Security Guard FAQs in Melbourne: Costs, Licensing and Deployment Times

The cost of security guards in Melbourne depends on the type of officer, the hours, the day of the week, the contract length and the risk at the site. Night, weekend and public holiday shifts cost more than weekday day shifts. Mobile patrols are usually priced per visit, while static guards are priced per hour.

The Security Services Industry Award (MA000016) sets minimum pay rates and penalty rates, so a quote far below market usually signals a cost has been cut somewhere, such as pay, insurance or supervision. Longer contracts usually cost less per hour than one-off bookings.

We price every job from the actual site rather than a generic rate card, and we break each quote down by officer type so you can compare security guard rates between providers line by line.

Provide the site address, the days and hours of coverage, whether the job is one-off or ongoing, and any known risks such as theft, trespass, or after-hours access. With those details, a security company can assess the site and return a written quote.

Risk, hours and site complexity set the price. A construction gate with heavy contractor traffic needs different staffing from a quiet retail site, so a quote built without those details is only a guess.

Our operations team assesses the site and builds the security plan around it. You can request a quote online or call 1300 73 11 73.

Deployment time depends on the service, the notice you give, the time of day, and officer availability. Urgent cover can be arranged at short notice when licensed officers are free, while scheduled static posts and patrol routes need more lead time to roster and brief officers properly. Call us with your site details, and we will confirm what is possible.

Four conditions change the timeframe:

• Notice period: scheduled posts and patrol routes need more lead time than urgent cover.
• After-hours and public holidays: cover is possible, but short-notice requests depend on licensed officers being free.
• Site induction: officers need a briefing on the site's access points, emergency procedures and reporting before the first shift.
• Specialist requirements: crowd control, K9 handling and construction work need officers with the right licence endorsement, qualification or White Card, which can add lead time.

We confirm availability when you call, and our security guard services are rostered once the site details and start date are agreed.

Security officers can work around the clock, including nights, weekends and public holidays. Static guards, mobile patrols and alarm response can all run outside business hours.

Hours outside the standard working week cost more under the Security Services Industry Award, and a good quote shows that clearly.

We provide 24/7 security guard services, and our overnight patrols follow scheduled routes with each visit recorded.

Yes. Security guards can be booked for a single shift, a one-off event or an ongoing contract. Short engagements usually cost more per hour than contracts, and lead time depends on officer availability and any licence endorsement the job needs.

Event security in Melbourne is quoted from crowd size, venue and risk.

We offer flexible engagements from a single shift to long-term contracts. Licensed event security officers cover functions, markets and corporate events.

Confirm coverage by address before accepting any quote. We cover the central business district and the surrounding suburbs, including Caroline Springs, Dandenong, Footscray and Cranbourne.

A provider should confirm that it can staff your specific address, because availability depends on where its officers already work.

Our service coverage page lists the areas we serve. If your address is not listed, call 1300 73 11 73, and we will confirm availability.

Choose a static guard when a site needs a constant presence, access control or visitor management. Choose mobile patrol security in Melbourne when a site needs scheduled, randomised checks without a full-time officer, such as vacant sites, warehouses and multi-property portfolios. Many large sites combine both.

Static guards are usually priced by the hour. Mobile patrols are usually priced per visit, which makes them cheaper for sites that need checks rather than a fixed post.

Our patrol officers record each visit so you can review every attendance. The comparison of static guard versus patrol cost and response helps when the choice is close.

A site needs K9 security when the risk justifies a handler and dog team: large perimeters, industrial facilities, high-value stock, big construction sites or high-profile events.

Dogs improve detection and act as a strong visual deterrent, while the handler stays responsible for decisions and incident reporting.

We supply trained handlers for high-risk sites and events. K9 security is a better fit for large sites than for small premises.

Check both the business and its officers on the Victoria Police public register of licence, registration and permit holders. A legitimate provider holds a private security business licence under the Private Security Act 2004 (Vic), and every officer on your site holds a current individual licence for the work they perform.

The Licensing & Regulation Division (LRD) of Victoria Police regulates the industry and publishes the public register. Ask the provider for its licence number, then confirm the licence class matches the work, for example crowd control for an event.

Metro Guards is Licensed by the Licensing & Regulation Division (LRD), Victoria Police. Our licensed security guards in Melbourne work under that business licence.

Yes. Every officer must hold a current individual private security licence to work on a site.

A responsible provider checks each licence before deployment and tracks renewals, because a licence can lapse or be cancelled. Using unlicensed personnel exposes both the client and the provider to legal risk.

We check licences before officers work on a client site. Our compliance information sets out our licences and certifications.

CM3 is a contractor safety management system used by corporate, government and construction clients.

Certification shows a contractor's OHS processes, incident reporting and safety documentation have been assessed against a recognised standard. Clients that prequalify contractors often ask for it before work begins.

We hold CM3 certification, and the certificate is available to view on our website.

A Labour Hire Licence is required in Victoria for providers who supply workers to another business, under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic).

It shows the provider meets licensing standards for the workers it places. Clients should ask for the licence number and confirm it before signing.

We hold a Labour Hire Licence, and the labour hire certificate is available to view in the accreditation section of our website.

A security company should hold public liability insurance and workers compensation cover, and it should give you certificates of currency before you sign.

Ask for both documents, check the policy period and confirm the cover matches the work, such as event or construction security.

We provide certificates of currency on request. Our conditions of hire set out the terms that apply to an engagement.

Officers respond, document and escalate. They manage minor incidents on site and record them in full, notify the control centre for serious incidents, and contact emergency services when required.

The client then receives a written incident report with times, actions taken, and any evidence collected.

Our control centre supports officers on every serious incident. For out-of-hours triggers, our alarm response officers attend and assess the site in person.

Yes. Construction site security in Melbourne covers overnight guards, gatehouse staffing, access control, mobile patrols and fire-watch duties. Officers need a White Card, and the provider should keep records that meet WorkSafe Victoria expectations. Construction contracts are often quoted as a regular monthly rate rather than casual hourly billing.

Active builds carry theft, trespass and fire risks that change with each stage, so staffing should change with the stage as well. WorkSafe Victoria sets the site safety expectations that officers must follow.

We provide licensed officers for residential and civil projects. Our construction site security team adjusts coverage as the build progresses.

An owner-operated security company is run by the people who own it, so clients deal with decision-makers rather than layers of account management.

That usually means faster answers, direct accountability and fewer handovers when a site needs changes mid-contract. A single point of contact can adjust a roster without escalating through several people.

We are privately owned, based in Caroline Springs and have operated for 17 years. About us explains how the business is run.

Beyond the mandatory Victorian licence, look for independent quality and safety certification, recognised industry membership and contractor compliance.

Awards never replace licences or insurance. Ask to view copies of each certificate, check that it is current and confirm it names the correct legal entity.

We are ISO certified, and our certificates are available to view under our accreditations.

Beyond the licence, officers need a site-specific induction covering access control, emergency response, incident documentation and OHS requirements. Construction officers also need a White Card.

A licence proves the minimum standard; the site induction shows the officer knows your site.

Our officers complete a site induction before they start, and our supervisors monitor standards on shift. Our guard services follow the same approach.

A security company should send a written report after every shift, covering patrol times, checkpoint confirmations, access logs and observations. Incidents should generate a separate incident report.

Reports should arrive without being requested, and the data should be time-stamped so a client can audit it.

We send an activity report to your nominated contact after each shift, and incidents are reported separately. Our patrol verification uses the same records on every route.

Applicants need a current Victorian private security licence, good communication skills and a good level of fitness. Construction roles require a White Card, and first aid certification is commonly required.

Licence eligibility includes a police check and approved training from a registered training organisation.

We recruit on an ongoing basis. Our current vacancies are listed on the careers page.