Security Guards Safety Course

History/Background

On the commencement of the Weapons Act 1990 (the Act), persons seeking to obtain a Security Licence (Guard) were required to undertake and successfully complete a course of training in the safe handling and use of weapons as may be prescribed.  The last version of this prescribed course was approved by the Commissioner, Queensland Police Service on 12 December 1994.

In May 1996, the Australasian Police Ministers’ Council (APMC) agreed to a number of resolutions in order to bring about uniform national firearms laws and relevant training.  It was agreed that all jurisdictions would require first time licence applicants to complete an accredited course in firearms safety training.  The accreditation was to be by an appropriate authority and there was also to be a system of accredited trainers to bring prospective licensees to the required standard. The course was to focus on firearms law, firearms safety and firearms competency. 

In January 1997, the Act was amended to make completion of ‘a course approved by the Commissioner of Police’ a requirement for firearms licensing in Queensland.  In May 1997 the Queensland Police Service had accredited a short course, the Weapons Act Security Guard Licensing Course.  The Commissioner approved the Weapons Act Security Guard Licensing Course as the course approved under the Act for security industry weapons licensing in Queensland.  This short course was subject to review and amendment on 24 November 1998.

During 1997 and 1998 Property Services Training Australian (PSTA) developed the National Training Package for Asset Security (PRS98), which was endorsed by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) in December 1998.  The package was modified in 2002 with the addition of units relating to firearms and defensive tactics. 

Effective from 1 July 2003, Units of competence from the PRS98 package, assessed against the non-endorsed approved formal assessment instruments, were approved by the Commissioner as the training course for the purposes of section 10A(2)(a) and 124 of the Act, for security guard licensing.

PSTA redeveloped the PRS98 package subsequently introducing the Asset Security Training Package (PRS03) in its place.  PRS03 has been endorsed by ANTA.  The implementation phase of the transition from the PRS98 to the PRS03 commenced in July 2003. 

Consultation with industry has resulted in support for the adoption of the competency standards contained in the PRS98 and PRS03 as the mandatory (minimum) requirement for licensing purposes.  It was identified during the consultation that there is a continuing need for a standard set of assessment instruments to be used.  These assessment instruments have been approved as non-endorsed ‘formal assessment instruments’ and are to be utilised for licensing purposes in Queensland. 

The assessment instruments that are available as Support Materials for the Use of Firearms & Defensive Tactics - PRS98 can be located in the PRS98 training package.  A mapping exercise was conducted identifying the equivalent units of competence in both the PRS98 and the PRS03 training packages and deficiencies within the current assessment materials.  These deficiencies will be addressed in the near future.

On 22 March 2004 the Commissioner approved the amended training requirements for the issue of a ‘security licence (guard)’ under sections 10A(2)(a) and 124 of the Act.  The amended training requirements were effective from 1 February 2004 to coincide with changes to the Security Providers Act Training requirements.

What is the Approved Course for Security Guard Licensing?

The course for security guard licensing is a competency-based course consisting of units of competence related to the issue of a security officer licence under the Security Providers Act 1993.

Additional units of competence related to categories C, E and H firearms, determining appropriate responses to security risk situations, maintaining security of environment and managing conflict through negotiation are drawn from the Asset Security Training Package (PRS03).

These units of competence are considered to be the minimum standards for persons seeking Weapons Act security guard licences in Queensland.  Potential licence applicants choose the units of competence related to the specific categories of firearms for which Weapons Act licences will be sought.

Who are the Training Providers?

As part of their licence application, all persons seeking Weapons Act licences in Queensland are required to provide evidence of having successfully completed this course at a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). 

An RTO is a training organisation registered in accordance with the Australian Qualification Training Framework.  RTO registration is the formal approval and recognition of a training organisation by a State or Territory registering body in accordance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (July 2005) and the Standards for State and Territory Registering/Course Accrediting Bodies. In Queensland an RTO is administered by the Department of Employment, Training and the Arts.

The details of approved training providers are available on the National Training Information Service (NTIS) website located at: http://www.ntis.gov.au/

Refer to the following section on the procedures to access NTIS to identify an RTO authorised to deliver an approved firearms safety training course.

Approved Training Requirements for a New Licence

For the issue of a new ‘security licence (guard)’ the Commissioner has approved, as a minimum requirement the completion of the following units of competence.

PRS03

Unit number	Unit name	Package
PRSSO201	Communicate effectively in the security industry	PRS03
PRSSO202	Maintain workplace safety	PRS03
PRSSO203	Work effectively in the security industry	PRS03
PRSSO204	Work as part of a team	PRS03
PRSSO205	Provide security services to customers	PRS03
PRSSO206	Provide first aid (at Senior First Aid level)	PRS03
PRSSO207	Respond to security risk situation	PRS03
PRSSO210	Control access to and exit from premises	PRS03
PRSSO211	Monitor and control individual and crowd behaviour	PRS03
PRSSO215	Operate basic security equipment	PRS03
PRSSO216	Patrol premises	PRS03
PRSSO222	Protect self and others using basic defensive tactics	PRS03
PRSSO303A **	Determine Response to Security Risk Situation	PRS03
PRSSO309A **	Maintain Security of Environment	PRS03
PRSSO305A **	Manage conflict through negotiation	PRS03
PRSS0310A **	Control security risk using firearms category C (shotgun) category H (revolver) category H (semi auto pistol) category E (ballistic vest)	PRS03

For each unit of competence marked ‘**’ the course participant MUST be assessed against the approved non-endorsed assessment material for the unit of competence or against Holistic Assessment Instruments No. 1 or 2.

For the Formal Assessment Instrument PRSS0310 – Control Security Risk Using Firearms, Part 3A, Activity 3 (Discharge Firearm) the discharge of firearms must be completed in accordance with Security Licence (Guard) Shoot – Course of Fire for the category of firearm being used. 

Approved Training Requirements for a Licence Renewal

For the renewal of a ‘security licence (guard)’ the Commissioner has approved, as a minimum requirement the completion of the following units assessed against the approved non-endorsed assessment material.

For the Formal Assessment Instrument PRSFA07A, – Defend Persons Using Firearms, Part 3A, Activity 3 (Discharge Firearm) the discharge of firearms must be completed in accordance with Security Licence (Guard) Shoot – Course of Fire for the category of firearm being used. 

PRS03

Unit number	Unit name	Package
PRSS0310 **	Control security risk using firearms category C (shotgun) category H (revolver) category H (semi auto pistol) category E (ballistic vest)	PRS03

For each unit of competence marked ‘**’ the course participant MUST be assessed against the approved non-endorsed assessment material for the unit of competence or against Holistic Assessment Instruments No. 1 or 2.

For the Formal Assessment Instrument PRSS0310 – Control Security Risk Using Firearms, Part 3A, Activity 3 (Discharge Firearm) the discharge of firearms must be completed in accordance with Security Licence (Guard) Shoot – Course of Fire for the category of firearm being used.

Assessment Requirements

The Commissioner has approved that the following units of competence from the PRS03 package be assessed utilising the non-endorsed ‘formal assessment instruments’ that are available as Support Materials for the Use of Firearms & Defensive Tactics from the PRS98 package.

Unit/s of Competence	Unit/s Title	Assessment Instrument
PRSSO303A PRSSO309A PRSSO305A PRSSO310A	Determine Response to Security Risk Situation Maintain Security of Environment Manage Conflict Through Negotiation Control Security Risk Using Firearms	* Holistic Assessment Instrument No. 1
OR
PRSSO303A PRSSO309A PRSSO305A PRSSO316A PRSSO317A PRSSO318A PRSSO310A	Determine Response to Security Risk Situation Maintain Security of Environment Manage Conflict Through Negotiation Control Persons Using Empty Hand Techniques Control Persons Using Baton Restrain Persons Using Handcuffs Control Security Risk Using Firearms	** Holistic Assessment Instrument No. 2
OR
PRSSO303A	Determine Response to Security Risk Situation	PRSFA01A - Formal Assessment Instrument
AND
PRSSO309A	Maintain Security of Environment	PRSFA02A - Formal Assessment Instrument
AND
PRSSO305A	Manage Conflict Through Negotiation	PRSFA03A - Formal Assessment Instrument
AND
PRSSO310A	Control Security Risk Using Firearms	*** PRSFA07A - Formal Assessment Instrument

The non-endorsed ‘formal assessment instruments’ that are Support Materials for the Use of Firearms & Defensive Tactics - PRS98 do not address the additional content of PRS03.  It is important to note that the PRS03 package has additional content that need to be addressed by the Training Provider in assessment materials.  

The approval by the Commissioner is subject to a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and trainers and assessors preparing and maintaining appropriate marking guides mapped to the non-endorsed ‘formal assessment instruments’ and the training package.  This marking guide will be subject to audit.

Statements of Attainment

A Statement of Attainment is a formal certification in the VET sector by an RTO under the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) that a person has achieved:

• part of a qualification;
• one or more units of competency from a nationally endorsed Training Package;  or
• all the units of competency comprising learning outcomes for an accredited  course that does not meet the requirements for a qualification.

Statements of Attainment are to clearly show the category of weapon/s against which the course participant has been assessed and found competent, using the approved non-endorsed formal assessment instruments, to ensure that the licensing requirements have been satisfied. 

Other Matters

The units of competence PRSFA04A, PRSFA05A and PRSFA06A from the PRS98 package and PRSS0318A and PRSS0317A from the PRS03 package, that relate to empty hand techniques, batons and handcuffs are not included in the minimum requirement, due to the fact that there is currently no licence regime in place. However, it is recommended these units be completed as a best practice measure, where persons have a reasonable excuse to possess such items as part of their duties.

Applicants for a ‘security licence (guard)’ are still required to hold a ‘security officer’s licence’ issued under the Security Providers Act 1993 (Qld).  The training requirements for the issue of a security officer’s licence are included as part of the course of training approved by the Commissioner.  All persons applying for a new ‘security licence (guard)’ will need to provide proof of completion of a Certificate II in Security Operations in the units of competence as required by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for the issue of a ‘security officers licence’ as listed in PRS03 - training requirements for a new licence.

If a security guard fails to renew their current Weapons Act licence they will need to complete all the training requirements to obtain a new licence.

PROCEDURE TO IDENTIFY REGISTERED TRAINING ORGANISATIONS (RTO) AUTHORISED TO DELIVER APPROVED SECURITY INDUSTRY TRAINING (INCLUDING FIREARMS)

1. Access National Information Service search page at web address:
 http://www.ntis.gov.au/Default.aspx?find

2. Enter “security firearms” in “search for” field.  Check boxes for “RTOs” and “QLD”.  Click on search.

3. Screen will display search results of all RTOs registered to deliver training in  aspects of the security industry and firearms.  It is necessary to access the  information for each RTO in order to identify the qualifications delivered by that  RTO, the jurisdiction they fall under and their contact details.