Property Services Training Package or accredited courses. Targeted training is behind many of the advances of the Security Sector to meet industry and regulator compliance requirements and upgrade the skills of the workforce.
The sector is regulated by registration and/or licensing in all states and territories with licensing linked to training requirements at the Certificate II and III levels, as well as criminal record clearance. Licensing of security guards and particular attention for those carrying firearms, has required nationally consistent programs based on the Training Package competencies and qualifications to ensure that regulatory authorities, departments of Fair Trading and Police, can reliably recognise the necessary skills of security personnel working in high risk situations.
The most recent review of the nationally endorsed units and qualifications for the Security Sector resulted in modifications to each major functional area, ie:
§ Biometrics
§ Security operations
§ Investigative services
§ Security and risk management
§ Technical security
Biometrics
Biometrics is a new area within VET. Nine biometrics units of competency were added to existing qualifications and endorsed in January 2007. They represent for the first time, the outcomes and critical functions and activities required to assess, implement and monitor biometric systems within a security context in Australia.
Biometrics is the study of the physical characteristics of a person to ultimately distinguish one person exclusively from all others. Techniques include, for example, analysing the pattern on a fingertip, analysing the shape of a hand or ear, analysing patterns in the iris, facial recognition etc.
The biometrics units of competency are contained within qualifications for security operations, technical security, and security and risk management across Certificate II to Diploma. This includes a skill set for ‘Biometrics Consulting and Advice’ which meets industry requirements for specialist biometrics security consultants and advisors working within security operations.
Security operations
Security operations includes qualifications from Certificate I to III covering functions such as crowd control, guarding and personal protection, airport security and screening, dog handling, mobile patrols, monitoring centre and control room operations, concierge duties, and cash-in-transit services.
Security operations also includes key units of competency for firearms and defensive tactics covering the carriage and use of firearms and associated weapons of restraint, namely batons, handcuffs and capsicum spray, by private security agents and guards.
The qualifications structure for security operations centres around three key units of competency covering the most critical functions for security operatives:
§ identifying and reporting security risk situations (Certificate I)
§ responding to security risk situations (Certificate II)
§ determining response to security risk situations (Certificate III).
The Certificate I qualification has recently been updated, offering for the first time, a pre-vocational qualification which provides critical underpinning knowledge which can be applied on-the-job using higher qualifications for security operations. This includes specific coverage of requirements related to aviation security training and the use of specialist screening equipment (eg wands, x-ray, walk through metal detection, and Explosive Trace Detection equipment).
In addition, the CPP07 Property Services Training Package incorporates a number of skill sets for security operations covering monitoring centre, retail security and control room operations, and services related to cash-in-transit, firearms and defensive tactics, and managing dogs for security functions.
Investigative services
Investigative services functions are covered by a Certificate III qualification that includes competencies in both factual investigation and surveillance areas. In addition, four new skills sets are available for investigations, factual investigation, surveillance and higher level functions relating to coordinating investigations.
Security and risk management
Security and risk management functions are covered by two qualifications at the Certificate IV and Diploma levels. Security and risk management units of competency have been revised to account for the requirements of AS/NZS 4360:2004 Risk management and the Standards Australia Security Risk Management Handbook (HB 167:2006 Security Risk Management). These provide both the Australian Standard for security risk management processes, and guidance for ensuring those processes are firmly grounded on the principles determined by the Standard.
Technical security
Technical security functions are covered by two qualifications at the Certificate II and III levels that focus on the sale and installation of security equipment.
Qualifications framework for the Security Sector
There are eight qualifications ranging from Certificate I to Diploma for the Security Sector. The entry level qualification is Certificate I, however, licensing and regulatory requirements determine that Certificate II is the minimum level for a security worker to be operational or ‘on the job’.
Units of competency developed for industry functions that are also covered by licensing have been packaged within qualifications in such as way as to relate easily to licensing requirements.
The packaging rules of qualifications provide a great degree of flexibility. In general, they allow the selection of elective units from both within the CPP07 Training Package, and other endorsed Training Packages, as well as from one AQF level above and below the level of the qualification.
The individual qualifications structure including packaging rules for the Security Sector is shown below. Remember to check the NTIS website for the latest version of the qualifications and units of competency they contain.
|
Qualification code |
Qualification title |
AQF alignment |
|
CPP10107 |
1 |
|
|
CPP20207 |
2 |
|
|
CPP20307 |
2 |
|
|
CPP30407 |
3 |
|
|
CPP30507 |
3 |
|
|
CPP30607 |
3 |
|
|
CPP40707 |
4 |
|
|
CPP50607 |
5 |
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Skill sets for the Security Sector
Skill sets provide additional pathways to recognised training for people wishing to pursue career advancement or skills development without taking up a full qualification. Eleven skill sets are available for the security sector. These have been developed in consultation with industry, to meet skills development requirements for flexibility where whole qualifications do not meet the needs of specific groups (for example monitoring centre operators who are not required to perform patrol, guarding, crowd control operations etc).
The skill sets for the Security Sector and a summary of their intended audience, are listed below. Remember to check the NTIS website for the latest version of the skill sets and units of competency they contain.
|
Skill set |
Audience |
|
Security operatives who work specifically in a retail environment (eg department store). |
|
|
Security operatives who have already attained the necessary qualifications and/or licence in other security areas, but who wish to work in a basic cash-in-transit function |
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People in the Security Sector working in a specialised monitoring centre who are not operatives required to undertake guarding and protection functions. |
|
|
People in the Security Sector who elect to move into investigative functions and require a pathway into the specialist investigative services qualification at Certificate III. |
|
|
Security operatives who wish to gain specialist skills or obtain a licence, in firearms and defensive tactics for security purposes. |
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Security operatives who want to specialise in functions related to monitoring security from a control room. |
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Security operatives who maintain security using dogs for patrolling and guarding functions. |
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Investigators who wish to specialise in factual investigation functions and who do not conduct surveillance operations. |
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Investigators who wish to specialise in surveillance functions and who do not conduct factual investigations. |
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Experienced biometrics consultants and advisors working within the Security Sector. |
|
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Experienced investigators who provide leadership, coordinate and manage investigations cases. |
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Units of competency for the Security Sector
The Security Sector has been redeveloped with 112 sector-specific, and 40 imported units of competency. These provide greater coverage of industry functions, and also accommodate emerging skills needs, for example in the area of biometrics.
The increasing importance and evolving nature of security has also required coverage of emerging security functions relating to general security awareness (including counter-terrorism), health security, security of critical infrastructure, responsible service of alcohol, retail security, and aviation security.
Click HERE to view a complete listing of Security Sector units and the individual descriptor and statement of workplace application for each. To view the complete units of competency, visit the NTIS website.
Imported units of competency in security qualifications
Within Security Sector qualifications, extensive use has been made of endorsed units of competency drawn from other Training Packages. The imported units of competency cover generic cross-industry functions. These units are accessed from the following Training Packages which can be accessed via the NTIS website:
- BSB07 Business Services Training Package
- FNS04 Financial Services Training Package
- HLT07 Health Training Package
- ICT02 Telecommunications Training Package
- PSP04 Public Sector Training Package
- TDT02 Transport and Distribution Training Package.
Click HERE to view a summary of the imported units of competency from these Training Packages, and the Security Sector qualifications that they have been packaged within.
