The Queensland Police Service (QPS) celebrates a significant milestone today, welcoming 155 new police officers into its ranks in the largest graduation ceremony in 33 years.
The graduating cohort includes recruits who are new to policing and those with previous policing experience, all strengthening the service with a dynamic and diverse set of skills and backgrounds.
Last week, the officers commenced work early as part of QPS’s response to bolstering community safety through Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s preparation and recovery efforts.
The officers put their intensive training to work to strengthen the frontline across South East Queensland, before later moving on to their designated deployments throughout the state.
The cohort includes previous law students, business owners and security officers, as well as officers with previous policing experience from New Zealand, the UK, and South Africa.
Amongst the graduates are individuals who completed the six-week First Nations Recruit Preparation Pathway, reflecting the QPS’s ongoing commitment to enhancing diversity among our officers and recruiting individuals who reflect the communities they serve.
The graduates will employ the skills they have developed during their 36 weeks of training, combining both practical and theoretical studies covering community safety, domestic and family violence, mental-health related scenarios, and a multitude of other high-pressure scenarios.
Of this month’s intake, 46 individuals have joined the Service through the Police Abridged Competency Education (PACE) program, bringing with them a wealth of previous policing knowledge from across both the country and the world.
The 18-week PACE program is for eligible applicants who are either currently serving or have previous frontline policing experience outside of QPS within the last five years.
A generous location incentive of $20,000 is currently available to successful graduates of the PACE program, providing crucial support to assist in their transition to serve the Queensland community.
Acting Commissioner of Police, Shane Chelepy APM, expressed his pride in the new officers and the number of community members who have chosen to dedicate themselves to a policing career.
“This is a milestone achievement for not only the QPS in welcoming our largest recruit intake in 33 years, but for each and every one of our graduating officers today,” Acting Commissioner Chelepy said.
“Even before graduation, these officers demonstrated their dedication to communities across South East Queensland, stepping up to assist people to prepare for Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
“Their efforts in the past week have been invaluable, showing exactly the kind of commitment and community spirit that define the Queensland Police Service.
“Our recruits come from diverse backgrounds in both life and previous professions, including our graduates who bring a deep connection to First Nations communities.
“By welcoming such a diverse intake of officers, we hope to further bolster our relationships and build trust with the communities we serve.”
Former lawyer, Constable Paloma Oliviera, has had an interest an interest in law enforcement since she was young.
“Looking into the QPS, I found that its values aligned well with mine,” Constable Paloma Oliveira said.
“I can’t think of many careers like it. It gives you the ability to make a positive impact on the community on a daily basis.
“You go through eight months of training and through the highs and lows of adapting to this new role, it’s the people you do it with that makes it enjoyable.”
After running a business in Noosa for 18 years, Constable Dan Rudledge was motivated to apply for the QPS when his oldest son was accepted into the academy.
“I had talked about joining for a long time and it was my wife who finally pushed me to join – now that I’m here, I have no regrets,” Constable Rudledge said.
“I am originally from Noosa, and am getting deployed out to St George in South West Queensland.
“Both my wife and I are looking forward to it and see it as a great chance to experience the outback now that all our kids are grown up.
“Every officer that we have spoken to who has gone out west has nothing but good things to say about policing in the outback.”
Constable James Houston was chasing the Queensland weather and lifestyle and joined the QPS after working for the New Zealand Police for six years.
“I’m glad I took the risk and decided to move to Queensland,” Constable Houston said.
“The people I’ve met along the way have made this process so much easier.”
The intake of First Year Constables will be deployed throughout Queensland in the following stations:
| Region | District | Station | Total |
| Brisbane (20) | North Brisbane (9) | Boondall | 1 |
| Brisbane City | 2 | ||
| Chinchilla | 1 | ||
| Ferny Grove | 1 | ||
| Gladstone | 1 | ||
| Hendra | 1 | ||
| Sandgate | 1 | ||
| Stafford | 1 | ||
| South Brisbane (11) | Acacia Ridge | 2 | |
| Capalaba | 1 | ||
| Cleveland | 1 | ||
| Dutton Park | 2 | ||
| Inala | 2 | ||
| Redland Bay | 1 | ||
| Wynnum | 2 | ||
| Central Region (16) | Capricornia (8) | Gladstone | 1 |
| Rockhampton | 7 | ||
| Mackay (8) | Sarina | 1 | |
| Bowen | 1 | ||
| Mackay | 3 | ||
| Mackay Northern Beaches | 2 | ||
| Whitsunday | 1 | ||
| Far Northern (3) | Far North (3) | Atherton | 1 |
| Kuranda | 1 | ||
| Mareeba | 1 | ||
| North Coast (13) | Moreton (6) | Caboolture | 2 |
| Deception bay | 1 | ||
| Petrie | 1 | ||
| Redcliffe | 2 | ||
| Wide Bay Burnett (7) | Bundaberg | 1 | |
| Gympie | 2 | ||
| Hervey Bay | 2 | ||
| Maryborough | 2 | ||
| Northern (12) | Mt Isa (7) | Cloncurry | 1 |
| Maroochydore | 3 | ||
| Mt Isa | 3 | ||
| Townsville (5) | Kirwan | 1 | |
| Stuart | 1 | ||
| Townsville | 3 | ||
| South Eastern (21) | Gold Coast (10) | Broadbeach | 1 |
| Coolangatta | 1 | ||
| Coomera | 2 | ||
| Mudgeeraba | 1 | ||
| Pimpama | 2 | ||
| Runaway Bay | 1 | ||
| Southport | 1 | ||
| Surfers Paradise | 1 | ||
| Logan (11) | Beenleigh | 1 | |
| Browns Plains | 1 | ||
| Crestmead | 2 | ||
| Jimboomba | 1 | ||
| Logan Central | 2 | ||
| Loganholme | 2 | ||
| Logan Village | 1 | ||
| Springwood | 1 | ||
| Southern (24) | Darling Downs (6) | Murgon | 1 |
| Nanango | 1 | ||
| Toowoomba | 4 | ||
| Ipswich (14) | Goodna | 1 | |
| Ipswich | 5 | ||
| Karana Downs | 2 | ||
| Lowood | 1 | ||
| Springfield | 1 | ||
| Yamanto | 4 | ||
| Southwest District (4) | Chinchilla | 1 | |
| Dalby | 1 | ||
| Deception bay | 1 | ||
| St George | 1 |
The intake of First Year Constable’s with previous policing experience will be deployed throughout Queensland in the following stations:
| Region | District | Station | Total |
| Brisbane (22) | North Brisbane (12) | Carseldine | 1 |
| Ferny Grove | 1 | ||
| Fortitude Valley | 4 | ||
| Hendra | 1 | ||
| Indooroopilly | 1 | ||
| Sandgate | 1 | ||
| Stafford | 2 | ||
| The Gap | 1 | ||
| South Brisbane (10) | Coorparoo | 1 | |
| Holland Park | 1 | ||
| Inala | 3 | ||
| Morningside | 2 | ||
| Mt Ommaney | 2 | ||
| West End | 1 | ||
| Far Northern (5) | Far North (5) | Cairns | 5 |
| North Coast (5) | Moreton (2) | Caboolture | 1 |
| Petrie | 1 | ||
| Wide Bay Burnett (3) | Bundaberg | 1 | |
| Hervey Bay | 1 | ||
| Maryborough | 1 | ||
| Northern (1) | Townsville (1) | Townsville | 1 |
| South Eastern (4) | Gold Coast (1) | Surfers Paradise | 1 |
| Logan (3) | Beenleigh | 2 | |
| Springwood | 1 | ||
| Southern (9) | Ipswich (9) | Goodna | 3 |
| Ipswich | 3 | ||
| Springfield | 1 | ||
| Yamanto | 2 |