Call for security training after deaths

Security guards around Australia could soon be required to have the same licensing and training standards following concerns for public safety.

The federal government says it’s very worried about poorly-trained guards potentially putting people at risk of injury following the findings of a new report from the national training regulator.

The Australian Skills Quality Authority’s review comes after a number of reports from state coroners investigating patrons who had died after being restrained and handled by guards in recent years.

The regulator cited the case of a 30-year-old Victorian man who died from head injuries in 2007, a NSW man who died after being suffocated in 2010 and a Queensland hotel patron who died after being restrained face down in 2012.

The regulator found some colleges and providers were offering inadequate training, including courses too short for budding guards to gain proper skills.

It also found students may not have proper language and numeracy requirements to enrol, and inconsistencies between states on security licences.

Federal Vocational Education Minister Luke Hartsuyker said the results of the report were worrying, given students and the general public were at risk of injury because of poor-quality training.

“It is absolutely essential that people who work in the security industry have the appropriate skills and experience to be able to handle complex and threatening situations safely,” he said in a statement to AAP on Friday.

Mr Hartsuyker said he was concerned people were exploiting the differences in security licensing standards between the states and territories just so they could get into the industry quickly.

He’s vowed to work with state and territory counterparts at harmonising training and licensing requirements.

 
[Souce:- news.com.au]