Queensland Police lure university graduates as police applications surge

• New incentives are luring university-qualified graduates into the Queensland Police Service.
• Police recruit graduates who hold a tertiary degree in areas such as criminology, social work, counselling or other relevant human services may be eligible to receive up to $20,000 paid off their HECS debt.
• There has been a 200 per cent increase in the police applicant pipeline after QPS launched its largest ever recruitment campaign last year.
• There is currently a record number of recruits training at QPS Academies with more than 2,000 applicants in the pipeline.

A raft of new incentives, including $20,000 to pay off university HECs debts have skyrocketed the Queensland Police Service’s (QPS) recruitment applications by over 200 per cent since this time last year.

With over 2,000 applicants currently in the recruitment pipeline, the QPS is seeing a record-breaking number of applicants, following the roll-out of the largest recruitment campaign in QPS history, Challenging, Rewarding, Policing.

Police applicants in the pipeline have more than doubled since this time last year with 960 in the pipeline in April 2023 compared with 2,079 in April 2024.

There are currently 687 recruits training in QPS Academies.

University graduates seeking a challenging and rewarding career are being urged to consider a role in policing, as 400 successful applicants will receive up to $20,000 paid off their HECS debt for degrees in criminology, social work, counselling or other relevant human services upon graduating from the Academy.

Applicants who hold a tertiary degree may also be exempt from sitting the QPS Entrance Assessment.

There has never been a better time to join the QPS, with no application fees, free accommodation for recruits living at police academies, and an additional $183 fortnightly cost of living allowance. Recruits at QPS Academies will also receive a boosted training salary of approximately $53,700 per annum.

An influx of interest in joining the QPS has resulted in recruitment seminars filling up quickly, giving the public an opportunity to ask experienced police officers questions, as well as discussing entry requirements into the Service.

Visit www.PoliceRecruit.qld.gov.au to learn more about our incentives, and to kickstart your career with the QPS.

Quotes attributable to Minister Mark Ryan:

“These incentives to attract new recruits are providing significant support to the Queensland Police Service’s recruiting efforts.

“There are 20,000 reasons for university graduates with specified degrees to consider a career with the Queensland Police Service.

“We are putting the call out to everyone who has a relevant degree to consider a challenging and rewarding career with Queensland Police.” 

Quotes attributable to Acting Commissioner Steve Gollschewski:

“So far this year, we’ve had 215 recruits graduate from the Queensland Police Academy and there are more than 300 expected to graduate by the end of June,” Acting Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said.

“The high number of recruits in training at our academies is a testament to the great incentives, combined with the assurance of a fulfilling career as a Queensland Police officer.

“Protecting our state is an important role, so recruiting people with the right skills, aptitude and attitude is critical and expected by the community.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Commissioner Kevin Guteridge

“Following on from the announcement of these incentives, we have seen the highest number of recruits in training in the Brisbane and Townsville police academies,” Assistant Commissioner Kevin Guteridge.

“Anyone with relevant degrees in criminology, social work, counselling or other relevant human services is encouraged to apply to the QPS, with eligible applicants receiving $20,000 paid off their HECS debt.

“A career in policing is a career like no other, and the incentives currently available to applicants will no doubt make the transition into policing easier.” 

Media contacts 

Minister Ryan’s Office: Ph: (07) 3035 8300

Police Media: Ph: (07) 3015 2444