Many school leavers have a clear career path in mind. Studies have been planned and potential careers chosen. However, there are always those who wonder if there’s a different path they should consider.
Several career options within the Australian public sector are well worth looking into. These can present as an office position in the police association or even field work in the Police or Traffic force.
Benefits of a Career In The Police Force
Whether it’s to make a difference in their communities or they just simply enjoy working with people, there are many reasons why many young people opt for a career in the Australian Police Force. If you’re not sure if this is an avenue that you want to explore, then this article may help you make a decision. Do these outcomes appeal to you?
A Positive Difference in the Local Community
Being a police officer is one of the easiest ways to make a significant difference in your local community. Not only do police officers maintain law and order, but they also ensure public safety. It’s also an excellent opportunity to set an example for younger people.
Better Chance of Job Security
Another top reason to join the Australian police force is the job security that goes along with a career in the public sector. After all, society will always require the police to enforce and maintain established laws!
There are also many career advancement opportunities throughout an officer’s career. This provides a massive advantage over employees in the private sector who regularly face job cuts, downsizing and even company closures.
Benefits and Competitive Salary
The Australian Police Force offers competitive salaries and benefits across all of their positions. Some of the benefits you can look forward to are:
- Health insurance
- Retirement benefits
- Paid time off divided up as annual leave, sick leave and days off
- Access to regulated unions
- Free accommodation for recruits living at police academies
- Salaries and certain benefits apply during your training period
- Shift allowance
- Access to paid maternity and parental benefits
Specialized Training Provided
One thing you never hear a Police officer complain about is that their job is boring or uneventful. This is because as part of the normal job profile, there’s also a considerable amount of interesting training that goes on behind the scenes.
The top training that’s provided includes:
- General investigation techniques
- Forensic science
- Leadership skills
- Weapons training
- Traffic enforcements
Continuous training opportunities make it easy for you to upskill yourself and give your natural talents a boost. Being suitably trained makes it possible to apply for other positions within your department or those that you’ve identified as part of your career path.
Looks Good on Your Resume
For many young people, working in the public sector isn’t a forever job. In fact, it’s not uncommon for individuals to join a public sector career as a means of earning money while they’re studying.
Not only is it an excellent way to earn a good salary, but it also looks brilliant on your resume! The experience, training and life skills that you acquire in a public sector job can easily be used in other industries or careers.
Basic Tasks and Duties of a Typical Police Officer
If joining the police force is on your list of potential career paths, it’s important to know what your basic duties may include. The most significant of these are listed below:
- Maintaining public order, ensuring safety and preventing any anti-social behaviour
- Ensuring that all aspects of the law are being upheld
- Securing and examining accident and crime scenes
- Pursuing, interviewing and arresting potential criminal suspects
- Tending to critical emergencies and incidents
- Managing traffic in congested areas
- Enforcing traffic law which may include testing drivers for suspected drug or alcohol abuse
- Protecting witnesses involved in major crimes
- Documenting daily incident reports and maintaining administrative tasks
Simple Steps to Follow to Join the Police Force
The steps required to join the police force may vary depending on the state you live in. However, the basic requirements are listed as:
- Be an Australian citizen or have permanent residency
- Have a high school certificate or equivalent
- Hold a full driver’s licence
- Achieve a Level 1 First Aid Certificate
- Be prepared to undertake the application process which may include eligibility tests, background checks and health checks
Final Thought
If one of your life goals is to take care of and assist people in your community, then it may be time to consider a job in the public sector. With the many opportunities available in the Australian Police Force, it will be easier than ever to make a difference and contribute to your local community!