Commissioners Information Bulletin 322
Issued: 3 December 2007

Security Industry - Establishment of the recognised traineeship vocations of Security Operations, Investigative Services and Technical Security.

At the request of the Property Services Industry Training Advisory Body, the Commissioner for Vocational Training has approved the new recognised traineeship vocations of Security Operations, Investigative Services and Technical Security under section 5 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001, made the relevant Vocational Training Orders (VTOs) under section 6 of the same Act and repealed the recognised traineeship vocation of Asset Security.

Vocational Training Order Standard Format

The VTO in each instance may make reference to:

1. the appropriate term or terms for apprenticeship or traineeships in that vocation
2. 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)
3. the appropriate qualification or qualifications that may be awarded in relation to an apprenticeship or traineeship in that vocation
4. any other training to be provided in addition to the training required for an appropriate qualification
5. such other matters relating to the training of apprentices or trainees in that vocation as the Commissioner considers appropriate.

A copy of each VTO supporting the recognised traineeship vocations of Security Operations, Investigative Services and Technical Security is at Attachment A.

PRS03 Asset Security Training Package

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

There are eight qualifications in PRS03, ranging from Certificate I to Diploma, that:

• 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.

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

For the purpose of the VTOs, trainees in the NSW security industry will have the option of gaining these qualifications.

Security Operations

• PRS20103 Certificate II in Security Operations
• PRS30103 Certificate III in Security Operations

These qualifications are aligned to six licensing outcomes.

Technical Security

• PRS20203 Certificate II in Technical Security
• PRS30203 Certificate III in Technical Security

Investigative Services

• PRS30303 Certificate III in Investigative Services.

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

Security Operations and Technical Security

These trainees may be covered by State or Federal industrial arrangements:

• Linfox Armaguard Roadcrew Enterprise Agreement 2005-2008
• Chubb Security Services Limited Armoured Vehicle and Other Operations (Lane Cove, Newcastle, Wollongong Branch) Enterprise Agreement 2004-2006 and subsequent industrial agreement
• Transport Industry Cash in Transit (State) Award 2003
• Cash in Transit Non Armoured (State) Award 2001
• Brinks Australia Pty Limited NSW Agreement - CIT Employees 2005.

All of the documents listed above are to be read in conjunction with the WorkCover NSW Cash in Transit Code of Practice.

Other industrial arrangements include:

• Security Industry (State) Award (last varied 19 February 2007)
• Retail Services Employees (State) Award (last varied 24 July 2006).

The fundamental difference in the application of these awards appears to be the activity carried out by the employer. That is the employer who carries out a security activity as a business versus the employer who carries out retail, activity but has need of internal security services.

Note: other non-registered or federal agreements or Australian Workplace Agreements may apply to these traineeships.

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.

Note:  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.

Note:  On advice from the Security Industry Registry, there will no longer be a traineeship in Security and Risk Management. Some core units within the PRS40103 Certificate IV in Security and Risk Management qualification and in particular PRSSM404A (Advise on security needs), relate directly to activities that can only be performed under the authority of a Class 2A licence. The attainment of the qualification of Certificate IV in Security and Risk Management is a requirement for applicants for a Class 2A (Security Consultant) licence.

A trainee would therefore be unable to legally undertake any activities or on the job training without a licence and a license can not be issued until the qualification is attained.

Vocational Education in Schools

The Property Services Industry Training Advisory Body has advised that currently, industry does not support the delivery of training for the security industry in schools.

Learning resources and assessment materials

Learning Resources are now available to support the PRS03 Asset Security Training package and licensing requirements.

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 guide for the Certificate II in Security Operations and the Certificate III in Security Operations has been developed to support candidates throughout their training. The guide comprises:

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

A trainer assessor guide has been developed to support candidates throughout their training. It provides the minimum standards for training delivery and assessment for the units of competence required for NSW Security Industry Licensing and is designed to assist Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to ensure that delivery and assessment activities are consistent with the Australian Quality Training Framework Standards for RTOs and meet the requirements outlined in the PRS03 Asset Security Training Package.

The guide provides information on training delivery content and methodology and the evidence requirements for assessment. It is designed to ensure that new and existing employees in the industry demonstrate sufficient knowledge and skills to ensure the safety of the public and the security operative.

This guide outlines the requirements for the on the job assessment processes for candidates and has been developed to assist assessors to meet these requirements and to plan and conduct assessment activities that meet the Security Industry Registry and Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board guidelines and auditing requirements.

The guide covers:

• 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 in Security Operations. 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 RTOs to access relevant materials information for security training. These include:

• Australian Apprenticeships Training Information Service – www.nacinfo.com.au
• NSW Property Services Industry Training Advisory Body enquiries- max@nswpropertyservicesitab.com.au
• NSW Property Services Industry Training Advisory Body website www.nswpropertyservicesitab.com.au
• Regular newsletters. To register : max@nswpropertyservicesitab.com.au
• Information seminars in capital cities and regional centres
• Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council – telephone 02 6253 0002 or: www.cpsisc.com.au

Licensing arrangements

General

Significant changes to the legislation regulating the security industry commenced on 1 September 2007. These changes, arising from the amended Security Industry Act 1997 and the new Security Industry Regulation 2007, affect all current licence holders and new entrants to the security industry.

People engaged in the security industry require a Class 1 or Class 2 security licence. To obtain a licence under this category, candidates must be employed by a Master Licence Holder who is required under the new regulation to supervise, train and assist a new employee to fulfil his/her training obligations.

The new regulation requires a person entering the industry for the first time, to have sufficient knowledge and competence to work under supervision and train to become a fully licensed security guard. At the same time, a person currently working in the industry is assessed and where necessary gap trained to insure he/she has the skills required to properly and safely engage in the security activities he/she has been licensed to undertake.

The licensing requirements established under the Regulation provide for licences subclasses that relate directly to activities undertaken by the licence holder. Individual licence holders will need to demonstrate knowledge and competence for the type of security work they wish to do.

Any individual or business conducting Commercial Agents and Private Inquiry Agents activities must hold a Commercial Agents and Private Inquiry Agents (CAPI) licence for those activities.

Holders of Operator licences must be employed by a Master licence holder (not subcontracting), unless they hold an individual Master licence of their own.

Note: In accordance with security and CAPI legislation, only persons aged 18 years and above can hold a class 1 or class 2 security licence or a CAPI licence. These restrictions effectively preclude applicants younger than 18 years from being approved for security operations, investigative services and technical security traineeships.

Further information is available at www.police.nsw.gov.au/sir

Security Operations

The following table outlines the various licence subclasses in this sector including the activities performed and training required to be completed by the licence holder. As a prerequisite to establishing a traineeship in this sector applicant trainees must hold a relevant sub class provisional licence.

Traineeship training

Security Operations

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 employed as a trainee in this sector, applicants must hold a provisional subclass licence, issued by the Security Industry Registry relevant to the class 1 licence for which training is being provided. To obtain a provisional licence, a person must provide evidence of having completed the relevant pre-licensing course with an approved RTO.

Provisional licences will be issued for a minimum of one year and will entitle the holder to work, in their chosen area of the industry, under the direct supervision of a class 1 licensee with the same subclass. Other supervision requirements are that trainees must:

• receive detailed written instructions on work to be performed.
• perform tasks that are part of an overall documented work routine.
• be subject to regular written personal progress checks by their supervisor.

At the completion of the nominal term of the traineeship, a person will be eligible to apply for a full Class 1 security licence, in the relevant subclass. Early completion of a training contract may be granted but a full licence will not be issued until the equivalent of 12 months on-the-job experience has been completed.

Note: At the request of the Security Industry Registry, establishment of Certificate II and III Security Operations traineeships will commence from 1 January, 2008.

Technical Security

These traineeships may be approved subject to applicants holding a valid Class 2F security licence issued by the Security Industry Registry. There are no qualification requirements for the issue of a Class 2F licence.

Further information is available at police.nsw.gov.au/sir

Investigative Services

These traineeships may be approved subject to the applicant holding a valid Commercial Agents and Private Inquiry Agents that authorises "Investigation of Persons" and "Surveillance of Persons”. This licence is issued by the Security Industry Registry.

Further information is available at police.nsw.gov.au/sir

Availability of Registered Training Organisations

Under the provisions of the new Security Industry Regulation, RTOs are required to demonstrate that they have the capacity to deliver units of competence that align to the licensing structure established under the regulation.

RTOs wishing to deliver security training for licensing purposes must be approved by the NSW Vocational Education and Training Accreditation (VETA) Board and then by the Security Industry Registry before the qualifications can be added to their scope of registration.

In October 2006, the VETA Board issued a guideline for the management of RTOs delivering security training in New South Wales in association with the NSW Commissioner for Police through the Security Industry Registry. A copy of the guideline is available at http://www.vetab.nsw.gov.au/guidelines/security_industry_training.htm

RTOs who are engaged to deliver training under a traineeship pathway must also comply with current Apprenticeship and Traineeship Training Program requirements and in particular:

• for traineeships of 12 months duration or less, provide 20 hours of direct training support per trainee across the training period of the traineeship which is based on a minimum of four workplace assessments and four monitoring visits over the whole training period, and
• for traineeships of longer than 12 months duration, 15 hours of direct training support per trainee across each year, or part thereof, of the trainingperiod which is based on a minimum of three workplace assessments and three monitoring visits per traineeper year, or part thereof, scheduled over the whole trainingperiod.

This support must be delivered in accordance with the agreed full training plan for each trainee.

A list of RTOs approved to deliver security training can be found at police.nsw.gov.au/sir

PHILLIP MOORE
Commissioner for Vocational Training