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Did You Know?![]() In 1915, the NSW Police Department advertised two positions for female police. Nearly 500 women applied for the positions. They had to be unmarried, wear civilian clothes and not issued a uniform or allowed to have firearms. One of these first female detectives was Lillian Armfield. She is Australia's first female detective and was only armed with her handbag! She served until December 1949 but was given no superannuation! ![]() Lillian Armfield (Source: SMH) Read more about Lillian here. In 1973, Doreen Peters joins as the first Aboriginal female employed by the NSWPF and the first Aboriginal Public Servant. Doreen retired on 16 June 2011 after serving 38 years with the Police. In 1974, women detectives issued with firearms and became eligible by statute to sit for promotional examinations! (Sources: Australian Dictionary of Biography; NSW Police History) |
Working conditions
Most police officers begin their careers in Frontline or Operational
Policing. An operational police officer is often the first on the scene in
response to calls for help or public disorder incidents. Operational police
officers are seen as the 'human face' of the Police Service and their work
involves constant liaison with the community. Police officers must also
write reports and maintain information databases on a daily basis.
There is also an expectation that police officers be prepared to work
anywhere in the State where they are employed, and
they can be expected to work shifts of up to 12 hours at a time. Police
officers in country towns are expected to handle almost all aspects of
policing and can gain a great deal of experience in a variety of roles.
Police officers are required to work shifts including weekends and public holidays and serve in any part of the relevant state or territory.
Tools
and technologies
Police officers, particularly those working as frontline police officers,
need to have good driving skills, to pursue another vehicle or to get to the
scene of an incident quickly and safely. Police officers can choose to carry
and use a firearm, a taser, oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray (pepper spray), an
expandable baton, and handcuffs, and they must know how to use a hand held
radio.
Police officers also need basic computing and typing skills.
Education and training/entrance requirements
Applicants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens or a Permanent
Resident and are required to pass a Traffic and Criminal Check. They also
need to hold a current Provide First Aid Certificate and a ‘C’ Class
driver’s licence, with no more than eight demerit points.
Applicants who meet these pre-requirements will be invited to commence the
selection process, involving a series of written, physical, psychological
and medical checks.
Successful applicants are required to attend a 28 week training course at
the State Police Academy.
This is followed by an 18 month probationary period.
If you are between the ages of 16 and 18 years you can apply for a cadet
traineeship through the State Police Department.
You will need to have Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent
residency in Australia.
You can also complete the two year Associate Degree in Criminology and
Justice at University. However, if you wish to apply for a position as a
police officer, you will need to apply at the start of your third semester
of university study.

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Police officers working for the Australian Federal Police (AFP) are
responsible for policing federal law in all states
and territories, and for
community policing in the ACT and Australia's external
territories.
The AFP, with its headquarters located in Canberra, is Australia's
international law enforcement and policing agency. It is the chief source of
advice to the Australian Government on policing issues, enforces
Commonwealth criminal law and protects Commonwealth and national interests.
ANZSCO ID: 4413
Alternative names: Also known as ACT Police Officer and Federal Agent.
Knowledge, skills and attributes
of sound character 
at least 18 years of age
a full, unrestricted manual vehicle drivers licence
able to satisfy medical and fitness requirements
Australian citizenship.
Duties and Tasks
Australian Federal Police officers may perform the following tasks:
investigate and prosecute offences committed against the Commonwealth in areas such as organised, corporate and computer crime; environmental offences; drug trafficking; fraud; counterfeiting and terrorism
confiscate proceeds of crime when an offender is convicted
carry out VIP and diplomatic protection duties as directed
protect police witnesses and investigate the unlawful disclosure of government information and/or official corruption
work in joint operations with state and territory police
liaise with other police forces and crime prevention institutions to combat international crime
contribute to United Nations activities such as peacekeeping and international aid programs
undertake clerical and administrative duties.
Working conditions
Australian Federal Police officers do shiftwork and their duties vary from
team to team. They are required to serve anywhere in Australia, or in the
Australian territories of Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, the Cocos
(Keeling) Islands and Jervis Bay, and be willing to move with the job
depending on operational requirements.
Education and training/entrance requirements
To become a police officer (AFP)
you usually have to gain your HSC/ACT Year 12, or complete Year 10 plus a
trade certificate. Tertiary qualifications may add to your competitiveness
and, wherever possible, the AFP seeks to recruit graduates from a wide range
of disciplines, not limited to law, justice or criminology studies.
To get into degree courses you usually need to gain your HSC/ACT Year 12.
Institutions have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry
requirements or offer external study.
Successful applicants complete 24 weeks of training at the AFP College in
Barton, ACT. Recruits complete a further 12 months of on- the-job training.
To join the AFP, applicants must pass aptitude, medical and psychometric
tests, as well as security checks, a fitness test and a selection
assessment. Applicants must hold a Provide First Aid Certificate and be able
to swim 100 meters unaided.
Employment opportunities
Appointment to the AFP is based on merit, and recruits have the opportunity
to seek employment in all states and territories of Australia. Overseas
postings are also available.
Recruits may be employed for duties as plain-clothed Federal Agents, or as
uniformed officers in community policing in the ACT.
In addition to performing a variety of duties, recruits have the opportunity
to gain experience in specialised policing roles (both uniformed and
plain-clothed), as well as the chance to collaborate with national and
international law enforcement agencies.
Entry is highly competitive. Job opportunities depend on the level of
government funding and technological change in areas such as communication,
computer technology, surveillance equipment, data collection and forensic
services.
The AFP is an equal opportunity employer and has an Indigenous recruitment
and career development strategy.























































































































































































































































