Loopholes a dead cert
But Games organisers going ‘above and beyond’ to maximise security
LOOPHOLES which make Queensland the easiest place in Australia to get a security licence remain open as an army of 4200 security personnel is rallied for the Commonwealth Games.
A plan to improve security guard training has stalled since an audit was presented to the State Government in May, with the results yet to be released publicly.
The State review was ordered last August after federal regulator, the Australian Skills Quality Authority, shut down Queensland training organisation Peacemakers Security that was selling qualifications online without providing the necessary training.
While all states and territories require a Certificate III in Security Operations before issuing a security licence, some
Queensland organisations offer the courses online, cheaper and for shorter durations.
Bryan de Caires, CEO of the Australian Security Industry Association, said the sector had been lobbying for national licensing standards for years to ensure literacy, numeracy and competency of graduates was consistent.
He called on the State to release and act on their review as a matter of urgency.
“For us, it’s an absolute nobrainer — there should be the same qualifications nationally, the same probity and the same training standards,” Mr de Caires said.
“We keep saying it, but the message isn’t getting through.”
A national system of “mutual recognition” means people who gain a Queensland licence can transfer it to other states, avoiding stricter training.
A 2016 review by ASQA found evidence of security guards taking advantage of the transfer system, with just a quarter of guards working in NSW actually gaining a licence there.
The national review found “inconsistent licensing arrangements” posed a “fundamental challenge” to ensuring security personnel were able to operate safely.
Organisations in Queensland this week were advertising course durations for the certificate as short as five days, with some not requiring any face-toface training. The industry is pushing for courses that include three to four weeks face-to-face in the classroom.
ASQA flagged poor levels of language skills in course graduates as a risk, as verbal communication was often key to defusing dangerous situations.
Despite concerns over the wider system, Games organisers are confident the 1000 new guards recruited especially for next April’s event will be of the highest standard.
They will be required to complete the standard certificate course in person, subsidised by the State, as well as rigorous face Games-specific extra training.
Head of security Danny Baade said GOLDOC was building a “best-practice security workforce”.
“The GOLDOC security model, which will provide security in and around the venues, has been designed to complement the work being delivered by our security partners in Queensland Police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Defence Force.
“GC2018 will have the largest security operation this country has seen in a decade.”
It will be up to the four security companies contracted for GC2018 — MSS Security, SecureCorp Qld, Sydney Night Patrol and Wilson Security — to ensure the remaining 3200 guards, many existing licencereferring holders, are up to scratch. The contractors are free to select their own registered training organisations to train recruits under GOLDOC guidelines.
Results of the separate State Government audit were endorsed by Training and Skills Minister Yvette D’Ath in May, but her office could not say when they would be made public or what action she’d taken on it since.
“The Government is currently working with the Office of Fair Trading to implement the recommendations of the report,” her office said.
But the Office of Fair Trading could not say what the status of the review was either,
inquiries about it to the Training Ombudsman, who gave the same emailed quote as the Minister’s office.
Michael Lavarch, Acting Chief Commissioner of ASQA, said the training courses for security licences were under review and changes would be considered early next year — too late to affect Games personnel.
Mr Lavarch said the authority had cancelled the registration of three security training providers — Sage Academy Training, Premier Training Institute and Safety and First Aid Education — since shutting down Peacemakers last August.
Mr de Caires said the Games were a great opportunity for the private security sector to prove it was capable of delivering safe and secure major events.
“I am confident that the comprehensive risk mitigation measures being put in place for the 2018 Games and the strong collaborative relationship developed with private security providers, will ensure delivery of a safe and friendly Games. The organisers have gone above and beyond to mitigate any risk.”
FOR US, IT’S AN ABSOLUTE NO-BRAINER — THERE SHOULD BE THE SAME QUALIFICATIONS NATIONALLY, THE SAME PROBITY AND THE SAME TRAINING STANDARDS BRYAN DE CAIRES