More than 170 aspiring police have expressed interest in completing training at Mildura's new regional academy.
The strong response - recorded within just a week - comes as Victoria Police prepares for the academy's first classes in January next year.
It's urging people to put themselves forward as soon as possible to have the best chance of being among the region's first recruits.
The expressions of interest, which opened on 12 June, include 40 people who've already submitted applications to join Victoria Police.
The new regional academy means for the first time ever they will be able to complete their entire police training without having to travel to Melbourne.
It's hoped this will open up a police career to country people who've never been able to pursue one before.
This includes those unable to travel to the city because of family commitments, distance and cost.
Police recruitment information sessions recently held in the Mallee region have also drawn promising numbers.
The Mildura event on 15 June was a sellout with 135 people attending while a session at Swan Hill a day earlier attracted more than 30 people.
The new regional academy will open at Mildura on 18 January with an initial intake of up to 25 recruits.
Training will mirror the 25-week program delivered at the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley.
Recruits will graduate in a local ceremony at Mildura and be deployed to positions in the Mallee region.
Interest has come from across Victoria's west plus border towns in NSW and South Australia.
Recruits at Mildura will get the same conditions as those in Melbourne including an annual starting salary of $84,060 plus allowances for Probationary Constables and nine weeks paid leave a year.
More information including details about how to express interest is available at https://www.police.vic.gov.au/regional-academy.
Quotes attributable to Supt Tom Nairn, Mildura Police:
"We are absolutely delighted with this response.
"It just goes to show there is a huge amount of interest for this initiative and what it will offer the local community.
"Expressions of interest remain open so if you've ever thought about policing now is the time.
"We're not just looking for people in Mildura but right across the region.
"Country people make great police and the new regional academy makes a policing career more accessible than ever.
"To have the best chance of being among the academy's first recruits we urge you to sign up now."
