We offer highly desirable perks and incentives to our employees, including 6 weeks annual leave (plus other leave entitlements), opportunities to ‘earn while you learn’ through our Police Academy, structured career progression programs and relocation allowances, just to name a few!
We also provide our team members with access to a range of physical and mental health and wellbeing initiatives like our ‘fitness passport’ for you and your family – offering access to a multitude of health facilities at discounted rates.
Plus, with fantastic salary packaging options on offer, you can also boost your disposable income through salary sacrificing and novated leasing.
As a member of South Australia Police you’ll be able to advance your career, upskill, diversify your existing skillset and choose the direction that you want your career to take.
Senior Constable First Class Kate shows you what a day before an afternoon shift looks like for her – highlighting one of the shift-work perks you can experience and what your work/life balance could look like.
As a cadet, you’ll receive a salary throughout your training at the Police Academy. This salary will increase as your career progresses. You’ll also receive penalty rates for shift work and public holidays.
Learn more about career progression and salaries as a Police Officer with South Australia Police.
You’ll be rostered to work 38 hours each week. Flexible working hours and part-time work may also be available after permanent appointment.
In addition to six weeks paid annual leave each year, you’ll enjoy generous entitlements for:
A range of special leave:
South Australia Police offers salary packaging or ‘salary sacrificing’ for employees hoping to boost their disposable income.
The Government of South Australia’s salary sacrifice arrangements are coordinated by the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment’s office, and are delivered by Maxxia (from 1 July 2024 by Smartsalary).
In addition to the above benefits, employees working in certain rural locations are eligible for significant financial incentives including accommodation and locality allowances as well as additional leave days. There is also an opportunity to save on tax through the ‘remote area benefits scheme’. This scheme offers financial assistance towards rental or mortgage costs, subsidies towards other housing costs like electricity, gas and wood, and in some cases – even home or land purchase tax breaks.
Lifestyle-wise, country policing offers greater flexibility with regards to shifts, as many locations do not have a requirement for night shift. Plus, there are fantastic opportunities to develop leadership and problem-solving skills – gaining extra experience and ownership of investigations – which you often don't get in metropolitan placements.
Country policing provides a sense of community, varied experiences and greater career development opportunities, not to mention beautiful landscapes, wineries, beaches, community sports and an abundance of recreational activities.
We understand that coping with the pressures of work, family and life in general isn’t always easy.
It’s why South Australia Police is committed to supporting the wellbeing and welfare of all our officers (and their families) throughout their careers, and we provide a number of services to facilitate this.
Field tutors are available as mentors to assist you during your cadetship in your work-based training, on police patrols and in police stations. For the first six months of your probationary period, you’ll also have the support and advice of a Probationary Constable Coordinator in all our Districts/Local Service Areas.
We also offer a range of counselling and welfare services that can help with:
These services also extend to your family members and can provide additional support in the event you’re exposed to a life-threatening or traumatic situation.
If necessary, a non-denominational chaplaincy service is available to look after your spiritual welfare and that of your immediate family.
It’s no secret that former Australian Defence Force members possess strong leadership skills and a number of key transferable skills; and South Australia Police is privileged to employ a number of Reservists and former ADF members within our ranks.
In addition to having similar cultural values, better location stability, paid overtime and more control over your career in terms of both progression and trade / specialisation – South Australia Police offers an exclusive range of benefits to former ADF members and Reservists who transfer across to SAPOL, including:
If you are an international applicant from the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or New Zealand and would like to join the SA Police, please visit the International applicants page for more information.