NSW Police to use hometown placements as recruitment incentive

People wanting to be cops who are reluctant to sign up for fear of having to uproot their lives can now have a say in their postings as part of a massive push by NSW Police to boost recruitment.

Exclusive: People wanting to be cops who are reluctant to sign up for fear of having to uproot their lives and leave their home towns can now have a say in their postings as part of a massive push by NSW Police to boost recruitment.

As part of a new recruitment campaign revealed by The Sunday Telegraph, potential candidates from 12 different regional towns across NSW can opt to serve their local community once they graduate.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Dean Smith said the goal is to be able to provide greater certainty for recruits, “giving them confidence they can join the NSW Police Force and work in their home towns where appropriate”.

“We know that becoming a police officer and moving away from home can be a big ask, especially if you have family and enjoy where you live,” he said.

“This new initiative will give those who apply to be a police officer a higher level of confidence on where they’ll work.

Rachel Divall, who will work in Parkes, and Dougal McNab, who has been stationed in Sydney eastern suburbs.

“This is a win-win for new recruits, regional areas and the NSW Police Force.”

Even if an applicant is from a regional area not listed, the Force will still look at positions available in the area.

Mr Smith said the NSW Police Force acknowledged that moving away from home can be a big ask, especially if you have family and enjoy where you live.

Placements are dependent on operational needs and background checks.

The recruitment campaign will be launched in Tamworth July 5, then travel to Armidale the next day followed by Moree on July 7.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the recruitment initiatives were aimed at attracting a more diverse range of recruits to the NSW Police Force.

“We don’t want the worry of leaving home to limit what you can do,” she said.

“There may be plenty of people in our regions who like the idea of a career in policing but just don’t want to end up living in the city away from their home environment.

“We want our officers to be connected to where they live and work. So we’re offering regional recruits the opportunity to return home, or close to it, after attesting at the Goulburn Police Academy.

“We’re committed to breaking down barriers to joining the NSWPF — paying recruits to study and offering a pathway home is part of how we’re achieving that.

“I know our serving officers are overworked and exhausted. I’ve made it my personal mission, alongside Commissioner Webb, to fill the vacancies we’re carrying. Innovative recruitment and retention measures is how we’ll get there.

“Since announcing paid study we’ve seen more than a 40 per cent increase in applications to join the NSWPF — the results speak for themselves.”

The first class to be fully paid to train attest at Goulburn Police Academy on Friday. Picture: Police Media

On Friday Class 362, the first class to be fully paid to train, walked out of the Goulburn Police Academy.

The recruits received a salary and allowance of about $30,984 over the 16-week study period.

That works out to be $1360 per week plus superannuation and an estimated $380 in award-based allowances.

The NSW Police Association applauded the government announcement, saying paying new recruits to train while at the Academy had seen a 25 per cent increase in applications compared with this time last year and classes of 350 students not seen in years.

As one new police officer explained: “Being paid by NSW Police while training at the academy has allowed me to secure arrangements to move out of home after attesting and starting work out in the field”.

Harrison Clifford is now based at Ku-ring-gai Police Area Command.

Rachel Divall, who is now based at Parkes, said: “Joining the NSW Police Force has always been my dream. Now with the paid incentives for new student police officers, it has made the financial transition to the academy a much easier process”.

Rachel Divall and Dougal McNab.

After the ceremony, the joy. Picture: Police Media

Another graduate, Dougal McNeab, from the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command said the payment scheme has allowed “a young person like me to come down and follow his dream”.

“I didn’t see myself doing uni straight after school and I wanted a career that makes a difference,” he said.

Police are also working to target high-school students that show they have the potential to become police officers through a pilot program called You Should Be A Cop which will be launched next month in Tamworth.

School counsellors will identify students from Years 10 to 12 who have a keen interest in policing.

The first class to be fully paid to train attest at Goulburn Police Academy. Picture: Police Media

They will choose three classes of 15 to 20 students for a four-day program at specialist commands and the Academy.

One group will experience a metro command – Sutherland Shire – one will visit the Oxley Police District and the third group will gain experience with the Pasifika Officers Law Enforcement Network.

Deputy Commissioner of Regional NSW Field Operations Paul Pisanos said the NSW Police Force doesn’t just want to find the next generation of police: “We want to inspire students and show them there’s much more to being a police officer”.

“This program will target Year 10 to 12 students, giving them practical skills and a chance to experience what a career as a police officer could be like and where it can take you,” Mr Pisanos said.

“This is an opportunity to showcase a career in policing for young people, who may have not previously considered joining the police force.

“We are also hoping to attract young people from different cultural backgrounds from both the city and the regions because we know recruiting people with varied life experiences means we can better serve the community and make us a stronger police force.”

The initiatives are the NSW Police Force’s commitment to addressing staff shortages and follows the announced by the state government that all recruits are now paid to train.

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Originally published as NSW Police to use hometown placements as recruitment incentive