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In Australia, security training courses are the legal gateway into the security industry. Every state and territory requires security workers to hold a current licence before they can be employed. If you are looking for a career that is regulated, in demand, and open to people at any age or starting point, a nationally recognised qualification is what stands between you and a licence.
What is the Certificate II in Security Operations?
The CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations is the nationally recognised qualification awarded by a secuity training course. It is required across Australian states and territories before you can apply for a security licence. Each unit covers a different part of the job:
Communication and legal requirements
Listening, observation, and non-verbal communication are covered, including how to request behaviour modification, radio and telephone reporting of security risks, and the legal powers and limits that apply to security officers, including use of force, trespass, privacy, and duty of care.
Safety and emergency response
This covers identifying and controlling hazards, responding to threats, leading evacuations, and your WHS obligations.
Risk and incident management
This covers identifying and reporting security risks and deciding how to react based on the level of threat and your legal authority.
Patrolling and access control
Foot patrols, site map reading, spotting suspicious behaviour that may indicate criminal activity, and the legal conditions under which people and their belongings can be screened are all addressed.
Crowd management
How crowd movement creates security risks, non-verbal behaviour escalates conflict, how social and cultural differences affect how people respond to security staff, and the legal limits on using force to remove a drunk or aggressive person from premises are all covered.
What You Need Before You Can Enrol
Before you enrol in security training courses, a few administrative and compliance steps need to be completed. You’ll need to:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a Unique Student Identifier (USI).
- Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or the holder of a current visa with full working rights in Australia. If you hold a student visa, you must enrol through a CRICOS-registered provider, as standard RTOs cannot deliver this qualification to student visa holders.
- Be proficient in written and spoken English and basic numeracy.
- Be able to present 100 points of ID. A driver’s licence and passport together will cover this requirement.
What You Can Do With the Certificate Once You Have It
The CPP20218 certificate is used to apply for a security licence through the relevant authority in your state or territory. Licensing is administered at the state and territory level and each jurisdiction has its own application process. Your trainer will tell you where to go and what to do next at the end of your security training course.
Once you have your security licence, you’ll be qualified to work in the following roles:
- Unarmed security officer
- General guarding
- Crowd controller
- Venue control
Start Your Security Course Today
A security career in Australia starts with a nationally recognised qualification you can only get from completing a security training course.. The certificate you earn connects directly to paid work and it opens pathways to more specialised and higher-paid roles as your career develops. Every shift you will ever work as a licensed security officer traces back to the day you enrolled in security training courses, and that day can be today.
FAQs
Is a Security Licence the Same in Each State?
Security licences in Australia are regulated state by state, and a licence issued in one state does not automatically allow you to work in another. If you move interstate, you can apply for recognition of your existing licence under Australia’s mutual recognition framework, but you still need to lodge an application with the licensing authority in your new state. Licence durations also vary; some states issue them for one year while others issue them for up to three years.
What Are The Career Opportunities for a Security Guard?
Beyond entry-level guarding and crowd control, the security industry in Australia employs workers across hospitals, airports, schools, government buildings, data centres, and correctional facilities.
Does Security Training Include CPR?
Yes. Security training includes HLTAID011 Provide First Aid which also incorporates HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as a component.
