Security Industry Training 2020: Post Covid- 19

Despite the significant challenges COVID-19 has thrown at the security industry, writes Independent Security Consultant Lincoln Potter PSP, adversity has delivered some innovative new training initiatives.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented new challenges for training within our industry. Amid the various Alert Levels, the demand for security officers increased, along with applications to the PSPLA for Certificates of Approval.

During the lockdowns, it was difficult for new entrants coming into the industry to get through the mandatory training requirements. Classroom teaching was out of the question and e-learning online resources were in early stages of review and renewal. But these challenges also triggered new initiatives.

Lincoln Potter PSP is an Independent Security Consultant based in Auckland

During lockdown, training provider to industry HardTarget identified the need for specialist online training content and launched a series of video modules to fill the classroom training void and to give our new entrants the skills to keep themselves safe while at work. HardTarget picked up a gong at the NZSA 2020 New Zealand Security Industry Awards as a result.

In another major initiative, the NZSA, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Decelopment (MSD) contracted Joy Business Academy (JBA) to develop a new line of mandatory training modules that, once moderated, will fill the requirements of the NZQA Unit Standards 27360, 27361 and 27364. These incorporate e-learning and virtual reality technologies.

The new e-learning has been developed using the new Skills Organisation content (recently released) in order to maintain currency with our standard setting provider. Due for release early next year, this training package will completely change the way we train our security officers in the future.

The virtual reality (VR) training has been developed to train new entrants in common scenarios we come across out in the field. This initiative is visionary for our industry, and given the current economic climate, I feel we should be very greatful for the investment the MSD and NZSA have made in support of industry training.

Given that VR training is a new concept, I am pleased that the response from industry so far has been very encouraging.

The NZSA Special Interest Group for Training and Professional Development within the Security Industry has had a busy year working on what is called the ‘High-Risk’ Unit Standards relating to self-defense and control and restraint.

A great deal of work has been done on wrapping the metrics of this training around the Unit Standards. In the past, this has always been extremely difficult to achieve, however the SIG has so far been successful and is waiting to hear back from NZQA. Training providers are already working on their resources for delivering this training.

Skills and Shift (Standard setting body) is busy working on the resources for the new Level 3 foundation qualification. This is a fortunate turn for the industry as it had been doubtful there would be funding to do this. Without the funding we would have had a new qualification but no learner materials and resources.

These developments have indeed been very encouraging, and they reflect the fact that 2020 – despite its major challenges – has been a productive year for industry training.