Getting a Security Job In Brisbane
If you’re thinking about making a move into security, congratulations! The security industry has been thriving in Queensland and our capital city, Brisbane is no exception.
Security is an exciting and varied industry, from crowd control to roving patrol, here’s all the different kinds of security jobs in Brisbane.
Crowd Control Jobs
In Brisbane there is no shortage of events, venues and nightlife. From the venues and clubs in Fortitude Valley to plays at the Powerhouse and concerts at Suncorp stadium, there’s something for everyone.
This also means there is every kind of crowd control security work going in Brisbane. Whether you’re a night owl who wants to take the late shifts at the clubs or a music lover who wants to be paid to manage the crowds for concerts at Suncorp Stadium, there’s something to suit you.
Crowd control means managing the crowds at venues, leading people to the correct exit, making sure people are following the rules of the venue and helping people.
Concierge (corporate security) Jobs
You’ll find these hard-working, well-spoken and impeccably dressed guards manning the reception desk of Brisbane’s swankiest hotels or working in the lobby of the large government or corporate buildings.
Concierge or corporate security suits those guards who are great with people, excellent communicators and excellent at customer service. There are plenty of concierge security jobs in Brisbane.
Gatehouse Jobs
At every Brisbane logistics centre, industrial strip and factory you’ll find a gatehouse guard. It’s their job to check the credentials of everyone trying to gain entry into the facility.
Gatehouse guards often work alone and do long shifts through the night. You’ll have to be comfortable working on your own and you’ll have to have excellent attention to detail. Gatehouse staff are often also responsible for monitoring CCTV footage and doing periodic patrols of the facility.
Retail Security Jobs
Westfield, the Queen Street Mall and even your local shopping centre have retail security guards. In retail security there is a big focus on customer service and helping people.
You’ll often be assisting people, handling situations like children who have lost their parents or helping people navigate the shopping centre. This role is all about helping people and staying calm in stressful situations.
Roving Patrol Jobs
The security cars that you see driving around and parked outside of buildings at night are roving patrols. It’s their job to drive to 20 or 30 different buildings in a shift and do a patrol to check that the security system is set and nothing bad is happening in the building.
Roving patrol guards need to be confident drivers and navigators, comfortable working long shifts alone and physically fit to walk up and down a lot of stairs on their patrols.
CIT (Cash in Transit) Jobs
Cash in Transit guards are the guys who you see refilling the ATMs, or in some cases the guys who you don’t notice who are collecting thousands of dollars at the drive through at McDonalds.
Cash in Transit guards can be uniformed and armed or operating unarmed and in plain clothes, but these guards are responsible for the moving high value cargo around from one place to another.
To get into Cash-in-Transit guarding you need to complete the Cash-in-Transit skill set and if you would like to be considered for armed positions, you’ll also need to do the Firearms and Defensive Tactics course. This exciting and coveted area of security is high-paying and often times a job you pursue after working in security for a while.
Control Room Jobs
You may have never seen the inside of a control room with CCTV footage but believe me they have seen you. These guards are hidden away from the public view, monitoring the CCTV footage and making sure that no-one is breaking any rules. Most places you go have CCTV footage set up somewhere, so you’ve definitely been caught on camera but hopefully you weren’t doing something you weren’t meant to.
To work in the control room, you’ll need excellent attention to detail and the ability to maintain focus on long shifts. There is a lot of rotating shift work in this area of security, so you’ll need to be comfortable working nights as well.
How do you get into security?
Breaking into the security industry is easier than you might think. There is a lot of work going and the process is not a long as other skilled jobs.
What security course do I need?
To begin with you’ll need to complete the Certificate II in Security Operations. This course is taught in a 8 day face to face workshop (varies between states) with some online work required before and after the course.
In the course you’ll learn everything you need to know in order to excel in the security industry including; communication skills, conflict resolution skills, negotiation skills, risk assessment, emergency procedures, patrolling, screening, monitoring and more.
How much for a security course?
The full fee for service cost of this course is $1500 but most people are able to access some government funding to help with the cost of the course. The most common government funding (in QLD) is the Certificate 3 Guarantee funding. This funding is open to anyone who:
- Has not completed or is enrolled in a certificate 3 or higher, excluding certificates completed in school.
- Is 15 years or older and no longer at school.
- Permanently resides in Queensland
- Is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen.
If you’re successful in gaining this funding it will bring the cost of the course down to a small student co-contribution fee or either $42 or $14 if you hold a current concession card.
If you’re interested in knowing more about getting into the exciting field of security, you can check out the course here, or book in to attend one of our free information sessions here.
Make sure to also check out the security licensing requirements in QLD.