Minimum ATAR, health requirements among changes for Victoria Police recruits

One police force has scrapped the entrance exam for a specific group of recruits in a bid to stem the frontline worker shortage.

One state has relaxed entrance requirements in a dramatic measure that comes amid a recruitment and retention crisis in Australia’s police forces.

Victoria Police has scrapped their entrance exam for applicants who achieve an Australian Tertiary Admission Ranking (ATAR) of 65 or above and a study score of at least 25 in English.

Victoria’s Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent said in an email obtained by the Herald Sun the change would allow paramedics, firefighters and defence personnel wanting to join the force to skip the test.

“These changes will remove the first barrier for eligible applicants and will fast-track the recruitment process,” Mr Nugent said.

Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent is aiming to address recruitment and burnout in the Victorian police force. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

There is no minimum ATAR or study score required to join Victoria Police, though applicants who do not achieve the 65 ATAR or English score of 25 will still need to sit the entrance test.

The top cop was sworn in earlier this year in a dramatic shake-up of leadership after the resignation of Shane Patton.

Mr Nugent said in February that increasing public trust in police and improving officer morale were among his priorities.

At the time, about 800 members of the force were on sick leave and 1000 vacancies needed to be filled.

“Morale is not what it should be and our people are overstretched in many areas,” Mr Nugent wrote in the email.

Another change is planned for the psychological testing section of the application process. Most applicants previously were required to undergo a one-on-one appointment with a psychologist. Instead, a sign off by a general practitioner for medical conditions and injuries will suffice in some cases.

The loosened requirements for Victoria Police applicants comes amid a staff shortage. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

While recruitment was an “ongoing priority,” Mr Nugent said the organisation’s rates of retention would get equal attention.

“It’s a problem that needs addressing from all sides if we are to release some of the pressure currently being felt by our frontline police officers and, more broadly, by our specialist areas, our PSOs, PCOs and our VPS,” he said.

“The simple fact is too many people are leaving our organisation injured, fatigued or dissatisfied.

“I want all our employees to feel supported and empowered to do their jobs, enjoying their work and taking pride in the organisation.”

It follows a long-running pay dispute in the state. Victoria Police staff are to receive an 18 per cent pay rise over four years, and frontline officers will get a 20 per cent rise, after an 18-month industrial battle.

Police force retention issues are not unique to Victoria. NSW Police has faced a persistent staff shortage, with the force being short about 3000 officers – up from 1000 in December last year – The Daily Telegraph reported in October 2024.

Police Association NSW president Kevin Morton said the state’s successful negotiations for a pay rise would be good news for potential applicants. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Similar to Victoria, the NSW union was engaged in protracted negotiations with the state for a pay packet boost.

In November 2024, NSW police officers accepted a salary increase of up to 39 per cent, making it the best-paid force in the country.

The government estimates that NSW Police will attract more than 1000 recruits in 2025 as a result of the pay rise and recent recruitment efforts.

“With recruitment on the rise, we hope this offer will attract our future police officers to this unique profession,” Police Association NSW (PANSW) president Kevin Morton said at the time.

“This is generational change that will pay police properly for the first time in more than a decade,” Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley added.

“It will attract a lot of recruits and, crucially, encourage a lot of experienced officers to stay on in a police force that values them, their service and their unique knowledge.”

Originally published as Minimum ATAR, health requirements among changes for Victoria Police recruits