To ensure the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games is the safest and most successful Games ever, the Palaszczuk Government is investing $2 million in training for 1000 extra security guards.
Minister for Training and Skills Yvette D’Ath said the security and training boost would support the delivery of a safe and successful event for athletes, staff, volunteers and visitors. “The new, fully-trained officers will boost the security guard ranks to 4200 personnel working at the Commonwealth Games,” Mrs. D’Ath commented “Importantly, they will be equipped with the skills needed to maintain community safety before, during and after the Games. The new security guards will undergo training to attain a Certificate III in Security Operations and students will be encouraged to obtain two separate industry security licences as an unarmed guard and crowd controller.”
Mrs. D’Ath went on to point out that this will help them secure long-term employment after the Games, not just on the Gold Coast, but across Queensland where their newly acquired skills can help keep communities safe. Our strategy will also help expand the security provider network in South East Queensland, Townsville and Cairns, where some Commonwealth Games events will also be held, and support future employment opportunities within the industry.
Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones said the Games would support 30,000 jobs and inject more than $2 billion into Queensland’s economy. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show the world what Queensland has to offer,” Ms. Jones commented “We’re on track, on target and on budget to deliver the best Games ever and we have committed $1.5 billion to help make this happen. We know that our investment in the Games is an investment in jobs. We also know the Games will leave lasting legacies for future generations, not just on the Gold Coast, but right across Queensland.”
GOLDOC Chairman, Peter Beattie AC said local employment was a central part of the Games delivery model. “We want to take the community with us on the Games journey,” Mr. Beattie commented “More than 30 per cent of the security workforce deployed must reside in either the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Logan, Redland or Ipswich local authority areas ensuring jobs for residents across the South East.”