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Guest Speakers - Rachael and Glenn Saunders : The Security Industry Rachael spoke first on the three parts of the Security Industry in general Protective Security: people Electronic Security: devices Cyber Security: internet Rachael went on to discuss Protective Security in detail and in particular the company she founded 30 years ago. The security industry employs over 150,000 thousand people, has 12,000 private companies and is worth $11.5 billion dollars. In addition there is 60,000 support staff. The main challenges for the industry is the 12½ weeks in takes to get a license for each employee, the 8 different compliance regimes set by the organizations who control the industry, regular changes forced on the industry, inconsistent standards within the industry and staff shortages Rachael and Glen's company are involved in supplying personell to secure premises and events, run secured transport, consultancy and setting up electronic security systems. They supply security for firms,all levels of government, domestic and infrastructure but not hospitality. Rachael spent most of her presentation discuss the impact the COVID had on the business - initially causing a loss of business as clients did not have the need for security so much in lockdown to the rapid increase in security to protect people from COVID. She related one assignment how her company was appointed to deal with the homeless people during lockdown. She also covered how their industry has a casual workforce that are lowly paid and not always highly educated. Security personell are used to following straight forward rules and processes. During COVID there were a range of compliances, many different authorities who thought they were in charge and different rules in for each situation. Some people assumed the security people were in charge. No wonder there were issues as everyone had to learn on the run! The costs were high $84 million to house, treat and secure 3000 homeless over the durastion of the pandemic. Glen then took over and explained how they dealt with boom COVID brought them. They suffered staff shortages like everyone else but they were essential workers so they often became the main income earners in their families. Their company was put in charge of dealing with the homeless people of Melbourne and beyond during "lockdown". People who often had mental illness and rarely had been housed in a hotels they were not used to. The security staff had to learn how to deal with people with mental, drug and alcohol issues - sometimes with all three - and often did not understand why they were being housed and locked down. A tough job but one that their company eacelled in, so much so that the State Government continues and supplies much of what was set up to deal with those with mental health issues today! It was so good to hear that the best way to do it was to have no harsh response and to deal with everyone as people and with respect. Rachael and Glen demonstrated how compassion, commensense and humanity could make a COVID challenged business a great success and also profitable. Rachael and Glen exuded a calm and thoughtful approah that appealed to us all. Rachael finished by saying the company remains successful and larger as they transition away from the COVID era. Thank you for an enlightening and interesting presentation. The Three Minute Speaker Jim Young Jim Young gave an entertaining pathwy that would enable the country to become a republic yet satisfy the monarchists amongst us. I am not sure he carried the day though! Step 1. Instal Prince Harry as King of Australia before his father is crowned as the head of state of the United Kingdom and the other countries (was it 6?) who have the English monarch as their Head of State. Step 2. Have Harry and his children become Australian citizens Step 3. We now have an Australian Head of State Step 4. It is a simple process to convince the royals to declare us a Republic Jim was pleased to send us down this path starting at Wallace Simpson who caused the abdication which lead then to George VI and so on. I loved it!
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