Associate Degree in Policing Practice (ADPP)

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Important notice about applications

The NSW Police Force had an overwhelming number of applications during 2012 and this, coupled with fewer police officers leaving the NSW Police Force, resulted in CSU being asked to suspend accepting new applications into the Associate Degree in Policing Practice (ADPP).

We want to thank potential and future applicants for your patience over the past months.

From January 2014, the Police Recruitment Branch will resume accepting new applications to join the NSW Police Force. This means that CSU will resume accepting applications for the ADPP from that date.

Please note – All eligibility requirements, frequently asked questions, application processes, fitness assessments, etc. are presently being revised.  Please visit the NSW Police Recruitment Branch site regularly for updated information on the eligibility and application processes.

For those presently in our eligibility pool, class intakes and training at the Police Academy for 2013 and 2014 will continue as normal.  The intake for August 2013 has now been finalised.  The next intake for students will be January 2014 and offers will be made in October 2013.

A career in Policing

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is a national university providing excellence in education for the professions, strategic and applied research and flexible delivery of learning and teaching.

Policing is a career where you can really make a difference and that's one of the reasons why record numbers of people are applying to join NSW Police Academy.

Since 1998 Police recruit training in NSW has been a collaborative effort between Charles Sturt University and the NSW Police Force. The result has been a professional and skilled police force able to respond to community needs with integrity, compassion and respect.

To be part of that team, once you have met the NSW Police Force's professional suitability requirements you can then study the Associate Degree in Policing Practice.

It's worth the effort - after around 34 weeks of full-time study at the Goulburn Academy you could be eligible for employment as a Probationary Constable with a starting salary of approximately $55,000 pa (2010). You then study the second component of the Associate Degree by distance education, while working full-time. Upon successful completion of the program, you will become eligible for confirmation as a NSW Police Constable.

Once you have gained employment as a NSW Police Constable you will join a progressive Police Force, holding a position that is both a privilege and a responsibility. Police are exceptional people because they need to be able to think quickly, communicate effectively and display initiative and judgment. In the course of their duties, they are frequently confronted with situations that require maturity, compassion, social awareness and strength of character. The NSW Police Force and Charles Sturt University are committed to the principle that police officers should reflect as closely as possible the diversity of Australian society.

Generally, for at least the first three years you perform general operational duties and will deal with a range of incidents, such as domestic violence, motor vehicle collisions and crowd control.

You can then continue to develop your expertise in the operational stream or pursue investigation, intelligence, education and development, legal or one of the many other career path opportunities available within NSW Police Force.

Entry to all the specialist fields is competitive, but CSU can help you all the way by offering the opportunity for further study - the Associate Degree in Policing Practice is your first step in a career that makes a difference!