New incentives have been announced for those considering a career with the Queensland Police Service.

The new incentives for recruits from 2023 include:

• No application fees (including QPSea testing (through ACER), medical screening, and fitness testing).
• An additional $183 fortnightly recruit training allowance.
• Free accommodation for recruits living at police academies, located in Brisbane and Townsville.
• Eligibility for financial incentive of $20,000 for police from interstate and international policing jurisdictions, who are serving or recently serving* police officers**. The financial incentive is subject to tax.
• The QPS will reimburse the VISA application cost. This does not include any other associated fees, including medical and credit card. It does not include the VISA application costs for family member/s. This reimbursement is only available to applicants who have completed recruit training and are still members of the QPS. The financial incentive is not subject to tax.
• Your policing service is recognised through allocation of a higher pay point than that of a mainstream recruit applicant. You may be paid at your determined pay point from the date of your commencement at the academy as a recruit. Your commencement pay point will be reflective of a range of factors including but not limited to length of policing service; relevancy, recency and type of policing experience, primarily in terms of frontline general duties; transferability of policing skills, knowledge, and experience to the role of a General Duties police officer; operational needs of the QPS, and in accordance with the QPS Certified Agreement 2025. Please note the following: Recruit training period/s is not included in pay point recommendations. It is acknowledged some jurisdictions have various training frameworks, so in these instances consideration is given on a case-by-case basis. Qualifications (including degrees and designations) do not contribute to a higher pay point.

*‘recently serving’ is within the last five years from date of application
**‘police officers’ to be in accordance with jurisdictional policy or legislation

The above financial incentives are in accordance with the ‘Police Recruit Incentive Policy’ (2023/06) as at 1st July 2025 and are subject to change.

Mainstream recruits are paid 70% of a First Year Constable (FYC) base salary (as outlined in the QPS Certified Agreement), as well the $183/fortnight recruit training allowance financial incentive. This boosts the training salary to approximately $60,000 per annum.

Note, recruits with previous policing experience may be eligible for higher pay point from day one at the academy.

The starting salary of a First Year Constable is approximately $94,530* per annum, comprising $78,124* + 21% Operational Shift Allowance (OSA), which is a fortnightly allowance paid to employees who equitably participate in a two or three-shift roster over seven days per week.

This allowance is for all shift work (other than night shifts which attract payment of Night Operational Shift Allowance, or NOSA), weekends, public holidays, and in lieu of annual leave loading.

NOSA is 20% of the employee's base rate per shift, and is in addition to the OSA. It is paid to employees on OSA for the duration of each shift worked commencing on or between the hours of 6pm and 2am Monday to Sunday, including public holidays.

There are also significant benefits to serving in remote areas of Queensland.

*For more information, refer to the current QPS Certified Agreement and the ATO: Tax rates – Australian resident.

Other benefits include:

• 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
• overtime paid for work beyond rostered hours
• 114 hours sick leave per year (additional sick leave may be available)
• access to paid parental and maternity leave
• access to leave for carers, bereavement or emergency reasons, Australian Defence Force Reserves, study and sporting commitments
• free supply of uniform
• access to a wide variety of training opportunities
• additional travel allowances and financial incentives for officers working in remote areas
• the security of being a member of the QSuper superannuation scheme with 18% employer superannuation contributions and 6% employee contributions. Upon induction, Constables commence as members of the QSuper superannuation scheme. Membership is non-compulsory and members have the option to reduce the standard rate of 6% employee salary contribution.

Members of other Queensland Government superannuation groups have arrangements with QSuper to allow the transfer of benefits. Members of interstate superannuation groups should enquire if their benefits could be transferred to QSuper or preserved until retirement. Further information is available from QSuper on 1300 360 750 or visit www.qsuper.qld.gov.au.

There are exciting career opportunities for officers who seek promotion within the Queensland Police Service (QPS).

Leadership is an important element of all policing roles. Members will be offered a leadership capability pipeline with a range of informal and formal development opportunities, available from Constable through to Commissioner ranks. The Leadership Engagement and Development Program (LEAD) is a voluntary face-to-face workshop designed to address the fundamental leadership skills as an operational officer. The Leadership Capability Program (LCP) is a compulsory program that is required for promotion to the following ranks:

• Sergeant
• Senior Sergeant
• Inspector

LCP builds leadership capability through a blended delivery of 6-months distance education program and a face-to-face experiential workshop (post-promotion). The QPS also offers informal leadership programs through other online and short one-day workshops across a range of topics.

If you haven't been able to find the answer you are looking for, contact us.

Phone: 1300 BE A COP (23 2 267)
+61 7 3015 3388 (for overseas enquiries)

Email: Recruiting@police.qld.gov.au

Contact hours: 9am-12pm and 1-3pm, Monday to Friday

Visit us: By appointment only