Trainee police officers will be paid to study as part of a push to fix chronic shortages of recruits in NSW.
Student police officers will be paid while completing a 16-week course at the Goulburn Police Academy from March.
They will receive a total salary of about $30,984, which is about $1360 per week plus superannuation, and about $380 in award-based allowances.
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Once recruits have finished the course, students will be employed as probationary constables and earn an annual salary of about $80,000.
NSW Police has 1500 vacancies and the incentive is expected to help boost numbers.
Premier Chris Minns said the police force was stretched and overworked, and that would not be fixed without recruiting and retaining more officers.
“We want to attract a diverse new cohort of NSW police officers,” he said.
“My message to anyone who has considered joining the NSW Police is that now is the time to apply.”
The announcement brings NSW in line with other states that already pay police trainees allowances to undertake study.
Current recruits will receive scholarships from their education providers to ensure they are not worse off.
The incentive is aimed to increase the number of mature-age students, women and people from low-income households.
Police Association of NSW president Kevin Morton said paying recruits during their training was the best way to remove hiring barriers.
“It takes a special kind of person to want to be a police officer but with today’s cost-of-living challenges, not many of us can afford to forgo income for 16 weeks,” he said.
“This announcement allows people from all walks of life to consider a career in the NSW police force.”
Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the shift would be a game-changer for the organisation.
“Breaking down the barriers for people to leave one job and start with us without being financially disadvantaged is the most attractive incentive we’ve been able to offer for many years,” she said.
“I know all our current hard-working, dedicated officers will be very relieved. The cavalry is coming.”
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