6 Essential Tips Potential Candidates Should Know Before Joining the Australian Police Force
Many Australian school leavers are eager to create a career in public service. In addition to being an excellent way to help people, it’s also one of the easiest ways to protect and serve their local communities. Are you one of these individuals?
If you’re considering a career in the Australian Police Association, there are several factors that you should consider before signing up. Being aware of the qualifying criteria and initial requirements will help you make the right decision about your potential career.
Know What’s Expected of You to Make a Difference
As with any other job or potential career, the Australian Police Force has several requirements that candidates should meet before being allowed to enroll.
Knowing in advance what’s expected will help you ensure that you have all your ducks in a row and avoid setting yourself up for disappointment. Here’s a list of the most significant criteria to be aware of.
1. There’s a Minimum Age Requirement
All potential applicants may only apply to their local police force once they have turned 18. This means that if you have finished school at 17, you will still need to wait for your 18th birthday before you can apply.
If you’ve completed school by 17, it’s a good idea to get involved in volunteer work as this will go a long way toward showing social maturity. Keep in mind that applying doesn’t necessarily mean you will be accepted.
Volunteer work is an excellent way to add a few bonus points to your application. Be sure to get reference letters detailing your volunteer work to attach to your resume. All applicants must be Australian citizens at the time of application.
2. Understand the Application Process
Several checks take place during the application process. It’s important to point out that the time it takes for your application to be approved or rejected depends on how long each of these processes takes.
The most common checks that are done during your application include the following:
- Intense integrity checks (this may require references)
- Availability for assessment and review testing
- Checks for outstanding warrants with local, interstate and overseas authorities
- Availability of positions best suited to your requested position in a specific jurisdiction
- Must have a valid Australian Open driver’s licence (applicants on their learner’s permits won’t be accepted)
- Obtain a Negative Vetting 1 Security Clearance
- Results of your QPSea tests
It’s crucial to be open and honest will all aspects of your application process. Failure to divulge critical information can see your application being discarded and you will be banned from applying a second time.
3. Outcome of the QPSea
In addition to a stringent application process, a potential recruit will have to complete a series of tests commonly referred to as the Queensland Police Service Entrance Assessment, or QPSea as it’s called.
Typically, these tests are administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the QPS. These tests involve the following factors:
- Written assessments
- Reasoning ability
- Numeracy
- Literacy
- Digital literacy
4. Training Period
Once the QPSea tests have been completed, the applicant should be physically fit to undergo a rigorous 25 weeks of police recruit training. In addition to this, the applicant will also be required to pass the 12-month First Year Constable (FYC) Program and a minimum of three years of general duties.
During this period, mainstream recruits are paid a 70% base salary of a First Year Constable. There’s an additional $183 cost of living allowance paid every fortnight.
5. Potential Positions to Consider After Training
Once basic training has been completed at the Police Service Academy, you will move into the FYC training phase. This means you can start applying to positions in specific areas.
Experts recommend gaining as much experience as possible in different regions. This will not only provide you with extensive experience but will also allow you the opportunity to help people from all walks of life in a wide variety of situations.
6. Specialized Units
A lot of people join the Australian Police Force with the dream of working in a specialized unit. The most common of these include:
- The Dog Squad
- The Scenes of Crime Department
- The Traffic Branch
It’s important to note that being accepted into one of these units will require spending three years as a General Duties Officer. This is because applicants need to have extensive experience in general policing before moving forward. It’s a good idea to make your desire to work in these departments well-known and keep an eye out for training or volunteer opportunities in these departments.
Final Thoughts
Do you believe that working in the Australian Police Service is a calling rather than a simple career opportunity? If so, then you should use our list of tips to get your resume ready for the application process. Remember that this is the perfect way to add value to your community and assist people in a variety of ways.
