General Duties Police Officer

A General Duties Police Officer patrols assigned areas on foot or in a vehicle, responds to emergency and non-emergency calls, and enforces legislation across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, or other Australian jurisdictions. The role involves attending crime scenes, interviewing witnesses and victims, managing public safety incidents, and preparing reports for prosecution or court proceedings. Officers work within strict legislative frameworks including the Crimes Act, Road Transport Act, and relevant state/territory police legislation, often working shift patterns including nights and weekends.

Patrol assigned geographic areas on foot or by vehicle to detect and prevent criminal activity and manage public safety. Respond to emergency call-outs dispatched by communications centres, arriving within required response times. Conduct preliminary investigations at crime scenes, securing the scene and preserving evidence before specialist forensic teams arrive. Interview witnesses, victims, and suspects at scenes and in police stations, recording statements and obtaining formal written accounts. Conduct breath and drug testing of drivers using approved alcohol and drug testing equipment in accordance with road transport legislation. Execute search warrants and arrest warrants by locating and apprehending persons, using reasonable force where legally justified. Manage custody of arrested persons, including booking into custody systems, conducting health and welfare checks, and documenting detainee information. Prepare incident reports, witness statements, and charges using police information management systems for prosecutors and courts.

The standard entry pathway requires a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need to pass a rigorous police academy (typically 6 to 12 months full-time), medical checks, psychological assessment, and extensive background vetting: any criminal history or financial problems can disqualify you. Pay rises with years of service and then depends more on rank, allowances and overtime, and you'll work nights, weekends and public holidays for life. The emotional toll is real: you'll witness trauma, violence, and human suffering regularly.

Police recruitment is controlled by each state's police service. Jobs concentrate in major cities and regional centres where population density demands patrols. Remote and rural areas have fewer positions but sometimes less competition. The reality is most constable positions are metro-based: you typically can't choose your posting as a new recruit.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 4413, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Case Note Documentationcore
• Conflict De-escalationcore
• Conflict Resolutioncore
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligencecore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Trauma-Informed Communicationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Check diving equipment
• Check official documents
• Community Development
• Confidentiality and Privacy Compliance
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
• Multitasking
• Negotiation
• Record Management
• Research and Analysis
• Time Management and Prioritisation

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

What General Duties Police Officer workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026