NZSA Special Interest Groups update

NZSA CEO Gary Morrison provides updates in relation to the Association’s Security Training and Professional Development SIG and Protective Security Risk Management SIG.

Security Training and Professional Development SIG This group has now met on three occasions, with the most recent meeting taking place on 19 July. At the inaugural meeting, Andy Gollings (Red Badge) was appointed Chair for the group, with Yvonne Bruce (FIRST Security) appointed as Deputy Chair, and the group purpose and objectives agreed.

The purpose of the SIG is to support the NZSA in its function as the Industry Peak Body, and specifically in providing guidance and direction in matters relating to industry training and professional development.

The objectives of the SIG include:

• Raising industry standards by improving the quality and uptake of industry training.

• Forecasting future requirements of the security industry and its stakeholders to ensure training and development programmes are fit for purpose.

• Fostering collaboration amongst all stakeholders (including security providers, security training providers, Skills, government agencies and customers).

• Improving access to, and uptake of, industry training and continued professional development.

• Ensuring the industry receives regular information and updates on training developments and professional development.

Immediate focus areas for the group have centred on improving available information on security training and professional development (this will shortly be added to the NZSA website), gaining an understanding of the availability and access to Literacy and Numeracy training and funding, ensuring the implementation of new qualifications meets industry needs and identifying and evaluating first line management training options.

For those with an interest in the training and professional development sphere and wish to participate or be part of a wider communication group, please contact Gary on gary@security.org.nz or 021 122 9606.

Protective Security Risk Management SIG

The Security Risk Management Handbook was jointly produced by Standards Australia and Standards NZ in 2006. Within the introduction to the Handbook there is reference to a perception that there have been dramatic and far reaching changes in the nature of the business environment and in managing risk following the events of 9/11.

It notes however that many of these “new changes” are merely highlighting issues that have presented challenges to organisations and communities for many decades. In simple terms, “everything is different, but it’s just the same”.

These words held particular significance for the inaugural meeting of the NZSA’s Protective Security Risk Management (PSRM) SIG held on the 15th July.

In this case however, discussion focused on the events in Christchurch earlier this year and the reality that as horrific the outcome was, in many ways perceptions relating to security still focus narrowly on people in uniform guarding something. Whilst there are many groups at a government, academic and industry level that have an interest in “security”, there is very little encouragement or current desire for those groups to interact or to be involved in developing a comprehensive view and approach to national security.

The PSRM Special Interest Group comprises representatives from both the academia and industry and has set an initial strategy of being an enabler and influencer of government agencies as a means towards greater awareness and recognition of protective security risk management processes and protocols. It is not the intention of the group to create or develop these processes and protocols but rather to leverage off existing proven and researched examples and standards from around the world.

The Group has also identified the need for guidance in risk management for the SME’s (small to medium enterprises) that provide the back-bone for New Zealand business but do not necessarily have the size, resource or ability to access relevant information or guidance.

For more information on the PSRM Special Interest Group, contact Gary Morrison on gary@security.org.nz