How to Upskill in the Security Industry
So, you’ve completed your Certificate II in Security Operations, you have your security licence, and you’ve been working as a security guard and loving it! It’s just the right job for you and you’re excited to go to work every day.
But now you’re wondering, what is the next step in my career?
How do you upskill in security?
Here is our complete guide on how to upskill in the security industry.
When it comes to upskilling in the security industry, your path to progress will depend entirely on where you want to end up in the vast and varied world of security.
Do you want to remain hands-on and expand your abilities? Do you want to niche down into a specific area of guarding work? Or are you interested in getting out of the field into a management position or even moving into tech security?
There are many different ways you can go with security. We’ll begin with the accelerated courses and short courses that will keep you out in the field; being a hands-on security guard.
Batons and Handcuffs
You may have wondered, when is a security guard allowed to use batons and handcuffs? The answer is when they have completed this course, have the authority from their employer and a genuine reason.
This batons and handcuffs skillset covers two units – controlling persons using baton and restraining persons using handcuffs.
This course enables you to work in positions that require you to use a baton or handcuffs in your capacity as a security officer.
This course is taught through a one-day face-to-face workshop at our North Lakes Location. The two units that make up this skill set are also taught as part of the larger course Firearms and Defensive Tactics.
Firearms and Defensive tactics
The Firearms and Defensive tactics course is the course you’ll require to get an armed security guard licence in Queensland. This course includes the modules taught in our batons and handcuffs course as well as how to:
- Carry, operate and maintain revolvers for security purposes
- Carry, operate and maintain semi-automatic pistols for security purposes
- Carry, operate and maintain shotguns for security purposes
- Manage conflict and security risks using negotiation
- Determine and implement response to security risk situation
- Maintain operational safety and security of the work environment
- Control security risk situations using firearms
- Demonstrate the safe use of category H firearms
The course is delivered over a six-day face-to-face workshop at our North Lakes campus. Upon completion of this course, you would be able to apply for an armed security guard licecse through Weapons Licensing and work as a plain clothes armed security guard, an armed security guard or an armed cash-in-transit guard provided you have also completed the cash-in-transit course.
Cash-in-Transit
The Cash-in-Transit skill set provides students with the skills to work as a cash-in-transit guard. These guards are responsible for restocking the ATMs, transporting large sums of cash and other valuables such as jewellery or precious objects.
Guards who work in these roles are often also licensed armed guards, which is why this course is often taken in conjunction with the Firearms and Defensive tactics course.
The Cash-in-Transit skill set is delivered in one day face-to-face workshop at our North Lakes campus and the course covers:
- How to inspect and test cash-in-transit security equipment and rectify faults.
- How to Implement cash-in-transit security procedures
- How to load and unload cash-in-transit secured and unsecured environments.
If you’d like to learn more about this course and becoming a cash-in-transit guard, you can check out the course here.
Airport Security
With the borders opening and the world returning to the new normal, it seems like the perfect time to shift into a career in airport security.
If you are exceptionally observant and able to maintain a high level of awareness you might be a good fit for a position in airport security.
Airport security staff are specialists in monitoring behavior and scanning for contraband. They use their superior skills to help keep the staff and the public at airports safe both on the land and in the air.
People who complete this course can go on to work in airport security or in any security setting where metal detectors and X-ray machines are regularly used such as government facilities.
The course is taught over a five-day face-to-face workshop at our North Lakes, Gold Coast and Melbourne locations with some online study required before and after the workshop.
The course covers everything you could need to know about working in airport security, you can find out more about this course here.
Bodyguarding
If you’re fascinated by the idea of becoming a bodyguard then this is the right career move for you. The Certificate III in Close Protections Operations is the course you would need to do to work as a bodyguard.
A close protection operative or bodyguard is the person who oversees keeping a specific person or persons safe from harm. Close protection operatives are responsible for making judgement calls and working often alone or with limited supervision.
This high-flying and well-compensated area of security work is a challenging and rewarding career for the right candidate. This course is not quite available yet, but you can add your name to the waiting list to be contacted as soon as we have more information on it.
Certificate III in Security Operations
The Certificate III in Security Operations is the next step up for those wanting to stay out in the field in security but level up for the next phase of their careers. Completing this course will help you to deepen your understanding of the security industry and broaden your skill set for the job.
The course will cover how to:
- Contribute to team effectiveness
- Manage conflict and security risks through negotiation
- Maintain operational safety and security of work environment
- Determine and implement response to security risk situation
- Coordinate monitoring and control of individual and crowd behaviour
- Coordinate provision of quality security services to clients
- Gather, organise and present security information and documentation
- Maintain work health and safety
- Respond effectively to behaviours of concern
- Store, protect and dispose of security information
- Use and maintain security databases and compile reports
- Prepare and present evidence in court
- Implement security procedures to protect critical infrastructure and public assets
- Control evacuation to muster point
This course is taught online, and you have the option to complete through standard online delivery which is one unit per month for up to 12 months or accelerated online delivery which is two units per month for up to six months. You can learn more about the course here.
Moving up to Management
What if you’ve been working in the security industry for a little while now and you’re ready to level up and shift gears into a management role? If this, is you, then you’re looking for the Certificate IV in Security Management .
This course is all about equipping security officers to work in supervisory roles, manage a team of their own and navigate the complex legislative and regulatory contracting arrangements.
The course will teach you how to:
- Manage work health and safety in the security work environment
- Assess and advise on client security needs
- Facilitate security operations briefing and debriefing processes
- Establish and implement ethics and governance arrangements for security businesses
- Coordinate business resources
- Coordinate recruitment and onboarding
- Establish legal and risk management requirements of new business ventures
- Implement contracting arrangements for security businesses
- Lead effective workplace relationships
- Lead team effectiveness
- Develop personal work priorities
- Supervise security operations
This course is offered through self-paced, trainer-supported online study. You can start anytime and study from anywhere in Australia.
The course can take anywhere from six months to twelve months depending on your delivery mode. You can learn more about the course here.
Security Risk Analyst
If you’ve got a fastidious streak and you have a knack for assessing risk and applying controls, then this course might be the right upskill for you. Security Risk Analysts work with companies to assess both digital and physical threats and create a strategy to negate as much risk as possible. They are often times working on securing security systems and large-scale events or premises with high volume traffic.
In this course you will learn how to:
- Assess and advise on client security needs
- Conduct security risk assessment of client operations
- Identify security threats and assess impact on client operations
- Assess security vulnerabilities of assets
- Establish and implement ethics and governance arrangements for security businesses
- Advise on advanced technology security systems to meet client needs
- Assess security of crowded places
- Advise on operational requirements to maintain crowded place security
- Communicate security awareness
- Develop security risk management plans
- Handle sensitive information
- Assess security risk management options
This course is delivered through self-paced online study, so it’s a great course to upskill with if you are working full time as you can fit it in when it suits you. A trainer is assigned to support you along the way. The course can take anywhere from six to twelve months depending on the delivery mode and how quickly you work through the units. You can learn more about this course here.
Cyber Security
If you are tech savvy and you’re looking to expand your skillset and take what you understand about the principles of security and go digital, then this is the course for you! Cyber security specialists are in high demand. The industry cannot keep up with the growing need for these specialists in every different facet of the online world. There’s never been a better time to become a cyber security expert.
The Certificate IV in Cyber Security is the course you will need to get started on this excited career path. The course will teach you how to:
- Implement and monitor WHS policies, procedures and programs to meet legislative requirements
- Analyse and present research information
- Communicate information
- Contribute to copyright, ethics and privacy in an ICT environment
- Write script for software applications
- Utilise basic network concepts and protocols required in cyber security
- Test concepts and procedures for cyber security
- Recognise the need for cyber security in an organisation
- Implement network security infrastructure for an organisation
- Develop a cyber security industry project
- Secure a networked personal computer
- Perform basic cyber security data analysis
- Expose website security vulnerabilities
- Manage risks involving ICT systems and technology
- Review and update disaster recovery and contingency plans
You can learn more about this course here.
Government Security
If you’re looking for something a bit different, consider upskilling into the government security industry. Government security is a perfect choice for anyone who wants to work in a growth area with excellent benefits and job security.
There are different streams you can specialise in.
Certificate IV in Government Security
This course is specifically designed to address and supply an overview of the regulations, specifications and occupational competencies of working in the government security. This course suits someone wanting to get their foot in the door but not specifically trying to move into a specialised area of government security at this stage.
Certificate IV in Government Security (Personnel Vetting)
This course addresses both the initial requirements to work in government security and the specialised skill set needed to work in personnel vetting. Working in personnel vetting will require solid investigative skills and detailed personnel assessments to protect sensitive material and make sure only suitable individuals are granted access.
Certificate IV in Government Security (Fraud Control)
If you’re interested in catching people out in a lie, this might be the right course for you. Fraud control whilst also covering all necessary particulars of the legislative and ethical implications of government security, specialises in monitoring and catching fraudsters.
Certificate IV in Government Security (Regulatory Compliance)
This course is perfect for anyone who is a stickler for the rules. If you have a great memory and real interest in legislation and regulation this could be the right career path for you!
The course will help you to gain all the skills necessary to assess compliance and apply regulatory powers in the role.
We hope this list of ways to upskill in security has been helpful. If you are not sure which direction you want to go in to upskill in the security industry, get in touch with one of our friendly course advisors and they will be able to help you decide on the right course and direction for you.