Private security licences in Victoria – what you need to know

In Victoria, anyone who wants to work in private security must be licensed. This is the case whether you’re looking to become a security guard, work as a crowd controller at licensed venues or start your own security business. Obtaining the right licence is one of the first steps. 

But it’s not as simple as just filling in a form, paying a registration fee and getting a licence in the mail. Victoria’s private security industry is heavily regulated. And with recent reforms significantly changing the licensing system, you might not be aware of what’s actually needed to get that important paper. 

Understanding what licence you need, how to qualify and what ongoing obligations you need to meet can help you avoid costly mistakes and keep your career on track. 

Who needs a private security licence in Victoria?

In Victoria, private security licences are governed by the Private Security Act 2004 as amended in 2025. Prior to the Private Security and County Court Amendment Act 2024, there was a dual system of Class A and Class B licences, with subactivities. These divisions have been effectively phased out, and since 19 June 2025, all private security activities are treated as licensed activities.

What is included under ‘private security activities’? This covers most frontline and investigative security work, including:

• Security guards
• Crowd controllers
• Bodyguards
• Investigators (private investigators)
• Security equipment installers
• Security advisers (security consultants)
• Private security trainers

Businesses that provide private security services and independent contractors who operate under their own ABN must also hold a private security business licence in addition to an individual operator licence for the activity that they are performing (i.e., bodyguard or crowd controller). 

What activities are allowed under a licence

Under the Act, a ‘private security licence’ may be issued in two ways: 

• A private security individual operator licence
• A private security business licence

Each licence can cover one or more security activities. So one person could be licensed for several roles at once, such as security guard, bodyguard, crowd controller, investigator or control room operator, as long as they meet the eligibility and training requirements for each activity.

Bodyguard

A bodyguard is employed to provide close personal protection for a person. This might be escorting them to and from locations, scanning crowds for threats and coordinating with security at event venues. To be a bodyguard in Victoria, a person must hold a private security individual operator licence endorsed for bodyguard work.

Crowd controller

A crowd controller is employed to maintain order at a venue by screening at entry, monitoring or controlling behaviour and ejecting patrons when it’s needed. Crowd controllers must hold an individual operator licence endorsed for crowd control and complete training in crowd control and security operations.

Investigators

An investigator is typically engaged to collect and provide information on the character, actions or even business dealings of a person or business. They’re also often hired to search for a missing person. An investigator – or private investigator – must have an individual operator licence endorsed for investigative work. They also have to comply with strict privacy and record-keeping requirements that are set out under the Act. 

Security guard sub-activities

A security guard can be employed to protect property by patrolling the property in person or by monitoring it using CCTV, alarms, radio or other security systems. Within the security guard category, the Act sets out several security guard activities and a licence holder can be endorsed for any one or more of these roles:

• armed guard
• unarmed guard
• cash-in-transit guard
• control room operator
• monitoring centre operator
• guard with a dog

A person may only perform one of these roles if they are listed on their licence. And they must also complete the relevant training units and meet eligibility requirements for each endorsed role. 

Eligibility for a licence

Not everyone can obtain a private security licence in Victoria. Applicants must meet a range of requirements set out in the Act and associated regulations, including completing the required training and demonstrating that they are suitable to work in the private security industry. In practice this means that a person must:

• be at least 18 years of age;
• be an Australian resident or hold a current visa with work rights;
• undergo background checks, including a national police check and fingerprinting ;
• provide an international police check if they’ve lived overseas for a prescribed period;
• not be a prohibited person;
• meet the ‘fit and proper person’ test;
• meet any competency requirements for the activities they want to be licensed for, including completing specified training;
• be financially sound (for business and nominated persons) and able to provide character and business references where required.

Business applicants may also have to provide evidence of public liability insurance, business plans, financial viability and other documents as requested by Victoria Police’s Licensing and Regulation Division.

Those previously registered

Historically in Victoria, some security activities required a private security licence, while others, particularly certain security equipment installers, could operate under a registration regime. The 2025–2026 reforms expand the licensing framework so that people carrying out these activities must hold an individual operator licence instead.

It’s important to note that anyone currently working under a registration must apply for a licence by 19 June 2026 if they want to continue doing this work. 

Victoria Police maintains a public register of current private security licence (and transitional registration) holders, which allows members of the public to confirm whether an individual or business is authorised to provide private security services in Victoria.

Conditions on a private security licence

Not all security licences will allow exactly the same work. In some cases, conditions may be placed on a private security licence. This could include conditions about:

• completion of initial or refresher training;
• the types of equipment that may be used or carried;
• the requirement to notify the Chief Commissioner about any serious medical or psychiatric condition, or other matter which could affect the person’s ability to perform licensed activities safely.

Failure to comply with a condition of a private security licence is an offence, and it could attract a maximum penalty of 10 penalty units. A licence holder can apply to the Chief Commissioner to have a licence condition varied or revoked.

Conduct requirements for licence holders

Holding a private security licence isn’t just about meeting the initial eligibility and training requirements – it also means following strict rules about how you behave on the job. If you hold a licence, you’re expected to act honestly and fairly, treat people with respect, avoid unnecessary force and not engage in discriminatory, harassing or intimidating conduct when you’re dealing with the public. 

Licence holders also have to respect privacy and confidentiality, follow any conditions placed on their licence and comply with workplace safety and, where relevant, firearms-handling requirements. 

If you do behave contrary to any of these conduct requirements while doing licensed work, you might be subject to complaints, a disciplinary inquiry and, in serious cases, suspension or cancellation of their licence. 

What if I hold a licence in another state?

A person who holds a private security licence (or its equivalent) in another state or territory can usually apply to work in Victoria under mutual recognition arrangements. This is done through the Private Security Mutual Recognition Application process that’s administered by the Victoria Police. 

Regulations around firearms

If you hold a firearm licence for security guard or prison guard work, you must re-qualify every financial year by completing an approved security-industry firearms training course. After you finish the course, you will need to lodge your re-qualification certificate with Victoria Police’s Licensing and Regulation Division so your firearms licence stays current.

All security-industry firearms licences share the same qualification expiry date of 30 June each year. If you don’t re-qualify by that date, your firearms licence can be suspended, and you won’t be allowed to handle a firearm at work, even if your private security licence is still valid. It’s the licence holder’s responsibility to make sure they complete re-qualification on time each year.

Complaints against a private security licence holder

If you’ve been affected by the behaviour of a private security licence holder, you can make a complaint to the Chief Commissioner of Police. You will need to lodge it within three months of the incident. 

Once a complaint is made, the Chief Commissioner must investigate to decide whether to take disciplinary action under the Act. Depending on what the investigation shows, the possible outcomes range from taking no further action through to imposing conditions, suspending or cancelling the person’s licence.

Disciplinary inquiry

The Chief Commissioner can decide to hold a disciplinary inquiry if they believe there are reasonable grounds to think a private security licence holder has done the wrong thing. This can include situations where the licence holder:

• would be refused a licence if they were to reapply;
• has breached a condition of their licence;
• has acted unfairly, dishonestly or in a way that brings the industry disrepute while doing licensed work.

If an inquiry is going to be held, the Chief Commissioner must write to the licence holder explaining that an inquiry is proposed, the reasons for it and how and by when they can make written submissions or provide evidence. The Chief Commissioner can also suspend the licence, or the authority to carry out certain activities under the licence, while the inquiry is underway.

After an inquiry, if the Chief Commissioner finds there’s been a breach or other disciplinary ground is made out, they can:

• take no further action;
• reprimand the licence holder;
• impose or vary a licence condition;
• suspend the licence, or suspend only certain activities under the licence, for up to a year;
• cancel the licence, or cancel authority for specific activities under the licence; and

prevent the person from reapplying for a licence, or from applying to reinstate a cancelled authority, for up to five years.

The Chief Commissioner must tell the licence holder in writing what decision has been made and the reasons for it. If a licence is suspended or cancelled, the holder must hand it back within seven days of the suspension or cancellation taking effect; otherwise they commit an offence punishable by up to 10 penalty units.

A private security licence holder can appeal a decision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) within 28 days of being notified.

Getting the right licence

As we’ve seen, Victoria’s private security industry is quite strict, with licensing, training and conduct requirements. It’s important to understand what’s needed whether you’re applying for your first licence, transitioning from a registration under the recent reforms or operating a private security business. 

If you have any specific questions about private security licensing requirements, disciplinary proceedings, licence suspensions or appeals, get in touch with our team. Our lawyers can advise you on your rights and obligations, and the options that are available in your circumstances.