This week marks an exciting start for year 12 students participating in the inaugural Pathways to Policing Program (PTPP) at Thebarton Senior College.
The year-long program's objective is to grow the pool of home-grown South Australian applicants and to improve the likelihood of successful recruitment into South Australia Police (SAPOL) through the education platform.
On their first day of school on Tuesday, Acting Executive Director, People, Culture and Wellbeing, Chief Superintendent Stephen Howard joined the 12 students ready to hit the books and study policing-related subjects.
"Through this partnership, SAPOL is hoping to lead ambitious year 12 graduates from various backgrounds into a career as a police officer or police security officer," he said.
"We wish the first cohort of students all the best in their endeavours this year and look forward to them applying to join SAPOL on the completion of their studies towards the end of 2024.
"This is an exciting time for the students, Thebarton Senior College and SAPOL as we strive to recruit young people to join our organisation."
SAPOL aims to recruit more than 300 police cadets this financial year. This partnership with the Department for Education and the Thebarton Senior College opens up realistic opportunities for people to pursue a policing career after completing school.
Minister for Police Joe Szakacs commended all students taking up the new program, with a rewarding career in blue in sight.
"The State Government has committed more than $12 million to accelerate recruitment into SAPOL, and this new program forms part of a long-term recruitment strategy," he said.
"This course will provide aspiring police officers the best possible chance to prepare themselves for their dream career.
"I congratulate SAPOL, the Department for Education and Thebarton Senior College for leading the way in launching the first of what I hope to be a number of similar projects to get graduating students interested in joining SAPOL for a career in policing."
A structured body of year 12 high school course work will focus on developing skills essential for policing, including interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and problem solving based on SAPOL's operating environment.
"Our college and educators are ready and equipped to support students from all backgrounds who have chosen to participate in this carefully curated course," Thebarton Senior College Principal Eva Kannis-Torry added.
"Participating students will be offered assistance through five subjects, taught as a SACE Stage 2 package. Our skilled educators are excited to be part of a team that will help see the program evolve as a pipeline into a policing career."
Meanwhile, the current 'You Belong in Blue' recruitment campaign, which highlights the diversity of SAPOL officers, continues to bolster recruitment figures, with over 900 police officers and more than 189 police security officers anticipated to start their policing careers by 2026.
Thebarton Senior College Pathways to Policing students were welcomed on their first day of school on Tuesday, including Michael, Brenna, Miguel and Sabir, pictured with Acting PCW Coordinator Superintendent Carolyn Schild, Thebarton Senior College Principal Eva Kannis-Torry and Acting Executive Director, PCW Chief Superintendent Stephen Howard.
