Private security trainers and registered training organisations

Any person seeking to become a security industry firearms instructor (SIFI) must satisfy the following requirements:

• Hold a current Victorian private security trainer licence.
• Hold a current Victorian handgun or longarm licence.
• Hold a current Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or a diploma/higher-level qualification in adult education.
• Have completed an approved Security Industry Firearm Instructor course through an accredited SIFIT in Victoria. Note: This qualification is valid for 3 years.
• Possess at least 5 years’ experience as an armed guard or have previous firearms instructing history.
• Be able to demonstrate current opportunity for employment with an approved RTO as a security industry firearms instructor; or with an organisation licenced to deliver firearm requalification training.

Any person seeking to become a security industry firearm instructor trainer (SIFIT) must satisfy all of the following requirements:

• Hold a current Victorian private security trainer licence.
• Hold a current Victorian handgun or longarm licence.
• Hold a current Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or a diploma/higher-level qualification in adult education.
• Possess at least 5 years’ experience as a SIFI.
• Be able to demonstrate current opportunity for employment with an approved RTO as a security industry firearms instructor trainer.

To request approval to become a SIFI or SIFIT, you must lodge a written application to the Licensing and Regulation Division via email or post. Written application must state that you are seeking approval as a SIFI/SIFIT and include:

• All relevant qualifications, including a certificate of competency for your security industry firearms instructor course.
• A resume including a detailed history of your firearms experience and skills.
• Evidence that you have an opportunity for employment as a SIFI or SIFIT with an approved RTO; or as a SIFI with an organisation licenced to deliver firearm requalification training.

If you are applying to become a security industry firearms instructor with an RTO, note that approval will only be granted by the Chief Commissioner of Police once you have been endorsed by the Licensing and Regulation Division to train with that RTO. Once you are aligned to the RTO as an approved trainer, the genuine reason of ‘security industry training’ will be endorsed on your handgun and/or longarm licence.

To operate a business conducting handgun requalification or SIFI training, the following information must be submitted to Licensing & Regulation Division:

1. Corporate Handgun licence application. See: Firearm Forms and Reference Information
2. Training Materials including but not limited to:  Course Structure; timetable; instructor and student training manuals; and Exams – student & answer sheets.
3. Details of the shooting range to be used for training.
4. Current and relevant insurance certificates including Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance. 

To maintain SIFI and/or SIFIT status, instructors must:

• provide 80 hours of instruction annually; and
• requalify each financial year as per armed guard/cash-in-transit requirements.

Prior to providing any training, licensed private security businesses are required to have all their trainers approved to conduct training by the Licensing and Regulation Division (LRD).

When employing new trainers, approved security training businesses must submit the following information/documentation to LRD:

• Trainer’s full name and private security licence number
• List of the competencies, courses training and/or assessing
• Comprehensive and current resume containing sufficient detail to satisfy LRD that the trainer has relevant and current industry evidence of what employment or formal training the prospective trainer has undertaken, including specific time periods of employment/training and must also demonstrate that the trainer complies with AQTF Standard 1.4 (NV-SNR 15.4)
• Relevant qualifications issued in recent years or documentation to support ongoing professional development that has not already provided in the past for security licensing purposes
• First aid trainer applications must be accompanied by a current HLTAID006/014 Provide Advanced First Aid qualification
• Firearm trainer applications must be accompanied by a current approval under Section 179 of The Firearms Act 1996

Approval requests may be submitted via email or post. Please ensure that supporting documents are saved as PDF or Word document files.

Email: LRD-COMPLIANCE-SUPPORT-MGR@police.vic.gov.au

Post: Licensing and Regulation Division, Attn: Compliance Support

GPO Box 2807, Melbourne, VIC 3011

If submitting via post, please include a USB Flash Drive with supporting documents.

If submitting via email, please attach supporting documents to the email. Unfortunately, we cannot accept documents shared via file hosting services.  

Licensed RTOs must have training premises and locations approved by the LRD prior to the commencement of use. The exception is approved firearms ranges, or where training is undertaken at the workplace of the student who is a current licence holder.

To seek approval of an additional training location, provide the following information/documents to LRD:

• exact address of the training location
• photograph of the building (an external view)
• photographs of the proposed training rooms and student facilities
• a floor plan if available
• information regarding the student numbers the classroom can accommodate
• information about council approved as a training location (if required)
• numbers of trainers to be utilised at the location (and identity if known)
• administrative staff that will be employed at this location
• whether the location is intended as a permanent training location or temporary, and if temporary, the reasons why it is temporary

Approval requests may be submitted via email or post. Please ensure that supporting documents are saved as PDF or Word document files.

Email: LRD-COMPLIANCE-SUPPORT-MGR@police.vic.gov.au

Post: Licensing and Regulation Division, Attn: Compliance Support

GPO Box 2807, Melbourne, VIC 3011

If submitting via post, please include a USB Flash Drive with supporting documents.

If submitting via email, please attach supporting documents to the email. Unfortunately, we cannot accept documents shared via file hosting services.  

Licensed RTOs must have security courses approved by LRD prior to the delivery of training for that activity. This includes any specific competencies, qualifications and licence activities.

To seek approval, RTOs are required to submit various supporting documents. For details concerning these requirements, see: RTO Guide

Approval requests may be submitted via email or post. Please ensure that supporting documents are saved as PDF or Word document files.

Email: LRD-COMPLIANCE-SUPPORT-MGR@police.vic.gov.au

Post: Licensing and Regulation Division, Attn: Compliance Support

GPO Box 2807, Melbourne, VIC 3011

If submitting via post, please include a USB Flash Drive with supporting documents.

If submitting via email, please attach supporting documents to the email. Unfortunately, we cannot accept documents shared via file hosting services.  

Two conditions for a private security business licence holder for the activity of trainer require that specific information about any proposed and completed training is to be provided to the Licensing and Regulation Division.

The licence conditions are as follows:

Condition 8

• The licence holder must supply details of any security training proposed to be conducted by the licence holder, no less than 48 hours prior to commencement of training.

Condition 9

• The licence holder must supply a list of students within seven days of successful completion of security training.

The Licensing and Regulation Division have developed resources to aid RTO’s in providing this information in a consistent format. To obtain these resources, please email: lrdrtoreturnsoic@police.vic.gov.au

RTOs are required to securely retain all completed firearm examination papers for each student for a period of at least 5 years from the date of competency.

Note: Please do not submit hard copy exams to Licensing and Regulation Division.

Additional information:

• RTOs must maintain compliance with the requirements of their registration with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) or the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). This includes any specific requirements imposed relating to the retention of student assessment items.
• Records must be accurate, legible and kept in good order. RTOs must make all examination papers available for inspection, copying, or imaging (if required) to a delegate of the Chief Commissioner of Police. LRD must still be notified of any 'not yet competent' results.
• RTOs submitting Notification of Receiving Instruction forms on behalf of a student should return the form via email or post. Do not attach any additional documentation to the form (i.e., statements of endorsement substantiating the applicant's club membership, exam papers etc.)

For details concerning current qualifications and relevant competencies see: Private Security Authority Types, Eligibility and Training

All active trainers must update their security certificates to the required qualification, with the relevant competencies. For more information on the currency of qualifications, see: Private Security Industry News