Do your homework. Your security course is the foundation of your future career, so don't choose a training provider simply because they have a flashy website, offer an incentive or somebody tells you that's where you should go. Almost 60% of BARS Training Australia students come to us through word-of-mouth recommendations, and we think that's one of the best ways to start your research.

Speak to people who are already working in the Queensland security industry and ask them where they trained, what their experience was like and who they would recommend. Compare RTOs properly. Look at how much information they provide before asking you to enrol, whether the training is genuinely face-to-face and practical, the experience of their facilitators, student support, course duration, costs, refund arrangements and what assistance is available after graduation. Be particularly cautious about making your decision solely because an employment service provider or another organisation directs you towards a particular RTO.

Ask why that provider is being recommended and whether any commercial or referral arrangement exists. This is your training and your future, so the final choice should be yours. BARS believes prospective students should have enough information upfront to make an informed decision – not simply encounter a website saying “contact us” before basic questions about the course are answered. Ring prospective training providers and have a conversation with them. Ask difficult questions. Compare their answers.

Please don't choose an RTO for the wrong reasons. Choose the organisation you believe will provide the quality training, practical skills and industry support you need to start your security career properly.