The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) will be paying trainees more than $30,000 (US$19,000) to become police officers.
The move is designed to entice more police officers to join the force and fill the current 1,500 vacancies.
Due to police shortages, the state government is offering officers $30,984 (US$19,722) over a 16-week time frame.
Major Shortage of Officers
The NSW government explained that current vacancies within NSW Police have placed “significant strain” on the force.“It is critical that something is done to address this,” the NSW government said, noting that current officers also have an increased workload currently.
Student police officers study at an academy in Goulburn, NSW, and are employed as probationary constables at the end of their studies.
Fitness, psychometric, and medical testing are required to become a police officer in NSW. Applicants also need a first aid certificate and are tested on an aquatic rescue as part of the seven-stage application process.
The government claimed NSW would now be the “most attractive jurisdiction” in Australia for prospective recruits.
Shortages Worsened After Pandemic
The NSW Police noted recruitment had been a struggle in Australia and globally since the pandemic.“This announcement is a game changer for our organisation. Post-COVID, recruitment in policing has suffered in Australia and across the world,” NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said.
“Breaking down the barriers for people to leave one job and start with us without being financially disadvantaged is the most attractive incentive we’ve been able to offer for many years.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state owed a “great deal of gratitude to NSW Police” and the announcement was a sign the government backed officers 100 percent.
“I’m committed to improving working conditions, stopping our frontline workers quitting, and attracting more people to these vital roles—that’s why we are introducing this new incentive for future police officers,” Mr. Minns said.
“Police do an incredible job to keep us safe, but the truth is they are stretched and overworked, and we can’t fix that if we don’t recruit and retain more officers. We want to attract a diverse new cohort of NSW Police Officers, my message to anyone who has considered joining the NSW Police is that now is the time to apply.”
