Up to 600 prospective police are set to converge on Mildura as it hosts the force's biggest ever recruitment event in the region.
The Victoria Police Mildura Career Expo - to be held at the Mildura Sporting Precinct on Sunday 15 September - will provide an up-close look at the many opportunities a career in country policing can provide.
Police from across Victoria's northwest will be there along with specialist units including State Highway Patrol and Crime Scene Services.
It comes as Victoria Police embarks on a major recruitment drive to fill 800 vacancies across the state.
Positions are available in the division which takes in Mildura.
Victoria Police is especially keen to encourage locals wanting to stay and work in the area after completing their training.
Under a recently-introduced initiative country residents can now be matched to a spot back at a regional location once they've graduated.
This means they avoid the ballot process where police can be assigned to any station, which can be a major deterrent for some applicants.
The change also recognises the value of having country people working in country locations for not only career fulfillment but ensuring strong community connections.
Country locations recruits can choose to work at include Ararat, Hamilton, Horsham, Kerang, Mildura, Portland, Robinvale, Stawell, Swan Hill and Warracknabeal.
Victoria Police offers seven months paid training, an annual starting salary of $76,927 plus allowances and nine weeks paid leave a year.
It can also provide a remote allowance for police working in specified regional locations and cover relocation and telephone expenses.
Additionally, taxation incentives are available which allow police working in remote areas to claim a portion of their rent, home loan interest and utilities.
Police attending the Mildura expo, also including local highway patrol and bike patrol units, will be available to answer any questions about the job.
Medical experts, fitness trainers and staff from the Victoria Police Academy will also be available to field any questions one-on-one.
While Victoria Police looks for people with life experience for many of its recruits, people who've recently finished secondary school or taken a gap year are also encouraged to apply.
Applicants no longer need to have completed the Victorian Certificate of Education or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning but must be aged at least 18.
Victoria Police has also removed the requirement for applicants to sit the police entrance exam if they've achieved a specified bachelor degree in the past five years.
This applies to degrees in the arts, humanities, law, science and business from an Australian university.
Victoria Police's workforce is growing with more than 1000 police recruits starting their training last year alone.
There were 16,474 police statewide as at 30 June 2024, up from 16,292 at the same time last year.
The Victoria Police Mildura Career Expo will run from 10am-2pm at 684 Deakin Avenue in Mildura.
The event is free but attendees are asked to register on the website.
For further information go to police.vic.gov.au/victoria-police-mildura-career-expo.
Quotes attributable to Superintendent John O'Connor:
"This is the biggest event of its kind we've ever held in the region.
"If you've ever considered a career in policing, this is your opportunity to find out what we have to offer.
"We're keen to see people from not only Mildura but right across the northwest come along.
"Policing is a diverse, challenging and rewarding career and you get to make a true difference in the community.
"With the force in the midst of its biggest recruitment drive ever there has never been a better time to apply.
"We look forward to meeting the future police of our area there."
