Many of us work for the AFP in unsworn roles. We're not 'sworn in' as police officers or protective service officers.
Unsworn roles include specialists and support roles. They're critical in keeping Australians and Australia's interests safe.
Specialist roles at AFP
We're always looking for people with specialised skills and experience to work with us.
Examples of specialist roles
I assist police officers in preventing, disrupting and developing targets for police operations ... we hunt down cyber criminals to keep Australia safe ... I joined the AFP as a graduate 7 years ago. I saw it as a really cool opportunity to start my career in something that made a difference ... I've worked in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.
Henry
Senior Technical Analyst
Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre
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.
Application process
- Eligibility
You can apply for our specialist and support roles if you:
- are over 18 years old
- are an Australian citizen
- hold or undergo a Negative Vetting 1 security clearance
- pass our police and character checks
- pass any role-specific checks.
- Apply
To see available positions, visit our current vacancies.
As part of your application, you'll need to:
- answer some questions to ensure you meet our eligibility criteria
- upload your résumé and other documents, such as a pitch
- give contact details for 2 referees to discuss your past work performance and character.
If you're shortlisted, we'll let you know by email. Then we'll ask you to complete an Employment Suitability Questionnaire. Use a current email address and check that our emails don't go to your junk mail.
Our selection process needs to be thorough. Sometimes, it can take several months. Try to complete your steps and respond to our questions as quickly as you can. If you need help, contact our Recruitment team.
Questionnaire and traffic history
As a law enforcement agency, this step is really important.
If you don't meet our character standards, the decision is final; it can’t be appealed or reviewed. If you don't pass this step, we can't give you any feedback.
Our best tip? Read the requirements carefully, be honest and give us everything we need.
Employment Suitability Questionnaire
The Employment Suitability Questionnaire helps us understand your character.
Along with your traffic history, we use it to assess whether you meet our character standards.
You'll be asked a series of questions, including whether you have:
- any criminal history or prior convictions (at any age)
- any associations with people or groups who are well-known to law enforcement
- spent any significant periods overseas
- travelled regularly to places of interest to the AFP.
Traffic history
You'll provide us with a traffic history from any place you have held a valid driver's licence. This includes any licence you've held overseas. Your traffic history must cover your entire driving history.
Get a copy of your traffic history no more than 3 months before the date you send it to us.
- Interview
If you pass our checks, we may invite you for a job interview. It might be in person or an online video call.
We may contact your referees. We'll ask them about your character and related experience.
Read about interviews and referees in our applicant guide.
- Offer of employment
If you're successful, you'll get an offer through our Jobs portal.
Some candidates aren't offered a position. But this might not be the end of your AFP journey.
For some roles, we may place suitable candidates who aren't offered a position in a 'merit pool' for 12 months. This means we may offer you another position in the AFP if one is available.
In the meantime, you can apply for another advertised role. See our current vacancies.
- Security assessment
Before you start working with us, you'll need a security clearance. The AFP Personnel Security Vetting Team will look at your past, going back at least 10 years. They'll assess:
- your employment, residential, financial and personal history
- any history of breaking the law
- any significant periods you've spent living overseas
- regular travel abroad to regions of interest.
If you have a partner, the security assessment will include them and their background.
You may already hold a security clearance from the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA). If so, you might get through this check faster than others.
As part of this process, you'll have to:
- pass mandatory drug testing
- provide your fingerprints.
You'll need to pass regular drug testing as part of your ongoing job with us.