Queensland Police Service (QPS) recruitment incentives are boosting frontline police numbers following a significant number of applications to join the Service.
The number of recruits in training at Brisbane and Townsville academies has hit a record number with 587 recruits from recruit training programs and the Police Abridged Competency Education (PACE) program.
The strengthened recruitment pipeline follows the launch of the QPS’ largest ever recruitment marketing campaign, Challenging, Rewarding, Policing as well as a raft of attractive incentives. Incentives announced this year included a special cost of living allowance on top of the current recruit wage, boosting a recruit’s wage to the equivalent of $53,700 per annum.
In addition to that, free accommodation for recruits living at police academies and no application fees, $20,000 towards the relocation costs of interstate and overseas applicants who are serving or recently served police officers and up to $20,000 towards eligible HECS debts to successful police recruit graduates.
On Thursday, 14 officers completing the PACE program will be sworn-in as QPS officers after serving in various policing jurisdictions nationally and internationally – some of the first to receive the new incentives.
In a further commitment to delivering world-class policing services to the next generation of police officers in North Queensland, a brand-new academy will be built in Townsville.
Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the recruitment pipeline is the best it has been in several years.
“We are in a good position when it comes to recruitment, with over 1,600 applicants in the pipeline and 587 currently training at our academies,” she said.
“I acknowledge we still have a long way to go and I’ve been upfront about the challenges experienced across Australia around police recruitment.
“We are committed to getting the right people to ensure we have the very best applicants to represent and serve our communities.
“By strengthening our recruitment pipeline and enhancing our staffing and retention efforts, we are investing in our officers’ success and, in turn, creating a safer Queensland for everyone.
“The incentives are just one part of our broader commitment to providing a Service that is responsive, effective, and reflective of the needs and values of our community.
“A career in policing, is a career like no other. The sheer variety of roles, skills, situations and moments in a vast state like ours makes it such a uniquely challenging and rewarding career for everyone to consider”.
A career within the Queensland Police Service is like no other. From protecting, responding, and investigating, to supporting, rescuing and learning – the sheer variety of roles make it both a challenging and rewarding career.
As a police officer, you can have one career that has endless possibilities. Now really is the best time to join.
Visit PoliceRecruit.qld.gov.au to kickstart your policing career and make a positive impact in your community.
