Police officer — ACT Policing

Overview

ACT Policing is the AFP's community policing service. It provides policing services to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) community on behalf of the ACT Government.

ACT Policing officers can specialise in a range of roles, including:

• community safety
• family violence
• major crime, such as drugs, organised crime and homicide
• sexual assault
• fraud
• rural patrol
• road policing
• intelligence
• crash investigations
• emergency and disaster management.

As an ACT Policing officer you'll:

• be the first point of contact for members of the public who need help
• work with the community to address victim-based crime, threats to community safety, serious and organised crime, and road safety.

We aim to keep the ACT safe and secure through policing activities on behalf of the ACT Government.

Being an ACT Policing officer is different to national policing work. Police officers in our national policing arm investigate and prevent crime to keep Australia, and Australian interests overseas, safe. They also provide protective security at Australian airports. Learn more about becoming an AFP police officer.

What you'll do

As an ACT Policing officer, you are the first point of contact when a crime is committed in the ACT. Your engagement with the local community can make a positive difference.

There are 5 local police stations across Canberra. Your duties will include:

• patrolling the Canberra community and responding to incidents
• dealing with crimes such as robbery, drug offences, family violence and traffic incidents
• proactively engaging with the Canberra community.

To learn more about ACT Policing and the AFP, and get to know our people, read our people's stories.

Eligibility

Joining ACT Policing as a new recruit

To start your career as a police officer with ACT Policing, you must:

• be aged 18 years or over
• be an Australian citizen
• hold a valid Australian driver's licence (P plates are accepted, if you have a learners licence don't apply until you have your provisional licence)
• meet our character standards
• hold at least one of the following qualifications:
  • Year 10 Certificate and 2 years of work experience
  • Year 10 Certificate and a nationally recognised vocational education qualification at Certificate III level or higher
  • Year 12 Certificate
  • vocational education (TAFE) qualification or university qualification at Diploma level or higher.

You must also provide evidence that you:

• have had 2 primary doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine at the time of application (evidence can be provided in the form of an immunisation history statement or COVID-19 Digital Certificate)
• hold current first aid and CPR certifications
• can swim 100 m freestyle.

Find out more about joining us as an ACT Policing officer recruit including salary and benefits

Joining ACT Policing from another Australian police force

If you have at least 3 years of operational policing experience and have not been out of a policing role for more than 5 years, you may be eligible to join ACT Policing as a police officer through our Lateral Program.

You'll be expected to hold a Diploma of Public Safety (Policing) or equivalent and have strong experience in criminal investigation. We encourage state or territory officers to apply.

You must also:

• be an Australian citizen
• be up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations
• be able to get and maintain a Negative Vetting 1 security clearance
• hold current first aid and CPR certifications
• show evidence that you can swim 100 m freestyle.

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.