There is no one key attribute, skill or experience that we look for in candidates. Instead, it's your overall suitability for the protective services officer role that will improve your chances.
The recruitment process can take more than 12 months to complete. We assess key competencies, including:
intellectpsychological make-upwork historycommunity involvementmedical historyprior offence historyRecruitment processYou will submit your application online. We will assess the suitability of your application. Make sure you use correct spelling and grammar and that you answer all questions in full.
The application form will consist of:
employment historyeducation historyhistory of prior offences and police dealingsBefore you submit your application, you should understand the recruitment process. Learn about the process in the videos below.
Recruitment process: be informedHow to prepare yourself before you apply to be a protective services officer. What you need to disclose in your application to become a protective services officer. Tips for success for your protective services officer application.
Once you complete your online application, you may be contacted by our Recruiting Services Branch. They will then email you to ask you to complete the Victoria Police entrance exam.
You will need to pay for all costs during the recruitment process. This includes:
the entrance examtravelling to and from assessment venuesThe eligibility checks stage ensures you meet these requirements. This includes assessing your:
basic driving historycriminal historyresponses to motivational and behavioural based questionsPlease note, not all applications will progress past this initial stage of the process.
If your application is successful, you will need to sit an entrance exam. You must pass all components of the exam before you can progress to the next phase of the selection process.
The exam includes eight assessments:
verbal reasoningabstract reasoningsummary writingextended writingoral communicationsExemptions to sitting the examAll exemptions are approved at the discretion of our Recruitment Team. You may be exempt from the exam if you:
have an Australian university bachelor degree from the past five years in arts, science, humanities (business), or lawhave prior policing experience in the past five years in Australian, New Zealand or United Kingdom policing jurisdictionsare currently employed in those jurisdictionsYou can buy the following resources for entrance exam practice questions:
Verbal reasoning tutorialThis tutorial:
explains what's involved in the verbal reasoning testgives advice about how to solve verbal reasoning questionsexplains what's involved in the numeracy skills tasksgives advice about the types of questions you will find on the examexplains what's involved in the abstract reasoning testgives advice about how to solve abstract reasoning questionsLiteracy skills tutorialThis tutorial:
explains what's involved in the literacy testgives advice about how to answer literacy skills questionsexplains what's involved in the summary writing taskgives advice about how to write a summary textexplains what's involved in the extended writing taskgives advice about how to write an extended piece of writingexplains what's involved in the oral communication testgives advice about how to answer the questionsexplains what's involved in the digital literacy testgives advice about to answer digital literacy questionsYou will be responsible for all examination costs. This includes the cost of:
the initial $228 examany re-sitsYou will have two months to sit your exam. If you are unsuccessful on any component, you will be able to re-sit. If unsuccessful on the re-sit, an exclusion period will apply. This is why you need to be ready to pass the entrance exam before you apply.
After you book your exam, we will send you instructions to download an electronic ticket. We will send this seven days before the sitting date.
You must bring a printed copy of your ticket to the exam.
You will not be able to change the session date and time after you book your exam. The dress code for the entrance exam is tidy, casual attire.
You cannot sit your exam if you don't:
arrive at the venue at the time stated on your ticketbring a printed ticketHowever, you may apply to ACER for an exemption to re-book for a future date.
If you pass the exam, our Recruitment Team will conduct a preliminary check. This check will cover your previous history to determine your eligibility and suitability for the role.
We will send you a document pack that you must complete in detail. This includes various aspects of your background including but not limited to:
your family associationsyour educationyour travelAccurately completing this document package is an assessed component of the recruitment process. Your application will be delayed if any information is missing or incomplete. Failure to disclose information can result in your application being cancelled.
All PSO applicants must have a set of fingerprints taken. You must bring photo ID and other identification documentation to confirm your identity. The Victoria Police Recruiting Applicant Pack explains the documentation required. This is under the Police Applicant Schedule of Requirements.
A member of the station will take your fingerprints and sight your documents. There is no fee to have your fingerprints taken. Please do not make an appointment with a Victoria Police Fingerprint Facility. Interstate applicants need a fingerprint card to take with them to their appointment. Your ink prints will be sent to our Victorian Fingerprint Unit.
Victoria Police conducts extensive background checks during the selection process. All Victoria Police employees follow a code of conduct. You must align with the code of conduct expected of our employees. That means the application process involves a thorough assessment to identify any:
prior misconductcorruptionor any form of improper conductThe ongoing expectation is that you understand and avoid misconduct, and immediately report it should you become aware of it in others. This helps keep Victoria Police an ethical organisation. Your previous history will be assessed at this stage and throughout the entire selection process. This includes your:
traffic historycriminal historyemployment historyPrior offences and Voluntary Disclosure Form (VDF)You can check our prior history guidelines to learn if a past offence will affect your application. As a protective services officer, you must maintain a healthy level of fitness. As part of the application process, you will be required to undertake a fitness test. The test will assess your level of cardio fitness and physical strength.
The fitness tests are normally held at the Victoria Police Academy. They are followed by a psychometric assessment. Please allow five hours for these tests. The fitness test includes the following components:
beep test (to level 5.01)grip test (30kg in each hand)Illinois agility run (20 seconds)prone bridge (hold for 60 seconds)POLICE FIT appYou can prepare for the Victoria Police fitness test with the POLICE FIT app. The app is a free tool with exclusive videos, tips, workouts, and resources to help you succeed.
The protective services officer role can be psychologically demanding. You must complete psychological testing during the recruitment process to assess your suitability. Psychologists from the Victoria Police Psychology Unit will interpret the test results. They will provide recommendations to the Recruitment Services Branch.
Following the test, most applicants attend a one-on-one interview with a psychologist. This is a normal part of the process. It helps to interpret your test results, and further assess your suitability.
We will provide you with a medical booklet on the day of your fitness test. This document aims to assess your:
current health statusmedical and surgical historyAs part of this medical assessment process, you need to:
undergo an examination by a GPhave your hearing tested by an audiologist or audiometristhave your vision tested by an ophthalmologist or optometristYou will need to pay for all costs associated with this stage. Failure to disclose information may result in the cancellation of your application.
We will assess your application against our values and the Victoria Police code of ethics. During this stage of the process, we look further into your:
employment historyassociationssocial mediaYou must disclose all relevant information to Victoria Police throughout the recruitment process. This means declaring all your associations, past and present, that you suspect to have a criminal conviction. It also includes those Victoria Police would consider being of poor character and reputation. This includes:
family memberspeople you live withany person you associate with or have associated within the pastThis allows us to assess the risk of your associations to you, your colleagues and the organisation. Failure to declare this information will raise concerns about your integrity, character and suitability for the role.
The panel interview is usually the final step in your recruitment process. It is usually held at the Victoria Police Centre. Two members of Victoria Police will attend. It will consist of behavioural and scenario-based questions. Not all applicants will be deemed suitable for induction into the Victoria Police Academy.
Come prepared with examples of when you have:
had successful work relationshipsused your communication skillsshown personal driveshown integrityThe interview determines if you are suitable for induction into the Victoria Police Academy. To prepare for the behavioural questions, you can:
Brainstorm past experiences that demonstrate relevant strengths for the police officer position. Think about communications skills, conflict negotiation, teamwork and leadership.Draw from experiences where you achieved a positive result in a negative situation.Research current affairs in Victoria. This should include issues facing Victoria Police and the community.Know your motivation for applying for the role.Select the best examples from your list of past experiences.Structure responses to possible questions.Practise mock interviews and role-playing.When preparing possible responses, practise the 'STAR' method. 'STAR' stands for:
Situation: explain the situation where an experience happenedTask: the task you had to complete in the situationActions: the action or actions you took in the situationResult: the outcome or outcomes of the situationPreparation for interview panel dayOn the day of your interview:
Dress in business attireArrive 15 minutes early. Allow plenty of time for travel and to find the venue. The address is: Ground floor, 311 Spencer Street, DocklandsBring any supporting documents you needDuring the interview:
Try and stay calm and relaxed. Take deep breathsIntroduce yourself to the interview panel membersAllow the interviewer to finish talking before you answer the questionIf you don't understand a question, ask them to repeat or rephrase itThink about your answer before you speak. There's no need to rushShow interest and enthusiasm when responding to questionsBe concise when you answer each questionThe panel will give you an opportunity to ask any final questions. If you are successful in the selection process, you will go into the candidate pool awaiting invitation to start training at the Victoria Police Academy. We aim to provide you with six weeks' notice before starting at the Victoria Police Academy.
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