• Charles Sturt University and NSW Minister for Police The Hon Paul Toole MP announce changes to the education and training of NSW police officers 
• From 2023, the study requirements to become a police officer in NSW will be more affordable and flexible 
• The announcement was made at an attestation parade for recruits at the Sydney Police Centre on Monday 12 December  

From 2023, those wanting to serve and protect their communities will have more affordable and flexible training with significant changes to the education of NSW police officers.  

NSW police officers in-training will receive financial assistance and incentives while studying in-person, greater flexibility while undertaking their distance education requirements, and exposure to a new, cutting-edge curriculum. 

Charles Sturt University has been delivering training for police officers in partnership with the NSW Police Force since 1998. In that time, tens of thousands of NSW police officers have completed part of their training with the University. 

Charles Sturt University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Renée Leon, welcomed the changes as the next step in the University’s proud history of helping to produce the state’s police officers. 

“For a quarter of a century, Charles Sturt University has been proud to play an integral role in helping to train tens of thousands of NSW police officers,” Professor Leon said. 

“Today’s changes to decrease education costs and increase learning flexibility
will be available to the next generation of officers and will help maintain
a strong and well-equipped police force in NSW. 

“Charles Sturt University looks forward to continuing its important partnership with the NSW Police Force and welcoming the first recruits under this exciting new scheme in January 2023.” 

Charles Sturt’s University Certificate in Workforce Essentials (UCWE) is a prerequisite for students to attend the NSW Police Force Academy in Goulburn to study the Associate Degree in Policing Practice (ADPP), which is the course completed by officers. 

Key changes to the training of NSW police officers from 2023 include:

• The cost to students for the UCWE will drop from about $1,800 to $700
• Enrolment in the UCWE will take place after recruitment assessments are conducted
• The UCWE will be completed by all students in four weeks
• There will be five sessions required to complete the ADPP course, with part-time study mode available for parts of the course
• A $3,000 allowance for every student studying the ADPP course on-campus at the Academy in session two
• Modernising the curriculum by incorporating immersive learning technology scenarios, team-based, critical thinking learning platforms

Scholarships of up to $12,500 to assist students facing financial hardship will continue to be available in session two 

Charles Sturt’s Director of Policing Partnerships in the Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences, Dr Rosemary Woolston, said improvements to the structure and enrolment processes of the UCWE would greatly assist students. 

“Reducing the cost will minimise the financial pressure on students as they start their policing journey,” Dr Woolston said. 

“The savings will also be applied to students currently undertaking their UCWE so there will be immediate benefits.” 

In 2022 alone, more than 1000 graduates have been posted to police districts across NSW, with 372 of those in regional areas, including: 

• Mid North Coast Police District (including Port Macquarie): 15 
• Riverina Police District (including Wagga Wagga): 19 
• Central West Police District (including Orange): 18 
• Chifley Police District (Including Bathurst): 15 
• Orana Mid-Western Police District (including Dubbo): 16 

NSW Probationary Constable Mr Simon Haddad attested from the NSW Police Force Academy in December 2021 and is on track to completing his ADPP studies this month. He is stationed at the Barrier Police District, undergoing his duties at the Broken Hill Police Station.  

He graduated as a Probationary Constable under the existing teaching process and said the announced changes would be a game-changer for future police officers. 

“I think it is a great initiative for students who would like to apply to become part of the NSW Police Force,” Mr Haddad said.  

“It lessens the financial burden and allows them to complete other duties
while studying in the part-time modes.”  

Mr Haddad reflected on what the role of a police officer meant to him.  

“To me, being a police officer means constantly striving for community satisfaction, as often, members of the public will approach the police for assistance and it’s about putting your best foot forward and doing what any reasonable person would do in these circumstances,” he said.  

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Police, The Hon Paul Toole MP, said becoming a police officer is not an easy choice for some; it takes great courage, commitment, resilience, flexibility, and fitness. 

“As Minister for Police, I am proud to be here today to announce the new financial incentives for all incoming police recruits,” Minister Toole said. 

“A career as a NSW police officer – while at times can be challenging – is an extremely rewarding one; many officers choose to specialise and diversify their career, and the Force gives you the opportunity to never stop learning – which is rare in many industries.” 

The changes were announced by Minister Toole during an attestation parade at the Sydney Police Centre on Monday 12 December. 

ENDS