Based in the metropolitan area at the Hakea Prison Complex in Canning Vale, the SOG is the major provider of emergency support to all prisons within the State and Banksia Hill Detention Centre.
Services include:
- responding to major incidents
- security/auditing evaluation
- high security escorts
- searching
- perimeter security
- control room operations
- operational and emergency management training.
The role
The SOG operates 24 hours a day in order to provide a state-wide response to emergency situations as required. A typical day will include operational duties such as high security escorts, search operations, security systems testing and high visibility patrols of prisons. With a commitment to ongoing learning and development, SOG Officers participate in various training programs to maintain and upgrade their work skills.
On occasion, operational duties or emergency responses will require intrastate, interstate and international air travel. Time is also allocated for strength and fitness training, to ensure our SOG Officers can provide the highest standard of response.
What it takes
SOG Officers exemplify behaviours which demonstrate respect, integrity, good judgement, self-discipline and initiative.
SOG Officers are able to work effectively as team members, respond to directions and instructions, while building positive working relationships. Being able to operate within a structured environment with limited supervision, they are able to demonstrate sound reasoning and analytical skills to resolve problems, make decisions, and carry out tasks to completion.
Working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, SOG Officers are able to recognise, respect and work with gender, social and cultural differences, including with Aboriginal people.
Physical health and fitness
SOG Officers naturally prioritise their personal health and fitness, understanding that sound body and mind are critical to providing an effective and safe emergency response service. Some scenarios can involve lengthy periods of strenuous activity (e.g., cell extraction, non-compliant prisoner restraint, riot control). Officers may also be required to run, walk, bend, lift and carry objects whilst dressed in restrictive clothing, such as personal protective equipment and Breathing Apparatus.
The most suitable candidates for the SOG Officer therefore view physical fitness as a lifestyle choice and partake in regular exercise and physical training, and regularly participate in team or individual sports, fitness activities, outdoors pursuits and/or arduous work.
