Attributes important to operational police officers include:

• Demonstrate the QPS values (as outlined in the QPS Strategic Plan).
• good communication skills (both verbal and non-verbal)
• analysis and problem-solving abilities
• a sense of responsibility
• ability to diffuse situations
• compassion
• caring
• time management, and
• a willingness to help.

For a further understanding of what is required of a QPS Police Officer, please review the key accountabilities and General Duties Police Officer - Position Description.

To be eligible to become a Queensland Police Service (QPS) officer, you must:

• Be 17 years of age or older at the time of applying or no older than 59 years of age; and
• Display a high standard of past behaviour and conduct, including your traffic and/or criminal history; and
• Currently completing or have completed year 12 (or equivalent - Certificate IV in Adult Tertiary Preparation 11240NAT), or IPROWD program (or equivalent), OR have three or more years of full time (or part time equivalent) work by the time of commencement at the QPS Academy. The work needs to be either paid work or unpaid work at a recognised volunteer organisation; and
• By the time of graduating from the police academy, you must hold an open driver licence or a current provisional driver licence with a minimum of 12 months of driving experience as the licence holder (automatic or manual vehicle). You may apply in advance; and
• Be an Australian citizen or hold permanent residency status, or be a New Zealand citizen holding a special category visa (SCV*) under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth); or are a Foreign national with policing experience (see International information)
• Be ready to demonstrate a reasonable degree of aerobic fitness and physical strength;
• Be physically and mentally fit to undertake the duties of a constable.

To determine if you are eligible, complete the eligibility assessment.

More information regarding citizenship and permanent residency visas can be found on the Australian Government website.

If you have international policing experience, go to our International Recruitment page.

QPS is an agile and innovative organisation. You can learn more about our commitment to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace here.

There are 13 key steps in the recruitment process. For more information, visit the Recruitment Process page.

Throughout the selection process, you will be required to provide certain documents. Do not provide the documents before they are requested. For more information, visit the Supporting Documents page.

The associated information is in the QPS ‘Code of Dress and Appearance’.

Tattoos: The nature, location and prominence of any tattoos is not to detract from the professional image of the Service. Tattoos are not permitted in any location on the body above the uniform collar unless they relate to approved medical, religious or cultural beliefs and practices.

Intentional body alterations: Body alterations for unnatural appearance purposes are not permitted unless approved for medical or religious purposes.

Personal jewellery: A female officer with pierced ears may wear only one pair of small matching studs. Male officers are not authorised to wear earrings on duty.

Hair and facial hair: Unless there is a religious exemption, hair (including facial hair) is to be maintained in a clean, neat, tidy, and conservative condition. Hair is not to be tinted, streaked or bleached in heavily contrasting colours.

The Queensland Police Service embraces religious diversity in the workplace, as it fosters a more inclusive and harmonious culture for employees across the organisation. While there are genuine occupational requirements for police officers that need to be met, the QPS will undertake reasonable adjustment to accommodate religious beliefs to the greatest extent possible while meeting our commitments to community safety. However, an officer should be aware that:

• A police officer may be required to work on religious days of significance during some unplanned situations, including disaster response and other emergencies.
• Some occupations within the QPS are unlikely to be able to undertake reasonable adjustment to accommodate religious beliefs. This may include working at a small station/work unit and in certain specialist roles where 24/7 availability is necessary (e.g. SERT, PSRT, Water Police, and POLAIR).

If you have any questions regarding this information, please call the Recruiting team.

There are a number of new incentives for recruits from 2023 include:

• No application fees (including ACER testing and physical tests).
• An extra $183 fortnightly cost of living allowance – boosting the training salary to approximately $53,700 per annum.
  • (This is based on 70% of a Constable 1.1 base salary of $70,217 per annum and excludes a generous employer superannuation contribution. Note: As a First Year Constable your salary, including operational shift allowance (21%) and other allowances is approximately $85,000 excluding generous employer superannuation contribution.)
     
• Free accommodation for recruits living at police academies, located in Brisbane and Townsville.
• HECS/HELP Debt Incentive: This debt incentive is available to police recruits who commence recruit training on or after 1 July 2023. The scheme provides for up to $20,000 (value of debt) to be paid to eligible police recruits who have, as at the date of commencement as a recruit, graduated from a registered higher education provider with a tertiary qualification (Bachelor degree or higher) in criminology, social work, counselling or other relevant human services. Payments will be made in two instalments up to $10,000 each, the first instalment will be paid on graduation from recruit training and the second when the officer has successfully completed both the First Year Constable Programme and the probationary period (at least 12 months). This is capped at 400 graduates who commence as police recruits.
• Interstate and International Policing Experience Incentive Allowance: Interstate or overseas recruit applicants who are serving or recently serving police officers may be eligible to receive a $20,000 incentive payment. Payments will be made to eligible applicants in two $10,000 instalments – the first on graduation from recruit training and the second when the officer has successfully completed both the First Year Constable Programme and the probationary period (at least 12 months). This initiative will be available to a maximum of 1000 applicants with recognised interstate or international policing experience. 
• Prior policing experience will attract a higher pay up to $130k per annum as a First Year Constable.

See what we offer, including other benefits such as pay, leave and career opportunities.

Interstate applicants can apply to the QPS with their current driver licence to operate a car (manual or automatic). Applicants should check that they will be eligible to obtain a Queensland driver licence that meets the QPS recruiting requirements. Once an applicant resides in Queensland, a Queensland driver licence must be obtained. You must hold either an open driver licence or a provisional P2 (green) driver licence before graduating.

For information on obtaining a driver licence, please contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads. 

The process to assess an applicant's suitability to become a QPS police officer is based on their ability to meet the genuine occupational requirements and demands of a general duties police officer. If you have successfully completed the initial eligibility assessment, the QPS will invite you to undertake further assessments. You must successfully complete all assessment requirements. For further information, please visit QPS Recruitment Process.

The Queensland Police Service offers a range of pathways through which individuals can pursue their careers. Further information can be found via the links below:

• First Nations Recruit Preparation Pathway
• Multicultural Recruit Preparation Pathway
• Previous QPS police experience
• Previous interstate police experience (non QPS)
• Previous international police experience

The QPS does pay for:

• One QPS entrance assessment (QPSea via ACER) voucher per person, and the associated cost for an applicant who only has to resit up to 2 components.
• Initial Pre-Employment Medical Screening (PEMS) costs.
• Physical fitness assessment at a Queensland PCYC.

 The QPS does not pay the costs associated with:

• An additional QPSea voucher where an applicant was issued a voucher and either failed the assessment, did not attend the assessment and/or failed to cancel in sufficient time which resulted in the QPS paying the full costs for the assessment.
• Applicants needing to resit 3 or more components of the QPSea. Note, applicants can pay for any ACER resits, but this will not be reimbursed by the QPS regardless of the result.
• Any requests by the applicant to seek a review of the PEMS decisions by the approved provider.
• Any other required supporting documents, such as international criminal history checks.
• Clearance by doctors in terms of undertaking the physical assessments.
• Competent English assessment for international applicants with policing experience.
• Physical fitness assessments which is not at a Queensland PCYC.
• Any other associated costs which are not specifically approved, such as travel or study material.

Note: For further information on visa's for international applicants with policing experience, please refer to the International Recruitment page.

Applicants can be deemed unsuitable and excluded for a period of time (up to ‘unsuitable’), for a range of reasons. Applicants may request a review of the decision. As part of the request, the applicant will need to provide the reason/s for the review. This may include:

• The information provided was not taken into consideration and/or accurately interpreted
• There is additional information which was not provided but is relevant
• The processes were not implemented in a fair or transparent manner.

Simply disagreeing with the decision, without any grounds or supporting information, is not considered as reasonable grounds for review.

The appeal process involves the following steps:

• Applicant to email Recruiting.Appeal@police.qld.gov.au with the grounds for review and all relevant information to be considered.
• The relevant Recruiting Senior Sergeant will review the information to determine if the grounds are reasonable. An officer may contact the applicant to clarify:
  • the process used to determine an applicant’s suitability; and/or
  • the ‘relevant information’ provided by the applicant.
• If the unsuitable determination is due to the Psychological Assessment, the review will be conducted by the Principal Occupational Psychologist.
• If there are reasonable grounds, the matter will be considered by the Recruiting Appointment Board (RAB).
• The applicant will be advised of the decision via an email.

Mainstream recruit training (RTP)

Successful applicants without prior policing experience will be offered a position in the mainstream recruit training program. 

This is an 8-month long course that can be completed at either Brisbane’s Oxley campus or North Queensland’s Townsville campus of the Queensland Police Service Academy. Courses are conducted at Oxley approximately every 2 months and at Townsville back-to-back.

Police Abridged Competency Education (PACE) Program

The PACE Program is designed for applicants with prior policing experience. The course is 18 weeks in duration and is conducted approximately every 3 months.

About recruit training

Recruit training develops competent, ethical, efficient, and effective police officers who are motivated, responsible and aware of community needs. Recruits examine problems taken from everyday policing situations that allow them to develop appropriate decision-making skills to solve operational policing issues. In addition, recruits undergo extensive training in physical skills, driving, firearms and field craft. 

After successfully completing their training, recruits are inducted as a constable and become part of the First Year Constable Program during which they receive further training and development on the job.

Accommodation is available at both the Oxley or Townsville academy campuses. Recruits wishing to reside at their respective campus will need to meet one of the below criteria:

• Priority 1 – Recruits are relocating from interstate, internationally, or reside more than 50kms from either Oxley or Townsville academy, OR
• Priority 2 – Recruits who are experiencing financial hardship, inability to travel daily or manage daily fatigue incurred by travel to either campus.

Whilst consideration will be given to the above, campus accommodation is limited. Once you have accepted the ‘Letter of Offer’ to commence as a recruit, the academy will provide you with joining instructions, which will include the relevant form. 

The intake coordinators will assess individual circumstances and determine accommodation request based on priority 1 or 2. For those approved to live in, there is no charge for the accommodation, or for the meals (breakfast and dinner) at the academy canteen from Monday to Friday.

Mainstream recruits are paid 70% of a First Year Constable (FYC) base salary (as outlined in the QPS Certified Agreement), as well as an extra $183/fortnight as a cost of living allowance. This boosts the training salary to approximately $53,700 per annum.

For current QPS members, they will continue to receive their current salary, which is at least the recruit wage and up to the Constable 1.1 salary.

For recruits with previous policing experience, they may be eligible to receive a salary up to Senior Constable 2.10 paypoint depending on the recency, nature, and extent of policing experience.

The exact amounts will be included in the ‘Letter of Offer’ which is provided towards the end of the recruitment process.

To complete all academy training you will need to give your full focus and commitment. Recruits who undertake academy training in addition to personal study struggle and often fail to complete their training.

Leave is allocated according to the timing and requirements of each intake. Additional leave may be granted in exceptional circumstances or for significant events, and only for short periods. The reason for this is the recruit training program is demanding and catching up on missed training may be difficult.

You are permitted to perform secondary employment while completing the academy training, but approval must first be sought to ensure this secondary employment does not create a conflict of interest.

No, you will not be able to have your balances transferred. As you are undertaking a temporary contract as a recruit, all recreation leave and loading, as well as long service and any other leave you are entitled to from your previous department, is to be paid out upon resignation.

The joining instruction kit, sent to you before starting your intake, includes a form to apply for recognition of previous service. The QPS will recognise your sick leave and will recognise your previous service towards your long service leave (e.g. if you have worked for 10 years in the Queensland Government, the QPS we will recognise 10 years of service). 

Upon commencement as a police recruit you are entitled to claim the following appointment expenses:

Travel to Brisbane or Townsville from within Australia:

• You may travel by any means - bus, rail, air or private motor vehicle
• Reimbursement of appointment expenses will be limited to the cost of mileage by the most direct route possible by motor vehicle OR the cost of economy class airfares for the police recruit (based on your method of travel).
• Travel is calculated from your previous residence outside of the greater Brisbane or Townsville area to the Academy at Oxley or Townsville
• Mileage will be paid at the rate specified within the relevant Directive at the time of reimbursement.

Travel to Brisbane or Townsville from overseas:

• Reimbursement of appointment expenses will be limited to the cost of economy class airfares for the police recruit from their previous location to Brisbane or Townsville, depending upon Academy.
• No other appointment expenses, such as travel for your spouse and/or children or conveyance of furniture and effects are claimable.

Payment of appointment expenses shall be on the condition that you relocate your place of residence from overseas or anywhere in Australia outside the greater Brisbane or Townsville area to take up the appointment; and actually incur travel expenses to take up the appointment. Recruits seeking to make application for reimbursement after commencing training, are to provide evidence of having incurred appointment expenses and speak with their Recruit Training facilitator who will provide assistance with the process.

After successfully completing their training, recruits are inducted as a constable and become part of the First Year Constable program during which they receive further training and development on the job.

The First Year Constable (FYC) program follows the recruit training program and is conducted over 12 months in the operational environment. On graduation from the police academy, FYCs are posted to designated police stations (training centres) around Queensland under the supervision of an Education and Training Officer (ETO) for the duration of the program.

The FYC program begins with an eight-week mentor phase where the constable is placed with an experienced Field Training Officer (FTO) to learn the basic competencies of General Duties policing. At the completion of the “mentor phase”, FYCs perform at least 50% of their duties with a FTO and the remaining duties under general supervision for the remainder of the 12 months. Throughout this program, FYCs develop, through first hand experiences, attending training days and undertaking Workplace Activities associated with general policing. FYCs currently conduct rotations through the Child Protection and Investigation Unit, Domestic and Family Violence / Vulnerable Persons Unit and Traffic Branch.

On successful completion of the FYC Program, Constables are posted to a police station allocated upon acceptance of offer.

Recruits who undertake the PACE Program are able to apply to exit the FYCP after 3 months if they have completed all the relevant workplace activities, but will not be confirmed until they have successfully completed the remainder of their first 12 months as a Constable.

Towards the end of the recruitment process you will be asked to nominate which Regions and Districts you want to be allocated to and why. The Allocation Committee will consider your request and any extenuating circumstances, as well as the operational needs of the QPS. If successful, you will be provided with a ‘Letter of Offer’ which will outline what Region and District/s you will be allocated to for your first three years.

At the academy, you will be given an opportunity to nominate your preferred station locations to undertake the First Year Constable (FYC) program from a list of available stations. However, you could be posted to any FYC training centre within the nominated Region and District, subject to operational requirements.

Once you have completed your first three year tenure, you can apply for other locations and positions, including specialist roles.

The QPS offers a number of incentives in terms of pay, leave and career development opportunities. This includes:

• The starting salary of a First Year Constable is $84,999* per annum, which comprises $70,217* + 21% Operational Shift Allowance (OSA)
• 6 weeks recreation leave per year
• 13 weeks long service leave after 10 years of service
• a 38-hour working week, that’s 9 days off in every 28-day roster

For more information see What we offer.

Police officers in the QPS may have the opportunity to serve in regional and/or remote communities. Our officers draw on their real life experiences to make a real difference in all our communities – from Birdsville to Bamaga. There are also additional travel and financial incentives for officers working in remote areas.

Depending on your initial allocation, you may be exposed to rural policing during your first three years. You are encouraged to consider this opportunity when nominating your allocation preferences during the recruitment process.

Depending on the location, there are additional incentives in terms of allowances and leave. If eligible, you can potentially save on remote area rental through salary packaging.

Graduating recruits are eligible for leave and entitlements associated with travel, accommodation and transportation of home contents. These entitlements are individually accessed with all subsequent approvals completed prior to graduation. Further information is provided to recruits during Recruit training.

Police officers compete on merit for specialist positions and need to demonstrate they have the ability to successfully perform the duties of that position.

Once your First Year Constable training is complete, you will continue as a General Duties officer on tenure for up to three years, after which you can apply for vacant positions in specialised units. This is to ensure that you are competent in all areas of General Duties policing before moving into a specialised area.

Some specialised areas are highly sought after, so you should not have an expectation of moving straight into a specialist role after completing your General Duties tenure. Additionally, specialist areas may require you to undertake further assessment before you are considered. This may include specialist psychological or physical testing.

As a General Duties officer, you will ordinarily be required to work a 24-hour rotational roster based on a 38-hour working week. Night work and weekend work (including public holiday shifts) may be a requirement within this roster. The roster also will incorporate a Programmed Day Off (PDO) each month, as well as four Rest Days per fortnight.

Queensland police officers are required to retire at the age of 60 years. However, voluntary retirement may be available between the ages of 55 and 60 years depending on your date of birth.

An officer that is retired or coming up to retirement age may apply to become a Special Constable should they wish to continue serving their community.