“Although you only need the COA now, I believe that one day the Level 3 will be a requirement to work in the profession,” says Barragan. By providing her team the opportunity to earn the certificate now, not only is Barragan getting ahead of the curve, but she also saw it as a chance for her staff to “broaden their career pathways, and go for that promotion or higher pay bracket.”
Despite her many years of experience in the industry, Barragan chose to complete the programme alongside her team. “I wanted to see if it would strengthen their roles — and it really did. It brought the team closer together and gave them new opportunities to collaborate toward a common goal.”
NZSE assessor Tasi Tuigamala uses roleplays of real-life scenarios to prepare the learners for the range of experiences they can encounter as a static guard, patrol guard, concierge, and more. They aren’t pretty — think drunken fights, suspicious packages, medical emergencies — and require the learners to demonstrate their knowledge of standard-operating procedures.
Global Security Solutions has already seen the real-world impact of roleplay training. At the certificate ceremony, Manager of Manned Services Pushpinder Singh recalled a recent confrontation while on duty. “One of my team members encountered an aggressive customer at a supermarket — it could have turned violent, but he de-escalated the situation, called the police, and took all the right precautions. We don’t want heroes; we want our staff to be safe,” says Singh.
Every learner in the cohort passed, making them NZSE’s first work-based learning security graduate group. Maria Taylor, Head of Work-Based Learning at NZSE, says the value of workplace development extends well beyond individual capability. “The certification equips employees with skills like effective communication, managing conflicts, and how to minimise risks, but it doesn’t just add value to the individual — it is hugely beneficial for businesses, too.
“For employers, upskilling improves morale, culture and reputation. This certificate will also provide a point of differentiation from others in the industry, and signals to prospective clients that the organisation values professionalism.”
Well trained and up-skilled staff can provide firms with confidence that their teams can handle complex situations safely and effectively — as well as provide bargaining power when it comes to winning contracts.
In a profession where one wrong decision can have serious consequences, formal education for the team is a practical investment that strengthens the industry one qualification at a time.
Learn more about NZSE College’s security programme
here.
