THE Limestone Coast now has a bolstered security presence after 15 people from across the region completed comprehensive guard training.
Funded by the South Australian Government’s Department of State Development (DSD), Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast (RDALC) coordinated a recent training program to provide subsidised training in Certificate II in Security Operations to local jobseekers in response to a shortage of skilled workers.
“We were approached by a Naracoorte security firm that was having difficulties finding qualified staff as there had not been any local training available through TAFE since 2010,” RDALC project support officer Maree Beale said.
“Once we identified the industry objectives and potential job opportunities, we were able to secure funding from the State Government to bring qualified instructors down from Adelaide.”
Naracoorte, Mount Gambier and Kingston-based participants aged between 18 and 45 completed 17 modules of online training from July to August before undertaking a five-day practical component in Naracoorte last month.
Limestone Coast Security helped to co-ordinate the training and owner David Ghezzi praised RDALC for delivering the project.
“We were looking to offer our own licensed training but kept hitting brick walls, so I decided to approach RDALC and within months they made it happen,” Mr Ghezzi said.
“We now have 15 newly qualified people from right across the region, which gives us a lot of scope for future workers – even though we don’t have a lot of full=time opportunities down here, there is plenty of casual work available for alarm response, security patrols and crowd and venue control.”
Several graduates expressed an interest in completing a Certificate III in Security Operations, which includes bodyguard and cash-in-transit training.
“One of our key aims will help individuals make informed choices regarding education, training or work,” Ms Beale said.
“We are particularly keen to connect people out of school, out of work, out of training, under-employed or unemployed.”
