Today, 22 new police officers graduate from the South Australia Police (SAPOL) Academy, marking the beginning of their careers serving communities across the state.
The cohort of 17 men and five women brings a wide range of professional and personal experience to policing, with backgrounds in disability support, hospitality, retail, fitness, dental care, trade, and geology. The group also includes two former SAPOL Police Security Officers and members who have transitioned from self‑employment.
Course 88 reflects the diversity of the South Australian community, with graduates including an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander member and a graduate with Filipino heritage. Members also relocated from interstate to pursue a policing career in South Australia.
Graduates will now be posted to metropolitan and regional locations across the state, including Port Augusta, Murray Bridge, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln, Mount Barker, Port Pirie and Gawler.
Joel, 33, brings communication skills and life experience to policing. Before joining SAPOL, Joel built a unique career as a professional wrestler and internationally touring musician, balancing his creative pursuits with forklift work to support his family. He believes these experiences strengthened his communication skills and adaptability.
"My experience in bands and wrestling exposed me to a huge variety of people and helped me form diverse communication strategies," Joel said.
He found the academic component of the academy challenging at first.
"I had to re‑learn how to learn, which was difficult in the beginning. I worked at it and became very good at being a student."
Joel said operational safety training was a standout, and he credits his course mates for making the experience memorable.
Posted to Southern District, he is excited to work close to home and hopes to one day join the Family and Domestic Violence Section or Special Crimes Investigation Branch.
Before joining SAPOL, Delta, 22, completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science at the University of Adelaide and worked in hospitality while studying. Growing up in Victoria before moving to South Australia, she was drawn to policing for its variety and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
"I wanted a career with pathways and opportunities, where every day isn't spent at a desk," Delta said.
"I underestimated how much time I'd spend studying, but it's worth it when you get to implement that in the real world."
Driver training was a highlight, along with forming lifelong friendships within her course.
Delta will begin her career in metropolitan policing and hopes to one day work in Mounted Operations or CIB.
Carlos, 21, studied criminology at the University of Adelaide and worked as a real estate agent in Adelaide's northern suburbs. He believes the communication and rapport‑building skills he developed in real estate have translated directly into policing.
"My communication skills and being able to build rapport with clients helped me talk to people in all kinds of situations," Carlos said.
He was particularly interested in the investigative pathways within SAPOL and hopes to pursue detective work in Serious and Organised Crime or CIB.
Carlos said the experience of being sworn in, along with firearms training, driver training and active armed offender scenarios, were unforgettable. He will begin his career in Eastern District.
Want more from your life? Want to make an impact in your community? SAPOL is currently recruiting and is keen to hear from people interested in an inspiring career with unmatched experiences and rewards.
If you're looking for job security, career progression pathways and a chance to make a real difference in local communities visit www.police.sa.gov.au/join-us/achievemore
Carlos (left), Joel (middle), Delta (right)
Delta (left), Joel (middle), Carlos (right)
