Academy Life

Initial Service Training

• Police Recruit Operational Vocational Education (PROVE) program; and
• First Year Constable (FYC) program.

PROVE program
The PROVE program is conducted over approximately 30 weeks at the Queensland Police Service Academies (QPSA) in Brisbane and Townsville. The PROVE program aims to develop competent, ethical, efficient and effective police officers who are motivated, responsible and aware of community needs. Recruits examine problems taken from everyday policing situations and, in the process of doing so, develop appropriate decision-making skills to solve operational policing problems. In addition, recruits undergo extensive training in physical skills, including lifesaving and swimming, driving, firearms and field craft.
Employment as a police recruit is on the basis of a 'Contract of Employment', the terms and conditions of which state that employment may be terminated at any time should a breach of any of the provisions of the contract be determined. A recruit's Contract of Employment includes a salary of 70 percent of a FYC's base rate salary. This is currently $1243.55 gross per fortnight (as of 1/07/2009). The QPSA's have a general 'live out' policy however, a recruit can apply to live 'on campus' at either academy and this request is assessed on an individual basis. The accommodation that is provided is at a cost of $50.00 per fortnight at both the Brisbane and Townsville academies. In relation to the Brisbane academy, two meals per day are provided Monday to Friday and costs range from $124.80 to $138.40 per fortnight. In relation to the Townsville academy recruits pay $200 per fortnight for three meals per day (Monday to Friday). Uniforms are provided free of charge.

The PROVE program Overview Document ( 344 KB) gives a summary of the demands of recruit training.

After successfully completing the PROVE program recruits are 'inducted' as police officers. These Constables then become part of the FYC program where they receive further training and development on-the-job.

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FYC program
The FYC program is conducted over a 12-month period in the operational environment. Upon induction, a FYC is posted to a designated police station somewhere in Queensland under the supervision of the District Education and Training Officer (DETO) for the duration of the program.

The program begins with an 8-week mentor phase where the FYC is placed with an experienced officer to learn the basic competencies of general duties policing. At the completion of this phase, FYC's perform duties under general supervision for the remainder of the 12-month period. Throughout this program, FYC's develop and are assessed in specific competencies associated with general policing. Exposure to specialist areas including the Child Protection and Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigation Branch and Traffic Branch is also available.

On successful completion of the FYC program, constables are posted to a police station somewhere in Queensland. The QPS attempts, where possible, to take into account personal circumstances, however, posting to a particular location or area cannot be guaranteed.

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