Yesterday was a special day for our newest 22 police officers graduating from the South Australia Police (SAPOL) Academy.
The graduates of Course 56 range in age from 20 to 44 and come from diverse employment backgrounds including Protective Security Officers, Defence Force, personal training, social workers, administration, hospitality and university students.
They will be posted to a number of areas, including five members going to Port Augusta, two to Whyalla and one to Port Pirie.
One of the graduates is Nicholas, previously a lawyer, who has been posted to Port Pirie and is looking forward to playing football and getting to know locals in the community. He found the recruitment process interesting and enjoyed the challenge of the fit for duty test to get into the academy. He has joined SAPOL hoping to one day work in the Water Operations Unit as he has a strong interest in diving.
Nicholas found the academy experience a challenging one, but through the support of his mentors, has improved his written skills which he understands is critical for records and notetaking. Driver training was his most memorable training experience and believes that overall, he has become more confident and decisive.
Nicholas's advice for someone considering applying to join SAPOL is to not let any concerns about the testing and physical assessments stop you. He found the support offered by his peers was instrumental in helping him successfully complete all the tasks required of a cadet.
SAPOL is currently recruiting and is keen to hear from people from all walks of life. To make the application process easier, SAPOL has implemented a range of initiatives – including the transition to an online application process and covering the cost of the SAPOL TAFE recruitment test (for a limited time only).
If you're looking for job security, career progression pathways and a chance to make a real difference in local communities please visit www.police.sa.gov.au/join-us
