AFP logo at EBB Canberra

Skilled Police Program

Grow your policing career with the AFP. If you're a state or territory police officer, consider a lateral transfer.
Diverse roles Locations Apply now

It takes experienced police to tackle complex global crime. Take the next step in your police career with a move to Australia's national policing agency.

We’re on the lookout for experienced police officers to make an impact on crime locally, nationally, and internationally. 

We recognise and reward current and recent operational policing experience through our Skilled Police Program.

As a skilled police officer, you can make a lateral transfer to an AFP role in locations across Australia. With opportunities to deploy overseas.

Roles available

These are our current openings for police officers with prior service.

Apply your policing skills to combat major national and international criminal threats. Join us as an investigative police officer.

AFP national investigative officers:

  • prevent and disrupt criminal activity
  • respond to emerging threats against the Commonwealth
  • protect Commonwealth interests in Australia and overseas.

Officers work with national and international agencies to combat terrorism, counter child sexual exploitation, tackle transnational and organised crime, combat cybercrime, and counter fraud and corruption.

In this critical role, you'll:

  • work on long and complex investigations, often with global partners
  • use information and evidence to determine the appropriate law-enforcement response
  • interview suspects and witnesses
  • collect, prepare and present evidence
  • work with prosecution agencies, attend court and give evidence
  • have the chance to work with multidisciplinary teams across various roles.

 

Apply now

If you want to continue using your community policing skills while contributing to Australian national security, an airport policing role with the AFP could be the perfect next step in your career.

AFP airport police officers keep nine major Australian airports safe and combat crime that crosses national and international borders. Along with providing counter-terrorism first response, airport police support broader AFP operations that target criminals across national and international borders.

We have roles available for skilled police officers to join the AFP as airport police officers in Darwin.

Apply now

As a police officer in national policing, you’ll investigate and prevent crime to keep Australia – and our interests overseas – safe. 

Your day-to-day will be challenging and rewarding. You’ll get to:

  • interview witnesses and suspects
  • collect, prepare and present evidence to the courts
  • use information to decide an appropriate law-enforcement response
  • work across teams and beside people in many different roles
  • collaborate with other police forces, at home and overseas
  • work on complex investigations, often with global partners. 

We have roles available for skilled police officers to join the AFP as national police officers in Canberra, ACT.

Apply now

Do you want to build on your skills in community policing with all the benefits and opportunities that a career in the AFP provides?

ACT Policing, the community policing arm of the AFP, provide law enforcement in the Australian Capital Territory.

In this position, you can expect to complete 6 months of general duty operations before having the ability to transition into specialist investigation units in ACT Policing, such as:

  • Criminal Investigations
  • Family Violence and Vulnerable People
  • Drugs and Organised Crime
  • Fraud
  • Intelligence
  • Communications and Judicial Operations.
     

Apply now

Skilled Police Program graduates

Hear about our Skilled Police Program from two of our recent graduates.

Eligibility

Bring your skills to the AFP and tackle complex global crimes that push you to your full potential. 

To transfer to the AFP as a skilled police officer, you must:

  • be an Australian citizen
  • hold a Diploma of Public Safety (Policing) or equivalent qualification
  • have at least 3 years of operational policing experience in Australia
  • have worked in your Australian policing role within the past 5 years 
  • hold a valid Australian driver's licence
  • meet our character standards
  • hold or undergo a Negative Vetting 1 or 2 security clearance
  • be physically fit and healthy.

During our selection process, we'll ask for proof that you:

  • hold current first aid and CPR certifications
  • have had a police service history, including work in Australia in the past 5 years.

You may progress faster through our selection process if you:

  • can deploy to locations where we have current vacancies
  • have strong skills and experience related to a vacant position.

How to apply

Head to our AFP Jobs portal to apply at any time.

You'll need to include:

  • a résumé of your work history, responsibilities and achievements
  • proof of Australian citizenship
  • current Australian driver's licence (back and front)
  • certificates of qualifications, including a Diploma of Policing Certificate or equivalent.

We generally have 2 intakes a year. However, our selection process can take several months.

Ask us if you have any questions before you start your application. We’ll guide you through every step of the way.

Apply now

We send you a permanent job offer before you start paid training at AFP College. The offer includes a deployment location, so you'll know where you'll be working after doing the Skilled Police Program.

Medical and psychological assessment

As part of the recruitment process, you need to undertake a medical and psychological assessment.

  • monocular visual acuity of 6/9 or better in each eye (you can wear glasses or contact lenses)
  • binocular visual acuity of 6/6 or better (you can wear glasses or contact lenses)
  • unaided binocular visual acuity of 6/36 or better (no glasses or contact lenses)
  • near vision N8, aided or unaided
  • hearing level averaging 25 dB or less between 0.5 kHz and 3 kHz in both the left and right ear without a hearing aid
  • hearing level of 40 dB or less at 4.0 kHz in either ear without a hearing aid.

Our contracted health service providers will assess any medical condition that you have. They'll confirm whether you can complete the job safely and effectively. They may need you to provide reports from specialists, which you'll need to supply at your own expense.

You're unlikely to meet the medical standards if you have:

  • an unreconstructed shoulder following dislocation (we'll likely need an MRI or MRA scan)
  • unreconstructed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
  • epilepsy, unless you meet the requirements for an unrestricted commercial driver's licence
  • bleeding disorders, clotting disorders or current treatment with anticoagulants.

We consider some medical conditions on a case-by-case basis. The AFP Chief Medical Officer will make the final decision about any medical condition.

Vision

  • Colour deficiency
  • History of retinal detachment, glaucoma, radical keratotomy, full-thickness corneal transplant or acute keratotomy

Musculoskeletal

  • Shoulder subluxation (an MRI may be required)
  • Clinically evident osteoarthritis of the knee (X-ray changes and effusion)
  • Shin splints or compartment syndrome
  • Clinical signs of a lumbar nerve root (straight leg raise limitation less than 40 degrees)
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Chondromalacia, patella dislocation or tracking disorder, cruciate ligament repair or meniscectomy
  • Prior joint surgery or joint replacement surgery
  • Back pain or injury
  • Lumbar spine fusion
  • Poor muscular development, abnormal gait and limitation of movement of a joint.

Respiratory

  • Asthma (supporting reports will be required)
  • Chronic obstructive airways disease, chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Recurrent pneumothorax.

Neurological

  • Migraines and cluster headaches
  • Organic disease of the nervous system.

Endocrine

  • Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
  • Thyroid disorders.

Cardiovascular

  • Systolic blood pressure over 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure over 90 mm Hg
  • Organic disease of the heart or arteries
  • A history of deep vein thrombosis.

Gastroenterological

  • Liver disease
  • Hernia
  • Irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Other conditions

  • Organic disease of the bladder or kidney
  • Current chronic fatigue
  • Leukaemia, polycythaemia or myelofibrosis
  • Bleeding disorders, clotting disorders or current treatment with anticoagulants
  • HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C
  • Some chronic skin conditions
  • Narcolepsy or sleep apnoea
  • BMI far outside your healthy weight range
  • Tinnitus
  • Cancer

Any condition that results in a 'conditional' driver's licence under Assessing fitness to drive for commercial and private vehicle drivers – Medical standards for licensing and clinical management guidelines (2022 edition).

You need to demonstrate your psychological and emotional resilience through psychological testing and a face-to-face interview with a registered psychologist. As long as your personal situation doesn’t change, the results of this assessment are valid for 12 months.

We’ll assess you on your strengths in these areas:

  • teamwork
  • emotional self-control
  • conflict resolution
  • decision-making under stress
  • ability to understand other people's behaviour.

We’ll also ask you about any current or past psychological or psychiatric conditions. Even if you don’t have a current or past condition, that doesn’t guarantee you’ll pass this gateway.

If you're neurodivergent or have a learning disability, you may need extra assessments.

If you have a prior diagnosis or history of a psychological or psychiatric condition, you'll be asked to provide relevant information. This includes whether you have been treated for these conditions with therapy or medication.

You will not pass this assessment if you:

  • have a condition such as bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders or another diagnosis that has led to psychiatric hospitalisation or has required treatment
  • are currently taking any form of prescription psychotropic medication (prescription medication that can affect your mind, emotions or behaviour), such as sertraline (commonly sold as Zoloft), citalopram (Cipramian, Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), duloxetine (Cymbalta), mirtazapine, venlafaxine (Effexor) or diazepam (Valium).

If you decide to stop taking psychotropic medications, you must do this in consultation with a registered medical practitioner. The medical practitioner must also supervise your withdrawal. They’ll have to give us written evidence that you have successfully withdrawn from medication and have been symptom-free for at least 12 months before you can reapply.

Successful withdrawal from psychotropic medication doesn't guarantee that you will clear this gateway.

Training

As part of your lateral transfer to the AFP, you'll complete our Skilled Police Program.

The training includes:

  • classroom learning
  • practical topics, such as use-of-force and driver training
  • practical scenarios for learning and assessment
  • individual and group activities.

If you live in Canberra, you can ask to live off-site. But we'd prefer you to stay at AFP College during training. It's a great way to build a network of colleagues.

Skilled police program

Length

8 weeks

Salary

Generous salary plus 15.4% superannuation

Benefits

Free single room, free main meals, mobile phone and laptop

Location

AFP College in Canberra, close to Kingston and Lake Burley Griffin

Facilities

24/7 gym, fitness classes, coffee shop, bar, dining hall, laundry, ATM, access to health practitioners

We run 2 training courses each year, depending on operational requirements.

We don’t offer relocation assistance until we offer you a job. But you'll get paid a salary while you train with us in Canberra. We also provide main meals and accommodation at AFP College.

Our offer to you

A skilled police officer making a lateral transfer to the AFP gets:

  • opportunities to progress their career
  • relocation assistance
  • a competitive salary package, including a 22% composite allowance on top of your annual base salary (depending on your work area placement)
  • exceptional leave allowances, including 6 weeks annual leave and extra Christmas stand-down
  • 15.4% superannuation, including during all periods of parental leave.

Skilled police officer salaries

Your pay rates and entitlements are set out in our Enterprise Agreement (EA).

When you join us, your starting salary reflects your prior experience. These are examples of starting salaries.

Prior experienceBand and rankBase salary per year before taxAverage potential earnings per year before tax*
3 years of service3.3 – Constable$78,221.00$95,429.62
6 years of service4.2 – First Constable$87,904.00$107,242.88
9 years of service5.2 – Senior Constable$103,429.00$126,183.38
10+ years of service5.3 – Leading Senior Constable$107,559.00$131,221.98

* Average potential earnings include a 22% composite allowance but not superannuation, extra allowances, overtime and penalties.

**The annual payment of the Use of Force (UoF) allowance is dependent on members successfully holding and maintaining a UoF certification.

Benefits and conditions

We know you want a job that pays you what you're worth.

Earn a competitive salary with generous holidays and other benefits.

Leave, pay and benefits

Rewarding career

A whole world of opportunities.

AFP officer in uniform crouching down with his AFP canine (German Shephard) facing away from the camera.

Leading Senior Constable Dominic made a lateral transfer to the AFP. He likened it to moving from a state football team to playing for Australia.

From the moment I came across from the state police, I’ve been made to feel so welcome at every level, at every rank … it’s just a fantastic place to be. Not just in work, but out of work as well. It’s like one big family.

Dominic

Leading Senior Constable, National Canine Operations – Perth

Choose us

Job security

Ongoing, full-time employment with lots of benefits

Australia-wide

Capital cities, Australian locations or even deploy overseas

Feel welcome

We welcome Australian citizens from all walks of life

Valuable skills

Grow your skills to tackle national and global threats

Get in touch

AFP Recruitment

Email us enquiries anytime with your full name, email/phone, role type, location and job reference number (if applicable).

Or call us Monday to Friday 8.30 am and 4 pm Canberra time.
 

+61 2 5127 2555
afprecruitment@afp.gov.au
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