How to Become a Security Guard in Australia
- Peter Sandru
- Aug 5, 2021
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 23, 2024
To become a Security Guard in Australia means to be licensed as a Security Guard in an individual Australian state.
Becoming a licensed Security Guard in Australia is almost identical throughout the Australian states.
you need to meet basic requirements such as
age
language proficiency
clean criminal record
and other usual requirements of this nature.
Furthermore, to get a Security Guard license in an Australian state, you need to take a state government approved Security Guard licensing course:
Certificate 2 in Security Operations.
Every Australian state will have a government body that controls an Australian Security Guard's license, usually the local Australian state police.
So, it is these government bodies that will have a list of approved Cert 2 Security Guard licensing courses.
Once you submit the proof of your ability to meet the requirements and completion of the Cert 2 security training course to the government body, you will get your Australian state Guard license.
Australian Security Guard licensing requirements by state,
Western Australia Security Guard License Requirements
Age: You must be 18yo or older.
Criminal Record: You cannot have a criminal record of any kind.
Sponsors: You need two personal references who are not related to you.
Passport Photo: You need to submit four passport photos in your WA application.
Australian Citizen: You need to be an Australian citizen or be legally allowed to work in Western Australia. You will have to submit a copy of federal or WA government ID in the security license application.
English: You must be able to speak and write in English.
WA Approved Security License Course: You need to take a Western Australia approved security licensing course called Certificate 2 in Security Operations.
WA Security Test: After completing the course, you need to complete a security test.
First Aid: You need a current first aid certificate.
Application: If you are within 50km of Perth, you must apply for a Western Australia Security Guard license in person.
Licensing Services Security
Mason Bird Building
303 Sevenoaks Street
Cannington WA 6107
South Australia Security Guard License Requirements
Age: You must be 18yo or older.
Criminal Record: You cannot have a criminal record of any kind.
Passport Photo: You need to submit passport photos in your SA application.
Australian Citizen: You need to be an Australian citizen or be legally allowed to work in South Australia. You will have to submit a copy of federal or SA government ID in the security license application.
English: You must be able to speak and write in English.
SA Approved Security License Course: You need to take a South Australia approved security licensing course called Certificate 2 in Security Operations.
Application: You can apply via online portal.
New South Wales Security Guard License Requirements
Age: You must be 18yo or older.
Criminal Record: You cannot have a criminal record of any kind.
Passport Photo: You need to submit passport photos in your NSW application.
Australian Citizen: You need to be an Australian citizen or be legally allowed to work in NSW. You will have to submit a copy of federal or NSW government ID in the security license application.
Sponsor: You need to be employed by a New South Wales security company. Your NSW employer will help you with the application process.
English: You must be able to speak and write in English.
NSW Approved Security License Course: You need to take a NSW approved security licensing course called Certificate 2 in Security Operations.
First Aid: You need a current first aid certificate.
Application: You can apply via NSW online portal.
Queensland Security Guard License Requirements
Age: You must be 18yo or older.
Criminal Record: You cannot have a criminal record of any kind.
Passport Photo: You need to submit passport photos in your Qld application.
Australian Citizen: You need to be an Australian citizen or be legally allowed to work in Qld. You will have to submit a copy of federal or Qld government ID in the security license application.
English: You must be able to speak and write in English.
Qld Approved Security License Course: You need to take a Qld approved security licensing course.
First Aid: You need a current first aid certificate.
Application: You can apply via downloading the Qld security application.
Victoria Security Guard License Requirements
Age: You must be 18yo or older.
Criminal Record: You cannot have a criminal record of any kind.
Fingerprints: You need to submit your fingerprints in the Vic application.
Sponsors: You need three references who are not related to you.
Passport Photo: You need to submit passport photos in your Vic application. The photos need to be taken at a VicRoads photo point.
Australian Citizen: You need to be an Australian citizen or be legally allowed to work in Victoria. You will have to submit a copy of federal or Vic government ID in the security license application.
English: You must be able to speak and write in English.
Vic Approved Security License Course: You need to take a Vic approved security licensing course. This course is called Cert 2.
First Aid: You need a current first aid certificate.
Application: You can apply via the Vic online portal.
Northern Territory Security Guard License Requirements
Age: You must be 18yo or older.
Criminal Record: You cannot have a criminal record of any kind.
Fingerprints: You need to submit your fingerprints in the NT application.
Passport Photo: You need to submit passport a photo in your NT application.
Australian Citizen: You need to be an Australian citizen or be legally allowed to work in Northern Territory. You will have to submit a copy of federal or NT government ID in the security license application.
English: You must be able to speak and write in English.
NT Approved Security License Course: You need to take a NT approved security licensing course. This course is called Cert 2.
First Aid: You need a current first aid certificate.
Application: You can apply via the NT online portal.
Tasmania Security Guard License Requirements
Age: You must be 18yo or older.
Criminal Record: You cannot have a criminal record of any kind.
Fingerprints: You need to submit your fingerprints in the Tas application.
Passport Photo: You need to submit passport photos in your Tas application.
Australian Citizen: You need to be an Australian citizen or be legally allowed to work in Tasmania. You will have to submit a copy of federal or Tas government ID in the security license application.
English: You must be able to speak and write in English.
Tas Approved Security License Course: You need to take a Tas approved security licensing course.
Application: You can apply via the Tas online portal.
What Does an Australia Security Guard Do?
Australia Security Guards Patrol Vacant Locations
Australia Security Guards will do foot patrols of locations for a set number of times per shift.
A common task for an Australia Security Guard will be checking mechanical rooms for any unusual signs or potential health and safety issues.
Australia Security Guards watch for hazards and fill out hazard reports (Australia Guards write a lot of reports).
Guards in Australia document and report maintenance issues to supervisors.
Many Australia security sites require Guards to monitor fire extinguishers to ensure that they are not overdue for inspection (official reviews are done by maintenance personnel).
Australia Security Guards write a lot, including filling in logs as their shifts progresses with what activities are being done at what times. Australia Guards will have their own security notebooks and will constantly note all unusual sightings, occurrences, and incidents.
Australia Security Guards will respond to alarms and act accordingly as per the Emergency Response plan set in place by supervisors. This may include,
Evacuation of the security site.
Checking alarm system on the way out for information about where the problem is occurring.
Contacting supervisors.
Responding to incidents and completing all reports as necessary.
Australia Security Guards Protect Sites with Customers
If an Australia Security Guard is working in a team environment, they will usually meet for a pre-shift briefing at a set location. Once the meeting has been completed the Australia Security Guards will go directly to their designated sites.
In Australia security site locations with customers, Guards will do a lot of patrolling. This can be in a building or outside in places such as parking lots.
Australia Security Guards are usually responsible for site cleanliness when there are no designated cleaning staff. This means as an Australia Security Guard, expect to be cleaning a lot of trash.
Monitoring CCTV cameras will be a big part of an Australia Security Guard’s job. This will be on a continuous basis with follow ups on issues seen.
When it comes to security sites in the service industry, Australia Security Guards will have to assist customers in various non-security ways. This can be giving them directions or carrying items for them. Furthermore, Australia Security Guards will often be expected to be friendly, outgoing, and talkative with customers in their security sites.
A constant security issue for Australia security sites with customers will be smoking, alcohol consumption, and narcotics. Australia Security Guards will often be making sure people aren’t smoking in non-smoking areas, consuming alcohol, or narcotics. For the latter, an Australia Security Guard will usually report the issue to local police.
If the Australia security site is a residence, responding to noise complaints will be a big part of the job.
Of course, catching shoplifters will be a constant for an Australia Security Guard in a site with customers.
Australia Security Guards Work at Security Gates
Australia Security Guards will patrol parking areas to make sure vehicles are registered at that security site.
Every person entering through the security gate will produce valid photo ID to the Australia Security Guard. The Guard will determine if the individual may pass.
During medical emergencies, the Australia Security Guard will direct traffic to allow easy access for Australia EMS vehicles.
Australia Security Guards Deal with Medical Issues
Emergencies at an Australia security site can happen at any time, day or night. On going communication will be key for all Australia Security Guards involved to get through the emergency with the best possible outcome.
Australia EMS/ ambulances will often be called by Australia Security Guards.
The Australia Security Guard that places the 911 call will relay info regarding who, what, where, why, and when.
Australia Security Supervisors will usually take lead on these incidents and direct other Australia Guards to specific tasks to perform during the emergency.
Australia Security Guards will always remain calm and professional. Furthermore, they will assist however they can.
About the Author
Peter Sandru is an Instructor & Co-Founder of NDIL with over 15 years working in security. Peter has spent more than a decade conducting security operations throughout the world, primarily for corporations, law firms, and government agencies. Peter has assisted in the creation of numerous security training programs in various capacities.