NSW Police Exam flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- NSW Police Force recruitment portal
- The online system where candidates lodge police officer applications, upload documents and track selection progress. Applications go to the Police Recruitment Branch rather than individual commands.
- Minimum age at attestation
- Candidates must be at least 18 years old when they are attested as a police officer, even if they apply or begin training earlier.
- Citizenship or residency requirement
- Applicants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens, or permanent residents with eligible work rights, to be considered for NSW Police Force entry.
- HSC or equivalent
- The Higher School Certificate or an equivalent qualification is the minimum education requirement for police officer entry in NSW.
- Entrance exam
- A written assessment of literacy, numeracy, problem solving and reasoning that candidates must pass before progressing to later selection stages.
- Multi-stage fitness test
- A shuttle-run (beep) test used to measure aerobic capacity during the physical fitness assessment; candidates must reach the published pass standard.
- Integrity vetting
- Background checks covering criminal history, traffic record, employment, finances and social media. Undisclosed matters are treated more seriously than matters that are disclosed.
- Associate Degree in Policing Practice
- The qualification completed by recruits at the Goulburn Police Academy as part of their student-in-training period before attestation.
- Probationary constable
- The entry rank held after attestation. Officers serve a probation period, commonly 12 months, with field and academy assessments before confirmation.
- Rank order: constable to sergeant
- Probationary Constable, Constable, Senior Constable, Leading Senior Constable, then Sergeant. Each step reflects experience, performance and merit-based selection.
- Rank order: inspector to commissioner
- Inspector, Chief Inspector, Superintendent, Chief Superintendent, Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner. Promotion is merit-based with examinations and interviews.
- Police Officers award
- The Crown Employees (Police Officers) award sets pay points and conditions. Pay advances by rank and years of service, with loadings and penalties added.
- Shift loadings and penalties
- Additional pay for night shifts, weekends and public holidays. Officers work rotating 24/7 rosters set at command level.
- Commuted overtime
- An allowance paid to certain ranks in place of separately claimed overtime, reflecting expected additional hours.
- General duties
- Core patrol work: responding to calls for service, attending domestic and public order incidents, conducting bail checks and preparing court briefs.
- Police Superannuation Scheme
- The defined benefit superannuation scheme for sworn NSW officers, with contribution rates set by the scheme.
- Specialist career paths
- Options include detectives, Highway Patrol, Public Order and Riot Squad, Rescue and Bomb Disposal, Dog Unit, Marine Area Command and Forensic Services.
- Police Area Command and District
- The organisational units where officers are posted. Metropolitan units are Area Commands; regional and rural units are Districts.
- Transfer points system
- A ranking system where officers accrue points from years of service, location hardship and qualifications. Higher points improve the chance of a preferred posting.
- Regional hardship allowances
- Additional pay and priority transfer points offered for remote or regional postings, reflecting workforce shortage and hardship factors.
- Expression of interest
- The internal process used by specialist units to recruit officers, usually requiring a minimum period in general duties plus relevant qualifications.
- Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer
- A community engagement role focused on building trust and communication between NSW Police and Aboriginal communities.
- Youth Liaison Officer
- A community engagement role working with young people, schools and youth services to support diversion and crime prevention.
- Secondment
- A temporary assignment to another unit or role, allowing officers to trial specialist or supervisory work without a permanent transfer.
- Mandatory competencies
- Ongoing training requirements for sworn officers, including first aid, firearms and tactical training, delivered through the academy and online learning.
- Lateral entry
- Recognition of prior experience for some specialist roles, such as experienced detectives or forensic specialists. It does not apply to the core constable entry pathway.
- Cadet Traineeship
- A paid traineeship combining work experience with study, giving young people a structured pathway toward the Associate Degree in Policing Practice.
- Cadet rotations
- Placements through different commands so cadets gain exposure to general duties, specialist units and community engagement.
- Cadet trainee wage
- Cadets are paid a trainee wage under the relevant award, separate from constable pay scales, and accrue superannuation as employees.
- Cadet eligibility
- Similar to police entry: age, citizenship or work rights, HSC or equivalent, plus medical and integrity clearance.
- Cadet conduct standards
- Cadets are held to the same integrity and conduct standards as sworn officers and can be terminated for misconduct.
- Cadet mentoring
- Structured mentoring and performance reviews support cadets throughout the program and help them prepare for sworn recruit training.