Examiner or investigator - Forensics

Overview

Become a forensic science or technical intelligence expert with the AFP.

We're world leaders in forensic science and technical intelligence. Forensics Command members support Australian Capital Territory, national and international policing.

Working in forensics, your work could include:

• crime scene investigation
• firearms identification and armoury services
• biological and chemical criminalistics
• identification sciences, including fingerprint and facial identification
• document sciences
• imagery and geomatics
• digital forensics
• audio and video analysis
• bomb or hazardous scene examination
• disaster victim identification
• weapons and technical intelligence
• forensic intelligence
• forensic drug intelligence.

There are many specialist forensics roles available. Search our current vacancies to find a job that suits you.

We've profiled 2 forensics roles and also offer a work experience program for high-school students.

Forensics Work Experience Program

We offer work experience to secondary school students in years 10 to 12. Students considering a career in forensic science with the AFP will learn about roles in:

• biology
• chemical criminalistics
• document sciences
• crime scene investigation
• fingerprints
• firearms identification and armoury
• digital forensics
• facial identification.

We include practical scenarios and a simulated courtroom trial.

Learn more about work experience.

Digital forensic examiner

What you'll do

Our digital forensics examiners work with electronic data to help solve AFP investigations. You'll assist AFP operations by locating, gaining access to, analysing and presenting digital evidence. You'll provide your technical expertise to AFP and partner operations.

As a digital forensic examiner, you will:

• provide technical support to investigators
• attend search warrants and crime scenes
• plan and conduct examinations or analysis
• search for evidence of criminal activity
• present findings and testify evidence in court
• contribute to research and capability development projects
• maintain currency in subject matter expertise through ongoing professional development and learning opportunities
• provide accurate and professional technical advice to domestic and international agency partners
• ensure outputs are achieved within the strategic direction of the AFP
• provide advice and guidance to the AFP on emerging trends and threat environments.

You'll have access to a wide range of benefits and conditions. To learn more about career progression, salary bands and entitlements, read our Enterprise Agreement.

Crime scene investigator

What you'll do

As a crime scene investigator, you'll:

• detect, record and collect evidence at crime scenes
• use specialist skills to piece together information and form a picture of what happened
• support the AFP with specialist forensic examinations.

Your tasks may include:

• crime scene photography
• fingerprint detection
• recovering biological evidence including blood and DNA
• analysing and making impressions of shoe and tool marks
• collecting traces of chemicals
• preliminary identification of drugs.

As a crime scene investigator, you'll have access to a wide range of benefits and conditions.

To learn more about career progression, salary bands and entitlements, read our Enterprise Agreement.

Eligibility

To join the AFP as a digital forensics examiner or crime scene investigator, you must:

• be aged 18 years or over
• be an Australian citizen
• hold a relevant tertiary qualification
• be able to obtain and maintain a high-level security clearance.

Before being offered a job with us you'll also need to:

• complete our Employment Suitability Questionnaire
• provide your traffic history for the last 10 years
• undergo mandatory drug testing and provide your fingerprints.

How to apply

We advertise vacancies on our Jobs portal.

Each position will outline the application process.

To see the current positions available, visit our Jobs portal.