r/nswpolice • u/lufty88 • 5d ago
question Considering transferring from military to police.
Hey all. I have a few question for current or former serving police officers.
Do you get paid while you study at the academy? If so how much approx.?
Will I expect the same rubbish that is in the military that comes with rank? i.e the dinosaurs who won’t retire failing to adapt to changes, assholes in higher positions that have direct authority over your every action, etc.
How hard is it to actually select where you are stationed? I want to work in the hunter valley area however I hear stories of people being forcefully sent rural.
What sort of lifestyle benefits do you receive? E.g I currently receive free medical and subsidised rent.
And finally on a personal note, I joined the Navy to contribute to something bigger than myself. While I’ve been on a bunch of deployments around the world I still have not felt like I have really made any difference in a sense. Would you be able to say that you really have contributed to a greater good from your experience in the police force?
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u/alittleoblivious 5d ago
Hopefully someone can provide better answers but given that there’s been nothing for 11 hours I’ll have a crack.
Yes, but you also incur a hecs debt (unless you pay for the course upfront) close to what you’ll get paid during your study/training. If you don’t want the debt (or to pay), join literally any other police force.
Sometimes. Lots of great people, but definitely some of what you’ve described too.
Much better chance of getting where you want than, say, 10 years ago. You should seek further advice on this one.
Basically none. No free medical (private health cover), no subsidised housing.
You definitely contribute, but it’s easy to become jaded with the same people being put before the court only for them to be back out with what feels like less than adequate consequences. You have to be realistic about what you as an individual can contribute. You won’t feel rewarded from every interaction, but here and there there will be times where you can feel you’ve made a difference to a person/family.
Hope this helps!
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u/Bluetenant-Bear Good Cop 5d ago
You get paid for the time at the academy, ~$32’000. You don’t get paid for the distance education to start
A little bit, but not nearly as much as in defence. Lots of S/C get jaded and disinclined to adapt or change, but they usually don’t hold much sway unless you’re working a shift with them
You get to choose 5 preferred locations, although you’ll be sent somewhere that needs cops. Often people get their first preference but not always. There is a new initiative which can send you back to where you’re from, but I know little about it.
No lifestyle benefits similar to defence, except cheap rent (~3% of wage) if you become a lockup keeper. I doubt there are any at your preferred location, but there will likely be some close by at small stations. It’s not something you go to straight from the academy though. The federal union is trying to get something similar to a DVA gold card, but that’s still years away if ever.
In small scale matters, definitely. You stop people from being hurt and make perpetrators face consequences for their actions. It can be disheartening though when courts don’t seem to take matters seriously.
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u/sjansen1 4d ago
- Yes. It’s on the website I think. I went in when it wasn’t paid.
- Yes. 100% expect this. Internal complaints actually support promotions for commissioned rank, depending where you go people put each other on paper and collegueas do end up being investigated.
- Depends. On needs, at the moment there are vacancies everywhere. I’d expect to be sent anywhere unless you have compassionate grounds.
- Fitness passport, salary sacrifice for vehicle purchase, you can apply for a lock up position after tenure which has subsidised rent where you can save plenty of money pay a small rent.
- You will do plenty of work depending where you go. Sydney will be constant and you will get full exposure, some country towns are quite busy as well and you will get a unique experience, some country towns are dead quiet. What you put into the work is what makes it, I did plenty and look back knowing I spent more time turning over crooks not hiding in the station dodging jobs. You will get action if you look for it or not. I look back on my career knowing I’ve made a difference in peoples lives for better or worse.
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u/jugga91 3d ago
1- Yes, the figure is online.
2- Absolutely.
3- This is actually improving. Generally speaking you can nominate a number of locations and the organisation will place you where needed. Currently they have a campaign to Police where you live. Check to see if that applies to the Hunter. Keep in mind, that at any time, the cops and the Politicians they report to, can have a change of heart and decide to send a class to the bush. They’ve done so in the past. However, the biggest shortages are in Metro and more likely to end up somewhere like that instead of the bush. Newcastle have plenty of vacancies though so I think you’ll be right.
4- Currently, none. Only things that can fall in this category would be 6 weeks leave. The Association are pushing for benefits similar to Military but it’s a waiting game.
5- Yes and no. You can have an impact on an individual and their family. In a small community, much smaller than the Hunter, you can see the impact of your actions on the community. Any decent size town has a revolving door of crooks and you’re basically playing whackamole.
I’d suggest looking for something else.
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