Commissioners Information Bulletin 275
Issued: 23 December 2005

Security - Variation of the Vocational Training Order (VTO) for the recognised traineeship vocation of Asset Security

At the request of the Property Services Industry Training Advisory Body, the Commissioner for Vocational Training has approved the variation to the existing Vocational Training Order (VTO) for the recognised traineeship vocation of Asset Security under section 6 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001.

The amended VTO highlights new qualifications from the revised PRS03 Asset Security Training Package, endorsed by the National Training Quality Council on 19 March 2003. Two qualifications are aligned to six licensing outcomes.

Vocational Training Order Standard Format

The VTO in each instance may make reference to:

• the appropriate term or terms for apprenticeships or traineeships in that vocation
• the appropriate probationary period or periods for apprenticeships or traineeships in that vocation, having regard to the term or terms specified for them under paragraph (a)
• the appropriate qualification or qualifications that may be awarded in relation to an apprenticeship or traineeship in that vocation
• any other training to be provided in addition to the training required for an appropriate qualification
• such other matters relating to the training of apprentices or trainees in that vocation as the Commissioner considers appropriate.

A copy of the relevant revised VTO supporting the recognised traineeship vocation of Asset Security is at Attachment A.

Asset Security Training Package PRS03

The security industry consists of individuals and companies mainly engaged in providing security, protection or private enquiry services. Primary activities include: security guarding; mobile patrols; crowd control; major event security; access control; security alarms; closed circuit TV; investigation/ enquiry; surveillance; risk assessments; emergency response; and cash services.

The Asset Security Training Package was first developed and endorsed in 1998 (PRS98) and in line with the continuous improvement policy, has undergone a formal review of all qualifications. As a consequence, there have been significant changes made to the original Training Package. These changes include:

• Increase in the flexibility of qualifications, with a total of eight qualifications available across the three streams of Security Operations, Technical Security and Investigative Services:
• Security Operations (includes qualifications from Certificate II to the Diploma level covering the movement of a basic security operative into management areas)
• Technical Security (includes two qualifications at the Certificate II and Certificate III levels that focus on the sales and installation of security equipment)
• Investigative Services (consists of a Certificate III qualification that covers both factual investigation and surveillance)
• some qualifications have been merged to better reflect industry needs
• units of competency have been redrafted or modified in line with the latest industry guidelines
• new units of competency have been developed to cover new activity areas.

During the review of the Training Package, extensive industry consultation occurred, with significant participation by industry representatives from all states and territories, as well as input from representatives of licensing and regulatory authorities, including the Australian Police Ministers’ Council.

Qualifications

The National Asset Security Qualifications:

• are based directly on national industry competency standards
• are based on jobs in the industry and workplace requirements rather than courses and curriculum
• allow training to be structured and delivered through a range of pathways
• can be achieved on-the-job
• allow for the recognition of existing competencies of workers.

Qualifications in the revised Training Package range from Certificate I to Diploma across Security Operations, Technical Security and Investigative Services.

A chart displaying the qualification structure of the Asset Security Training Package (PRS03) is at Attachment B.

For the purpose of the revised VTO, trainees in New South Wales in Asset Security will have the option of gaining these six out of the eight available qualifications:

Certificate II in Security Operations PRS20103
Certificate II in Technical Security PRS20203
Certificate III in Security Operations PRS30103
Certificate III in Technical Security PRS30203
Certificate III in Investigative Services PRS30303
Certificate IV in Security and Risk Management PRS40103.

Units of competency

Each qualification is made up of core and elective units. The core units for each qualification ensure the integrity of the qualification and the choice of elective units provides flexibility.

Within the PRS03 Asset Security Training Package, it is possible to achieve a general or a specialist outcome by selecting either units focussed on a particular specialist area or units covering a wider range of skills. The packaging maximises choice, giving individuals and enterprises the opportunity to combine competencies in ways that suit them.

In addition to Asset Security competency standards, the qualification structure allows for two of the elective units of competence to be chosen from other relevant industry Training Packages. Alternative Training Packages include:

• Public Safety
• Retail
• Business Services
• Assessment and Workplace Training.

Electives should be selected so that the qualification outcome is in accordance with the distinguishing features of each qualification as outlined in the Australian Qualifications Implementation Handbook. When units are selected from other Training Packages, the assessment requirements of those Training Packages must be met.

The packaging and combination of standards required for each traineeship pathway are outlined at Attachment C.

Industrial arrangements

Industrial arrangements are in place as follows.

Security Operations and Technical Security

Awards

• Security Industry (NSW) Award 1996 – ODN C No. 21023 OF 1993) – AS VARIED
• Security Industry (Group 4 and ALHMWU) Traineeship Award NSW 1998 – IRC No. 6703 1998
• Retail Services Employees State Award (1995)

Enterprise Agreements

• ACES & LHMU Enterprise Agreement 1999
• City Western Security Enterprise Agreement 1999
• Yennora Warehouse Security Officers Agreements 1999
• Kingswood and Newington Depots Agreement IRC98/209
• Brambles Industrial Services – Transport Agreement IRC 98/1823
• Brinks Australia Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement IRC99/253
• Brambles Armoured (NSW) Agreement IRC97/336
• Brambles Armoured (NSW) Agreement IRC98/5557

Industrial agreements related to wages entitlements for trainees in specific vocations have been specified in the Award. Variation [S0609] – SECURITY INDUSTRY NSW AWARD 1996 indicates that:

• WAGES: The weekly wages payable to Trainees shall be as provided in this clause.

A Trainee’s weekly wage rate shall be the relevant weekly wage rates which will otherwise have applied under this award or proportionately for part-time employees provided that off the job training shall be unpaid

Investigative Services

The Investigative Services sector is not covered by industrial awards and as such the conditions and arrangements of the National Training Wage Award shall apply for traineeships in the investigative services stream.

Notes – 1) Applications under the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 to establish any traineeship or apprenticeship will not be approved unless the Commissioner is satisfied that appropriate industrial arrangements are in place.

2) Applications for Security Operations traineeships will not be approved until advice has been received from the Security Industry Registry that the new Security Industry Amendment Act 2005 has taken effect.

Vocational Education in Schools

The PSITAB has advised that currently, industry does not support the delivery of training for security and investigative services in schools.

Provisional licences

The exemption from licensing that has currently existed for Security industry traineeships will be removed, with the introduction of the new traineeship pathways. Under the new arrangements, persons proposing to undertake a traineeship in the security industry must hold a provisional licence. To receive this licence, candidates must undertake the pre-licence accredited course. Embedded in the course is the Certificate I in Security Operations PRS10103 along with additional modules of learning. Learners exit with a Certificate I in Security Operations.

The pre-licensing course was developed by TAFE NSW, in consultation with NSW Police, and the PSITAB as well as industry representatives and officers from the NSW Department of Education and Training. The course has been approved by the Commissioner of Police.

The pre-licensing course provides new entrants with the fundamental knowledge necessary to obtain a provisional licence and subsequently a job in the industry. Provisional licences will be issued for one year and will entitle the holder to work, in their chosen area of the industry, under the appropriate supervision of a fully licensed person. During this year, provisional licencees will be assessed in the work place and when deemed competent, will be eligible to apply for a full licence. Provisional licence holders will not automatically be permitted to engage in armed security activities .

To be eligible to receive a full licence, trainees will need to complete the units of competency relevant to their category or categories of licence. Those qualifications will usually equate to a Certificate II and/or a Certificate III in Security Operations.

Full Licences

Security operations

People who are engaged in any areas of the security industry require either a Class One or Class Two Licence. To obtain a licence under either category, candidates must be employed by a Master Licence Holder.

The Security Industry Amendment Act (2003) and Regulations 2005 provide for new requirements related to the licensing of security personnel in New South Wales. These include:

• mandatory criminal records clearance for persons wishing to undertake training in the industry (no conviction recorded of prescribed offences within the last five years)
• potential trainees acquiring a provisional licence
• trainees holding the provisional licence for a minimum of 12 months before being eligible to hold a full Class One license in any nominated class or stream.

Class One licences are required for any person performing services of static, mobile and general guarding as well as crowd control, control room/ monitoring centre operations, body guarding, dog handling and loss prevention. Class One licences are divided into three subclasses. Under the new arrangements, the categories of Class One licence will increase from three to seven. Each category will require the holder to have skills relevant to the activities authorised by the licence, as follows:

• Class 1A: authorises the licensee to patrol, guard, watch or protect property (including guarding of cash in transit)
• Class 1B: authorises the licensee to act as a bodyguard
• Class 1C: authorises the licensee to act as a crowd controller or bouncer
• Class 1D: authorizes the licensee to act as a security dog handler
• Class 1E: authorizes the licensee to act as a central monitoring station operator
• Class 1F: authorizes the licensee to act as an armed security officer
• Class 1G: authorizes the licensee to act as a retail loss prevention officer

Traineeship pathways are available for licence Classes 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1G. There are no traineeships available for licence Class1F, due to regulatory and legislative arrangements for the carrying and use of firearms. Further training would be required for the use of firearms before a firearms licence could be issued.

To be eligible for a full (Class One) licence, candidates will need to complete the units of competency relevant to their category or categories of licence. The units for each class one category are as follows.

A distinct feature of the new traineeships in Security Operations is the linking of nationally recognised qualifications to licensing requirements. After 12 months of on and off the job training (traineeship), candidates will be eligible to apply for a full licence. Candidates must complete the full term of the traineeship to be eligible to apply for a full licence. Early completion of a training contract may be granted in some circumstances but a full licence will not be issued until the equivalent of 12 months on-the-job experience has been completed.

Technical Security

The relevant class in the sub-class for qualifications other than Security Operations is Class 2C, which authorises the licensee to install, repair, service or maintain security equipment – Technical Security.

Investigative Services

Licencees in this sector are required to operate as a private or commercial enquiry agent. Such licences are issued through a local court under the requirements and conditions of the Private Enquiry and Commercial Agents Act. Full or Sub –Agents licences may be applied for with TAFE NSW training requirements currently being used as a condition of licensing.

Learning resources and assessment materials

Availability of non-endorsed components of the Training package to support the new arrangements

A range of non-endorsed and endorsed components have been developed for Security and Investigative Services and are available through www.nswcccn.net or www.skillsonline.net.au or on CD Rom. Additional information on each unit of competence can be obtain from www.ntis.gov.au

A candidate learner kit for the Certificate II in Security Operations and the Certificate III in Security Operations has been developed to support candidates throughout their training. The kit covers all units of competency for all licensing and traineeship streams and includes information on:

• self assessment and recognition of prior learning
• competency record book
• sample assessment questions and activities

A training and assessment kit has been to support candidates throughout their training. The kit includes:

• Assessors guides
• Trainers Guides
• Content to be covered in the delivery of training for each unit
• Lists of formal assessment instruments for each unit of competency and clusters of competencies
• Recognition of prior learning information
• Licensing information.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) kits have been developed for the Certificates II and III Security Operations and the Certificate IV Security and Risk Management. The kits are designed to assist trainers, assessors and candidates and include:

• applications for RPL
• evidence guides for each unit of competence
• suggested evidence requirements for licensing purposes.

Strategies to assist Registered Training Organisations in accessing relevant materials information

A number of strategies exist to assist Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to access relevant materials information for Security. These include:

• New Apprenticeships Training Information Service (Internet site) – www.nacinfo.com.au
• PSITAB telephone support service - 02 96985687
• PSITAB web site (to be active from February 2006)
• Ongoing communication with, and advice to, Department of Education and Training Industry Training Advisors and State Training Centres
• Provision of information seminars in capital cities and regional centres
• Consultation with New Apprenticeships Centres and RTOs as required.

Availability of Registered Training Organisations

RTOs must have NSW Police Commissioner’s approval to deliver training for licensing purposes.

A list of RTOs in New South Wales who can deliver training from the Asset Security Training Package and for licensing purposes may be found on the National Training and Information Service (NTIS) web site: www.ntis.gov.au

Part-time training

The proposed NSW traineeships for the Security sector can be delivered part-time or full time. Casual traineeships are not permitted under the new Security Industry Registry guidelines and licensing requirements stipulate specific terms for security operations part time traineeships, as follows:

• 1(A) Security Guarding and Patrols – Certificate II in Security Operations PRS20103 – full time or part time at 24 hours per week. The trainee must be employed as a permanent part time employee with not less than 24 hours employment per week.
• 1(B) Security Body Guarding – Certificate III in Security Operations PRS30103 - full time or part time at 30 hours per week. The trainee must be employed as a permanent part time employee with not less than 30 hours employment per week.
• 1(C) Crowd Control – Certificate II in Security Operations PRS20103 – full time or part time at 24 hours per week. The trainee must be employed as a permanent part time employee with not less than 24 hours employment per week.
• 1(D) Security Dog Handler - Certificate III in Security Operations PRS30103 - full time or part time at 30 hours per week. The trainee must be employed as a permanent part time employee with not less than 30 hours employment per week.
• 1(E) Security Monitoring Centre Operations - Certificate III in Security Operations PRS30103 - full time or part time at 30 hours per week. The trainee must be employed as a permanent part time employee with not less than 30 hours employment per week.
• 1(G) Loss Prevention Officer - Certificate II in Security Operations PRS20103 - full time or part time at 24 hours per week. The trainee must be employed as a permanent part time employee with not less than 24 hours employment per week.

For any enquiries regarding this CIB, please contact the Vocational Training Tribunal Unit on (02) 9266 8579.

IAN KINGSLEY
Commissioner of Vocational Training