Being a security officer is a great job, as 10 Koori graduates from a security officer program recently held in Canberra will agree. These 10 men and women are currently working with Chubb Protective Security and Group 4 Securities, on their way to a career in the security industry.
One graduate from the program, Lynette Graham said that security was not only a man’s domain, with women increasingly working in the industry.
But what do you do when you are a security officer?
Security officers guard property of all types against things like fire, theft, vandalism and break ins. If you are a security officer you will be expected to do things like check doors, gates and windows for signs of break ins.
You will also have to be very alert, and keep an eye out for things that might not be the way they should be. Things like fire hazard lights, leaking water pipes or lights left on might all demonstrate to you that something is not right. Your job is to report such incidents to the appropriate people, quickly and effectively.
If you are a security officer, you also have to be very organised, and record the times you inspect certain areas of buildings. You also have to respond to alarms and also be familiar with certain types of alarm systems. Sometimes, when you are fully trained and experienced, you might have to carry a gun and provide armed escorts for things like payroll deliveries.
If you work in a shop or shopping centre you would be required to detect such things as shoplifting.
Security officers usually do shift work and may work nights, weekends and public holidays.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) will be running security officer courses all around the country throughout 1998. If you are interested in working in the security industry, send a letter and or a CV to Wayne Quilliam at the ACCI, c/o PO Box E14, Kingston ACT 2606.
For more information about how to become a security officer or any other job you’re interested in, get your hands on a copy of the Job Guide from your local school, your careers advisor, your Indigenous Education Unit, or, if you live in the city, look up your nearest Centrelink Career Reference.
Lynette Graham and her supervisor, Frank Sexton, ‘security work is not just for the boys.’
For more information about how to become a security officer or any other job you’re interested in, get your hands on a copy of the job guide from your school, your careers advisor, your indigenous education unit or if you live in the city, look up your nearest Centrelink career reference.
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