The Queensland Police Service (QPS) has concluded a year of unprecedented recruitment with a final graduation ceremony at its Oxley Academy in Wacol, welcoming 122 new first-year constables.
This latest intake brings the number of new officers inducted in 2024 to over 940, marking a significant milestone for the organisation.
This final graduation ceremony at Wacol caps off a year of exceptional growth for the QPS academies. Earlier this year, the academies experienced their largest intake of recruits in 26 years and recently recorded the highest number of recruits in training across both Brisbane and Townsville. With over 2,200 applicants still in the pipeline – a 53 per cent increase compared to November 2023 – the QPS anticipates another strong year of recruitment in 2025.
Commissioner of Police Steve Gollschewski expressed his enthusiasm for the year’s achievements and highlighted the organisation’s dedication to attracting and training new officers. He emphasised that the recruits’ diverse backgrounds reflect the QPS’s commitment to building a police force that truly understands and serves the diverse communities of Queensland.
Adding to this diversity are graduates of the Multicultural Recruit Preparation Pathway (MRPP), a specialised program designed to assist individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in preparing for police training. This six-week course provides tailored support to help participants succeed in the standard 36-week Recruit Training Program.
One such graduate, First Year Constable Emmanuel Andruga, who emigrated from Uganda in 2010, shared his experience with the MRPP. He explained how the program helped him smoothly transition into mainstream training and highlighted the value of building strong peer networks and gaining a deeper understanding of policing in Queensland within a supportive environment.
These newly minted constables will be deployed across Queensland, bolstering police presence in various stations from metropolitan areas like Brisbane and the Gold Coast to regional centres such as Cairns, Townsville, and Toowoomba.
The QPS continues to promote the diverse opportunities a policing career offers, emphasising the dynamic nature of the work and encouraging those interested in a challenging and rewarding career to consider joining the force.
Published Date 23-December-2024
