If you have made a new years resolution to upgrade your career prospects this year and have noticed that there are several Federally funded workplace qualifications on offer - which include Security and Private Investigations, let me provide you with an update on the former and some words of caution on the latter.
The Productivity Placement Programme or PPP scheme is operating in a number of disciplines for those registered with Centrelink and a job service agency such as Mission Australia, Epic Employment or Sarina Russo. I have the qualifications to train people looking to qualify in Security - Certificate II, and Private Investigations, which is a Certificate III level course. I can train several others as well, however, these are the only PPP funded courses I can currently offer. Unfortunately for some, the PPP places have been exhausted - FOR THE MOMENT - here in Maryborough, but there will be more available very shortly, once we impress on the government the popularity of the courses.
I train the Security courses from my office and training room in Maryborough, Qld, and over the past four years I guess I have assisted upwards of 400 people to gain employment in this ever expanding industry. In the main the course attendees have been attentive and worthy of qualification if not full time employment, although there have been many horror stories too. I alluded to a literacy and numeracy dificiency in a lot of the adult students coming to me and I often reflect with concern at how they are slipping through the system in seemingly such large numbers. Perhaps I am only seeing a proportion that think Security does nothing in the way of computer based work, or need's little report writing skill or ancillary communication skills. If that sounds like you, read on.
Increasingly the Security industry is being called on to report incidents that end in Court and the standards there are extremely high. My last security job was a multi function role requiring intra day reporting of people and incidents, interviews, operation of complex CCTV and Alarm systems backed up by a fairly rigourous legislative understanding. Now that's fine for someone like myself who has attended hundreds of court cases - juries and stern faced judges, and worse - smarmy overpriced defenced counsel do not phase me - however, for someone who has only seen them on television it can be a very, very daunting proposition.
There was also the very real demand to communicate at a high level with some very intelligent, and then some not so, emotionally unstable people, some intent on self harming to the point of suicide.
My Security role prior to that was on a large Industrial site and the work proved to be 90% administrative, 10% Security, demanding a skill set that I did not possess. A lot of flying by the seat of my pants, and flying blind, to use a couple of appropriate aviation metaphor's, was required to get through the day. At times I was actually spinning in circles in one spot answering phones, dealing with staff at the office window, conversing with staff on the in house radio channel, checking data on the computer because a contractor had activated a no entry alarm, in the middle of conducting safety inductions while trying to avoid copius numbers of boxes and equipment that I had just received and was required to check at a point in the day when the spinning had stopped. Multi tasking like nothing I had seen before and it was extremely demanding. So please if you think Security is a job where you sit around watching TV, you are in for a rather large shock. That said, Security at the moment is booming and can take you in a diversity of directions that were unheard of even 5 years ago, and not just in the manner I have just described.
The current crop of trainee's - whom I lauded in my previous blog, all seem interested in the Crowd Control aspect of Security work, I can't fault them for that but I do warn that after weeks of physically restraining and dealing with drunk and drug affected patrons, they will not sound quite so enthusiastic. Certainly, my days of dealing with trouble makers who have had too much to drink are over and I now prefer to advise others on what to expect and how to deal with it in a manner that will ensure they retain their dignity, their job and their health.
The PI Industry is another of the PPP funded schemes that I train from my DRM GROUP training facility. However, at the moment the industry is experiencing it's quietest entry to a new year I can recall. Many of the other PI's I am in touch with are concerned at the low level of work on offer at the moment, some have left for other more lucrative work and others - nearly all - are having to consider returning to paid employment of the traditional kind, that is the sort we all became self employed PI's to get away from. So if you are considering entering this industry I urge you to call me on (07) 41230795 or copy this link and make contact through my website at http//www.drmgroup.com.au.
Although fascinating and challenging, there is also a very real rquirement to purchase a range of equipment you probably had no idea would be needed to gain work. I am also afraid that having the ability to work out the formulaic thinking of television's crime show writer's fall's someway short of the real ability to spot an inconsistency or potential loophole in the story of an Insurance claimant for instance. Mind you the surveillance side of the business is a completely different one to the interview of claimants and provides a completely different, yet equally difficult challenge. I'm not sure anyone actually masters surveillance, but you certainly learn fast and it is endlessly exciting...outside of the hours of sitting in cars waiting for something to happen that is. But then that is a huge challenge in itself and is not something everyone can do.
I hope the current lull in PI work recedes as quickly as it hit us, but for the moment consider your move carefully. If you are thinking of entering either industry feel free to give me a call or use the link to my website listed above and send me an e-mail. I offer free, no obligation advice, without preference for suppliers of any related services.
I am passionate about improving the image, profile and standards of my industry and therefore if I can help you to become a better Officer or Investigator that's a win win, right? Right!
Think Long and Prosper
Dan
January 15, 2010
January 12, 2010
Opportunity Knocks
I have spent the first days of 2010 focusing on building my DRM GROUP business, watching a couple of very funny movies and training a new batch of aspiring Security Officers.
The current crop have really surpised me with the initiative they have shown in making the effort to read the material and answer the questions unaided. Ordinarily, I have to push the students to give me the most basic of answers to what is really, a very basic theoretical proposition. But this group have fired on all 8 cylinders from the flagfall and this gives me hope.
I have noticed, sadly, an embarrassingly low level of literacy and numeracy amongst far too many students attending my courses. I wonder how it is they manage to slip through to adulthood with such low levels of competence, but nontheless I admire the determination of each and everyone of them as they struggle to improve their lot.
As many of you know, I have a background that includes Policing and Correctional Services as a Prison Guard. I witnessed with dismay, the victim mentality of the incarcerated - mostly without substance. Qld has a state of the art, modern prison system and do make a valiant attempt to deal with their growing prison population, but the ideals of the politicians are in this case let down by the low quality and work ethic of the majority of their paid employees.
Plus we endure the problem of having been too cowardly for our own good to stand up and be counted on the important issues.
You know, the defining blow for me leaving my homeland of New Zealand had it Genesis in David Lange's Prime Ministerial era. At the time, a British soapie known to all as Coronation Street was running twice weekly on enzed's main TV channel and it ran about 6 months behind the UK where it is produced. Such is the devotion and love of the series (now it must be well in to it's 50's) that TVNZ decided to increase coverage to 5 nights per week in order to bring us into a very current time line with England. The plan was to stop at about two weeks behind to allow for various transportaion issues and the like.
Well once TVNZ caught up with their British counterparts, they announced to the flatlining populace that coverage of the whinging pommie soap was to revert to three nights per week.
Adolf Hitler's re-incarnation and stated desire to declare NZ a neo Jewish nation and burn it to the ground would have gone unnoticed in the storm of protest that followed. David Lange spotted this mile wide ignorance of the populace and made his move.
If only Biggles, Algy and Bertie had been around to spot it we would have witnessed the birth of another classic adventure!!!
Meanwhile, as the braindead Press and TV coverage of the time focused on the protest and outrage of Coronation Street being taken from the flatliner's TV channel's, portly Dave slipped in a 2.5% increase in the GST, under cover of darkness and contrary to the Labour party's absolute -read my lips "We will not increase the GST" - policy, and what do you think happened, dear reader?
No, the flatliner's did not change tack and howl in protest at the GST increase, they sat back or rather bent over, and let Davey boy give it to them. Did the Coro St protest lose impetus? Absolutely not, in fact a nationwide petition was organised, stars of the show were flown out to NZ to assist with the protest, and we railed against the horror of losing an hour of rubbish on tv per week.
Davo's GST increase got through unnoticed and unchallenged, and without a whimper from the maojority. No that last one is not a misprint.
So I decided to look for a brighter more stimulating environment, and Australia shouted out " Where the bloody hell are ya Biggles, get over here mate!". I've made huge stride's in leaving my dislike and utter contempt of Politicians behind, and I have watched in detached fascination at the antic's of the Australian "Servants of the People" although I still love to give them a size 9 now and then.
I have happily found much more to interest and embrace about this totally fascinating nation. Australia has presented me with seemingly endless opportunities that NZ never could and for that I am extremely grateful. But don't waste your time trying to turn me against the All Blacks...won't happen, no way, no how...read my lips!
Think Long and Prosper
Biggles
The current crop have really surpised me with the initiative they have shown in making the effort to read the material and answer the questions unaided. Ordinarily, I have to push the students to give me the most basic of answers to what is really, a very basic theoretical proposition. But this group have fired on all 8 cylinders from the flagfall and this gives me hope.
I have noticed, sadly, an embarrassingly low level of literacy and numeracy amongst far too many students attending my courses. I wonder how it is they manage to slip through to adulthood with such low levels of competence, but nontheless I admire the determination of each and everyone of them as they struggle to improve their lot.
As many of you know, I have a background that includes Policing and Correctional Services as a Prison Guard. I witnessed with dismay, the victim mentality of the incarcerated - mostly without substance. Qld has a state of the art, modern prison system and do make a valiant attempt to deal with their growing prison population, but the ideals of the politicians are in this case let down by the low quality and work ethic of the majority of their paid employees.
Plus we endure the problem of having been too cowardly for our own good to stand up and be counted on the important issues.
You know, the defining blow for me leaving my homeland of New Zealand had it Genesis in David Lange's Prime Ministerial era. At the time, a British soapie known to all as Coronation Street was running twice weekly on enzed's main TV channel and it ran about 6 months behind the UK where it is produced. Such is the devotion and love of the series (now it must be well in to it's 50's) that TVNZ decided to increase coverage to 5 nights per week in order to bring us into a very current time line with England. The plan was to stop at about two weeks behind to allow for various transportaion issues and the like.
Well once TVNZ caught up with their British counterparts, they announced to the flatlining populace that coverage of the whinging pommie soap was to revert to three nights per week.
Adolf Hitler's re-incarnation and stated desire to declare NZ a neo Jewish nation and burn it to the ground would have gone unnoticed in the storm of protest that followed. David Lange spotted this mile wide ignorance of the populace and made his move.
If only Biggles, Algy and Bertie had been around to spot it we would have witnessed the birth of another classic adventure!!!
Meanwhile, as the braindead Press and TV coverage of the time focused on the protest and outrage of Coronation Street being taken from the flatliner's TV channel's, portly Dave slipped in a 2.5% increase in the GST, under cover of darkness and contrary to the Labour party's absolute -read my lips "We will not increase the GST" - policy, and what do you think happened, dear reader?
No, the flatliner's did not change tack and howl in protest at the GST increase, they sat back or rather bent over, and let Davey boy give it to them. Did the Coro St protest lose impetus? Absolutely not, in fact a nationwide petition was organised, stars of the show were flown out to NZ to assist with the protest, and we railed against the horror of losing an hour of rubbish on tv per week.
Davo's GST increase got through unnoticed and unchallenged, and without a whimper from the maojority. No that last one is not a misprint.
So I decided to look for a brighter more stimulating environment, and Australia shouted out " Where the bloody hell are ya Biggles, get over here mate!". I've made huge stride's in leaving my dislike and utter contempt of Politicians behind, and I have watched in detached fascination at the antic's of the Australian "Servants of the People" although I still love to give them a size 9 now and then.
I have happily found much more to interest and embrace about this totally fascinating nation. Australia has presented me with seemingly endless opportunities that NZ never could and for that I am extremely grateful. But don't waste your time trying to turn me against the All Blacks...won't happen, no way, no how...read my lips!
Think Long and Prosper
Biggles
January 8, 2010
New Year, New Inspirations...
Have you made your new years resolutions/s yet? Are they in tatter's already?
This year I resolve to keep breathing so I can enjoy the odd (and not so odd) Red wine, follow my favourite football team - Chelsea FC - playing on the world's greatest stage of the beautiful game, and building my business to the best of my abilities.
Now the red wine one is easy to follow so that's a win, Chelsea are leading the Premier league and may well have their best season in their 100+ year history - of which I have been privileged to follow about 39, so although they continue to frustrate, I claim that as a win as well, and of the third I am focused and determined to beat anything Murphy cares to throw my way. So I consider I've already won that fight before we even enter the ring. Better than that I am convinced my success will be built on back of your success for I see your success in the training I provide as a win as well.
So 4 nil to me then.
As I have mentioned in earlier post's I thoroughly enjoy training people to be the best Security officer's and Private Investigators they can be. That is a win when I help a more challenged student to succesfully pass the course/s and inspires me to keep my own learning going. At the moment I am working on a Business Management qualification in order to train that discipline as well.
I have learnt so much about business in setting up the DRM GROUP but the main thing that kept me going was the focus and desire to want to do it. Working for yourself is a minefield of never ending learning and challenges but it sure as hell beats working for some unknown face in Corporate seclusion earning mega millions off of my efforts. Sure, at the moment I can't quantify in terms of dollars the value of that feeling of independance, but I am sure I will figure that out when I am sitting on the balcony overlooking the Grand Prix track at Monaco or admiring the history and beauty of Venice from my Gondola - all paid for by my efforts, not some criminally inflated Lehman Brothers/Bear Sterns/AIG style bogus Bonus package that we then have to bail out with a political STIMULUS programme..
So if you are thinking of going solo in the business world, get on the net and search out some of the excellent sites available, like the morning coffee I must have my daily fix of
www.flyingsolo.com.au and www.smartcompany.com.au. They inspire and inform and if you log on for their daily e-mail's than you receive ongoing inspiration even when you are bogged down with other matters.
I am learning something everyday in business and take each step with some degree of trepidation, but then I did that working for some sour faced foreman or supervisor anyway so even that's a win.
My goals are acheivable and there for the taking. Are yours?
Do you know what, something just occurred to me, I have not been able to watch the television for the past month and I have therefore not seen the TV news or, in fact, have rarely heard the radio 5 second sound bite version of the same murder/mayhem/people killed in three car pile up trash. Further, the time not spent in front of the tv has instead been spent with my nose in a book of something I consider far more inspirational. And the effects of dropping that negative obituary driven war mongering political double speak that passes for national news has been a positive revelation.
Try it, you will not regret the change. Grab the remote and hit that big red off switch!!
Think long and prosper
Biggles
This year I resolve to keep breathing so I can enjoy the odd (and not so odd) Red wine, follow my favourite football team - Chelsea FC - playing on the world's greatest stage of the beautiful game, and building my business to the best of my abilities.
Now the red wine one is easy to follow so that's a win, Chelsea are leading the Premier league and may well have their best season in their 100+ year history - of which I have been privileged to follow about 39, so although they continue to frustrate, I claim that as a win as well, and of the third I am focused and determined to beat anything Murphy cares to throw my way. So I consider I've already won that fight before we even enter the ring. Better than that I am convinced my success will be built on back of your success for I see your success in the training I provide as a win as well.
So 4 nil to me then.
As I have mentioned in earlier post's I thoroughly enjoy training people to be the best Security officer's and Private Investigators they can be. That is a win when I help a more challenged student to succesfully pass the course/s and inspires me to keep my own learning going. At the moment I am working on a Business Management qualification in order to train that discipline as well.
I have learnt so much about business in setting up the DRM GROUP but the main thing that kept me going was the focus and desire to want to do it. Working for yourself is a minefield of never ending learning and challenges but it sure as hell beats working for some unknown face in Corporate seclusion earning mega millions off of my efforts. Sure, at the moment I can't quantify in terms of dollars the value of that feeling of independance, but I am sure I will figure that out when I am sitting on the balcony overlooking the Grand Prix track at Monaco or admiring the history and beauty of Venice from my Gondola - all paid for by my efforts, not some criminally inflated Lehman Brothers/Bear Sterns/AIG style bogus Bonus package that we then have to bail out with a political STIMULUS programme..
So if you are thinking of going solo in the business world, get on the net and search out some of the excellent sites available, like the morning coffee I must have my daily fix of
www.flyingsolo.com.au and www.smartcompany.com.au. They inspire and inform and if you log on for their daily e-mail's than you receive ongoing inspiration even when you are bogged down with other matters.
I am learning something everyday in business and take each step with some degree of trepidation, but then I did that working for some sour faced foreman or supervisor anyway so even that's a win.
My goals are acheivable and there for the taking. Are yours?
Do you know what, something just occurred to me, I have not been able to watch the television for the past month and I have therefore not seen the TV news or, in fact, have rarely heard the radio 5 second sound bite version of the same murder/mayhem/people killed in three car pile up trash. Further, the time not spent in front of the tv has instead been spent with my nose in a book of something I consider far more inspirational. And the effects of dropping that negative obituary driven war mongering political double speak that passes for national news has been a positive revelation.
Try it, you will not regret the change. Grab the remote and hit that big red off switch!!
Think long and prosper
Biggles
Training Courses for January 2010
If you are considering expanding your vocational skills DRM GROUP is now back in full swing after the Christmas and New Year Break and has set the following course dates for January:
Security : Certificate II in Security Operations (PPP Funded)
Jan 11/12 & 18/19 - only positions for fee paying student left
Jan 25/26 & Feb 1/2 - contact us for further PPP information
First Aid : Jan 19
Jan 29
Feb 2
Feb 5
Feb 12
Feb 19
All First Aid courses are for Apply First Aid (formerly Snr First Aid and CPR. AED training available on request. CPR renewals available on request.
Please visit the DRM GROUP website under the Training page and check the Course fee information indicated on the Pymt page.
I look forward to helping your New Years resolution or workplace requirement become a reality.
Regards
Dan
Security : Certificate II in Security Operations (PPP Funded)
Jan 11/12 & 18/19 - only positions for fee paying student left
Jan 25/26 & Feb 1/2 - contact us for further PPP information
First Aid : Jan 19
Jan 29
Feb 2
Feb 5
Feb 12
Feb 19
All First Aid courses are for Apply First Aid (formerly Snr First Aid and CPR. AED training available on request. CPR renewals available on request.
Please visit the DRM GROUP website under the Training page and check the Course fee information indicated on the Pymt page.
I look forward to helping your New Years resolution or workplace requirement become a reality.
Regards
Dan
Great Minds, Inspirational Thinking...
This is a quotation attributed to Michelangelo and bears some thought...
"The greater danger for most us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,
but that it is too low and we reach it".
Think long & prosper
Biggles
"The greater danger for most us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,
but that it is too low and we reach it".
Think long & prosper
Biggles
January 7, 2010
Are You still on holiday?
I have been back flying a desk since Monday but I know a lot of you have another week or more left before you return to the daily routine we all love so much.
I wonder how many of you arrived home from you trips away to find your house had been burgled, vandalised or property had been stolen from the yard. I would wager a fair few of you.
Did you take any precautions in alerting your neighbour to your intended plans? Did you leave them an iteinerary to ease locating you in an emergency? Did you give nayone your alarm codes to attend to emergencies at your business or house?
These little things tend to get overlooked amongst the clutter of the holiday planning and packing.
If you know you are going away then draw up a plan well in advance and include everything you can think of, no matter how insignificant it might seem, you can always disregard it.
Give your alarm codes and travel details only to your most trusted friends or family members and be prepared to change alarm codes on your return home.
Do you know what your Insurance covers in the event of Burglary, arson or the like. Are you aware of what they refuse to cover and why, and their reasons they can decline your claim? As a PI I know that the Insurance pays strict attention to detail as it relates to your obligations and requirements. Close enough is not good enough in this industry I am afraid.
That said, less than 20% of claims are rejected for any reason, that means the Insurance companies in fact pay out over 80% of the time, contrary to the common misconception - widely held in my experience.
As I sit here at my desk the rain is thundering down outside, a welcome sound and feature of this time of year although for those of you unfortunate enough to have chosen a camping holiday it makes life a little less enjoyable. I noticed the grass is intensely green at the moment which is a sight I always enjoy however.
Take care if you have to drive home through any of the rain, enjoy the rest of your holiday or the slow entry to the work year and expect nothing but the best for the year ahead, I know I am and I look forward to the challenges and the triumphs to come.
Stay Safe
Biggles.
I wonder how many of you arrived home from you trips away to find your house had been burgled, vandalised or property had been stolen from the yard. I would wager a fair few of you.
Did you take any precautions in alerting your neighbour to your intended plans? Did you leave them an iteinerary to ease locating you in an emergency? Did you give nayone your alarm codes to attend to emergencies at your business or house?
These little things tend to get overlooked amongst the clutter of the holiday planning and packing.
If you know you are going away then draw up a plan well in advance and include everything you can think of, no matter how insignificant it might seem, you can always disregard it.
Give your alarm codes and travel details only to your most trusted friends or family members and be prepared to change alarm codes on your return home.
Do you know what your Insurance covers in the event of Burglary, arson or the like. Are you aware of what they refuse to cover and why, and their reasons they can decline your claim? As a PI I know that the Insurance pays strict attention to detail as it relates to your obligations and requirements. Close enough is not good enough in this industry I am afraid.
That said, less than 20% of claims are rejected for any reason, that means the Insurance companies in fact pay out over 80% of the time, contrary to the common misconception - widely held in my experience.
As I sit here at my desk the rain is thundering down outside, a welcome sound and feature of this time of year although for those of you unfortunate enough to have chosen a camping holiday it makes life a little less enjoyable. I noticed the grass is intensely green at the moment which is a sight I always enjoy however.
Take care if you have to drive home through any of the rain, enjoy the rest of your holiday or the slow entry to the work year and expect nothing but the best for the year ahead, I know I am and I look forward to the challenges and the triumphs to come.
Stay Safe
Biggles.
January 5, 2010
AVATAR - WOW!!! Down time entertainment.
I spent the Christmas New Year Break down in Yamba, NSW with my mother before travelling north to visit with my sister and her husband. During the course of the latter stay I went to see the new James Cameron movie AVATAR and what an inspired choice that was.
If you are considering going to see it, consider no further, GO. Make sure you see the 3D version, it is stunning.
The movie draws many parallel's from mother Earth, you only need to picture our relentless decimation of the Amazon jungle to catch my drift. And that of James Cameron as well I imagine.
I found the quality of the movie totally inspiring, from the story to the vision Cameron had in filming this in 3D, surely set to be the standard for big budget movies from this point on. Although the story is somewhat formulaic it is nevertheless a work of art and deserves to be viewed by anyone remotely interested in movies, and I don't just mean Sci Fi aficionado's.
I will no doubt see this again in 3D (something I have never done before), I also can see the new TV screens developing to allow for 3D transmission in the future as well.
I also had the chance to watch Star Trek (the latest version) on Blu Ray TV/DVD and was mightily impressed with that as well. I never really took to the original James T. Kirk and co but this movie is much better than that corny old show. It sets up the early story of Kirk and his crew very nicely. The clarity of the picture was beyond my expectations and now I want one.
Another gem I have finally managed to sit down and watch is the 2003/4 TV series "Deadwood". I don't recall having seen it on the small screen back then and with the never ending expletives and violence it is no wonder, but a brilliant piece of writing, directing, acting and set design combine to make it a must view - if you have a broad mind. It is based in part on the real town of Deadwood in the gold rush days of 1876. It inspired me to google a little of the history of the town and it proved an interesting exercise. I even intend to travel there when I next I am in the US.
I have been interested to compare the developments we have made since that era, some obvious such as sanitation, roads and communications, some less succesful such as the way we view women and those of other races or ethnicities.
Though provoking stuff all round really and a nice break before getting back into the business of training and Investigations.
Stay Safe
Biggles
If you are considering going to see it, consider no further, GO. Make sure you see the 3D version, it is stunning.
The movie draws many parallel's from mother Earth, you only need to picture our relentless decimation of the Amazon jungle to catch my drift. And that of James Cameron as well I imagine.
I found the quality of the movie totally inspiring, from the story to the vision Cameron had in filming this in 3D, surely set to be the standard for big budget movies from this point on. Although the story is somewhat formulaic it is nevertheless a work of art and deserves to be viewed by anyone remotely interested in movies, and I don't just mean Sci Fi aficionado's.
I will no doubt see this again in 3D (something I have never done before), I also can see the new TV screens developing to allow for 3D transmission in the future as well.
I also had the chance to watch Star Trek (the latest version) on Blu Ray TV/DVD and was mightily impressed with that as well. I never really took to the original James T. Kirk and co but this movie is much better than that corny old show. It sets up the early story of Kirk and his crew very nicely. The clarity of the picture was beyond my expectations and now I want one.
Another gem I have finally managed to sit down and watch is the 2003/4 TV series "Deadwood". I don't recall having seen it on the small screen back then and with the never ending expletives and violence it is no wonder, but a brilliant piece of writing, directing, acting and set design combine to make it a must view - if you have a broad mind. It is based in part on the real town of Deadwood in the gold rush days of 1876. It inspired me to google a little of the history of the town and it proved an interesting exercise. I even intend to travel there when I next I am in the US.
I have been interested to compare the developments we have made since that era, some obvious such as sanitation, roads and communications, some less succesful such as the way we view women and those of other races or ethnicities.
Though provoking stuff all round really and a nice break before getting back into the business of training and Investigations.
Stay Safe
Biggles
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