Victoria Police training to become fastest in the country

Hopes shorter Victoria Police Training will address workforce shortages

It’s widely known that Australia is experiencing a severe shortage of police officers.

Now, Victoria Police has shortened its training program by 6 weeks in a bid to boost police numbers. While the program was initially 31 weeks, this has now been reduced to 25 weeks.

It will see the state’s police training program become the fastest in the country. Despite this, senior police are maintaining the changes won’t reduce the quality of training provided.

So what changes are being made and what are the reasons behind it?

Why are the changes being made?

Increasing frontline police numbers

The move is designed to get more police officers out of classrooms and into the streets. It is estimated the changes will mean an extra 72 police officers can complete training each year. While that might not seem like much, it is equivalent to a fully staffed suburban police station.

The changes come amid a severe shortage of police in Victoria, which is only expected to get worse. There are currently 1,100 vacancies in the Victorian police force. More than 150 police have left the force in the last year.

However, the changes are not just about boosting police numbers.

Modernising course content

This marks the first time in 15 years that Victoria Police’s training program has been updated.

The new program has been designed to reflect the demands of modern policing and the evolving expectations of the community.
Many of the changes have been made based on feedback from recent recruits who say that some of the training course is repetitive.

A two-year review also found there was overlap between what police recruits learnt at the academy and when they were placed out on patrol.
The new content will focus more on practical skills and operational policing, as well as issues like family violence and youth crime.

It comes as family violence and youth crime become issues that are increasingly prevalent in the community.

There will be less emphasis on classroom-based learning such as marching drills.

“The new program is recognition that while classroom learning is crucial for basic knowledge, the greatest form of learning occurs under supervision on the job,” said Victoria Police acting deputy commissioner Terry Hansen.

While police will be on the streets sooner, there will be an emphasis on having them guided by senior police officers.

The new training program will commence in July. Senior police say it is already attracting an increased number of applications to the force.

They have allayed concerns that recruits will miss out on vital learning, saying the course is simply being streamlined. Police recruits will still undertake a diploma of policing, which remains unchanged at 116 weeks.

In March, the state’s police force relaxed academic standards. Applicants who achieve an ATAR over 65 and a study score over 25 in English are no longer required to sit an entrance exam. Some Victorian Public Service employees are now also eligible to skip the exam.

Policing is the ideal career for those who want to serve the community and help others. With demand for police officers at an all-time high, now is the ideal time to consider a career in the police force — and if you’re based in Victoria, professional resume writing services in Melbourne can help you stand out.