ABSTRACT

This article examines the work and training of security officers employed by private security organisations for COVID-19 hotel quarantine contracts in Victoria, Australia. It reports on research fieldwork in the work of security officers and on analysis of training for the occupation. In March 2020, the occupation moved into the national spotlight, as the COVID-19 pandemic led to the use of hotel quarantine in Australia for travellers arriving from overseas. The employment conditions of, and inadequate training for, quarantine hotel security staff were found to be major contributors to a major COVID outbreak from July to September 2020. The article examines these developments in the light of the research findings about the nature of the security industry, particularly outsourcing and contracting issues, and the historic undervaluing of the work undertaken by security staff. These topics are especially important as security officers are increasingly used to support public security and safety.

摘要

本文研究了澳大利亚维多利亚州私人保安组织为 COVID-19 酒店隔离合同雇用的保安人员的工作和培训。它报告了安保人员工作中的实地研究工作以及对职业培训的分析。2020 年 3 月，这一职业成为全国关注的焦点，因为 COVID-19 大流行导致澳大利亚对来自海外的旅客使用酒店隔离。隔离酒店保安人员的就业条件和培训不足被认为是导致 2020 年 7 月至 9 月期间发生重大 COVID 爆发的主要原因。本文根据有关保安行业性质的研究结果审视了这些发展，特别是外包和承包问题，以及对安保人员所做工作的历史性低估。随着安全人员越来越多地用于支持公共安全和安全，这些主题尤为重要。