🚨 Queensland Police Service (QPS) — Your Gateway to a $3.51 Billion, 18 000-Strong Career Engine 🚔
Ready to put your talents to work for one of Australia’s most recognisable public-sector brands? This easy-scan brief gives you the need-to-know on the Queensland Police Service so you can decide—fast—whether to hit “apply”.
AT-A-GLANCE
Name of Department / Council: Queensland Police Service (QPS)
Location: State-wide, headquartered 200 Roma Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
CEO (Commissioner): Steve Gollschewski APM (appointed 22 Apr 2024)
Total Revenue: $3.51 billion (Income from continuing operations 2023-24)
Total Number of Employees: 18 918 (headcount) / 18 022 FTE
DID YOU KNOW? 🤯
On 1 January 1864 QPS’s first Commissioner, Lt David Thompson Seymour, established the Service—meaning QPS has just celebrated 160 years of policing Queensland communities!
THE QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO QPS
🎓 Top 5 Academic Qualifications
Certificate IV in Justice Studies – gives recruits foundational legal knowledge for frontline or administrative roles.
Diploma of Emergency & Disaster Management – aligns with QPS’s new Disaster & Emergency Management Command.
Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice – feeds directly into investigative and intelligence streams.
Bachelor of Information Technology (Cyber Security) – supports digital-forensics and cybercrime units.
Master of Public Administration / Policy – sharpens strategic thinking for senior leadership or corporate services.
📜 Top 5 Certifications
Senior First-Aid & CPR – frontline officers and support staff alike require strong incident-response capability.
Project Management Professional (PMP) – keeps multimillion-dollar tech and infrastructure projects on track.
Commercial Drone (RePL) Licence – pairs with QPS’s rapidly expanding Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems program.
CISSP or Cyber-Security Essentials – protects the $200 m+ ICT estate.
Heavy-Rigid (HR) Driver Licence – vital for specialist operations vehicles and Mobile Police Beats.
🛠️ Top 5 Trades / Professions
Mechanical & Automotive Technicians – maintain a 3 000-plus vehicle fleet.
Aircraft Maintenance Engineers – service the upgraded POLAIR helicopter fleet.
ICT Network Engineers – ensure mission-critical communications never drop.
Marine Technicians – support the newly created Marine Rescue Queensland.
Electricians & Radio Technicians – keep statewide policing facilities and radio networks online.
💡 Top 5 Skills
Problem-Solving Under Pressure – core to incident response.
Digital Literacy – QLite, body-worn video, data analytics are everyday tools.
Community Engagement – 21 855 proactive OWL interactions prove it’s people first.
Project & Change Management – QPS is mid-way through major ICT and fleet upgrades.
Report Writing & Evidence Preparation – essential for court-ready briefs.
🏆 Top 5 Work Experiences
Frontline Policing / Military Service – seamless transfer of command, risk and tactical skills.
Call-Centre / Dispatch – perfect for Policelink and Communications Centres.
Large-Scale Event Security – QPS handles everything from Olympics planning to major festivals.
Cyber-Incident Response – maps directly to Digital Intelligence & Crime Command.
Disaster Relief / SES Volunteering – dovetails with QPS’s newly integrated SES workforce.
THE KEY FACTS
Name of Department: Queensland Police Service
Name of CEO: Commissioner Steve Gollschewski APM
Location: State-wide (five regions + HQ in Brisbane)
Year Founded: 1864 (celebrating 160 years)
Mission & Purpose: To make Queensland the safest state through world-class policing that is community-focused, technologically advanced and built on integrity. Example: Operation Whiskey Legion surged specialist officers into crime hotspots, charging 2 072 adult offenders within three months.
Main Duties: Community safety, crime prevention & investigation, road policing, disaster & emergency management, and marine rescue. Example: The Service now leads the State Emergency Service and Marine Rescue Queensland, coordinating thousands of volunteers during cyclones and floods.
Key Projects / Strategic Priorities:
State-wide recruitment drive “Challenging, Rewarding, Policing” (650 recruits in training; 2 200 apps in pipeline)
Three new Bell 429 helicopters to boost aerial capability in 2024
Major ICT refresh incl. QPRIME upgrade & Digital Evidence initiatives.
2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games security planning
THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE
Total Employees: 18 918 (headcount); 18 022 FTE
Workforce Mix (by FTE): Frontline & Support 93.3 % (~16 800) | Corporate 6.7 % (~1 200)
Employment Type (headcount): Permanent 90.9 % | Temporary 4.7 % | Casual 0.6 % | Contract 3.8 %
Salary Bands: As per the Queensland Police Certified Agreement 2022 (updated 2024)
First-Year Constable: ~ $74 k
Senior Constable: ~ $100 k
Sergeant: ~ $118 k
Senior Sergeant: up to ~ $165 k (ex-allowances)
Average Salary (all roles): ≈ $147 k (Employee expenses $2.65 b ÷ 18 022 FTE)
Total Revenue: $3.51 billion
Average Revenue per Employee: ≈ $186 k
GETTING A JOB AT QPS 📝
Which Academic Subjects?
Certificate / Diploma Level: Justice Studies, Telecommunications, Cyber Security, Community Services, Aviation Operations.
Bachelor / Master Level: Criminology, Computer Science, Forensic Science, Psychology, Public Policy, Engineering.
PhDs: Data Analytics, Behavioural Science, Disaster Management—ideal for research & innovation cells.
Which Trades & Professions?
Aviation & Marine techs, Mechanics, IT Systems Admins, Electricians, Diesel Fitters, Graphic Designers (forensic imaging).
Which Work Experiences?
High-pressure customer service, Emergency response, Defence, Big-data analytics, Major event logistics.
Which Skills?
Soft skills: Empathy, cultural awareness, conflict de-escalation.
Technical skills: Digital evidence capture, drone ops, GIS mapping.
General skills: Report drafting, project budgeting, stakeholder engagement.
Hobbies & Interests That Fit
Trail running 🚵 (great for Rural Patrol), Coding 💻 (supports cyber-crime), Surf-lifesaving 🏄 (aligns with Marine Rescue), Community sport coaching 🏉 (youth engagement).
WANT MORE INFO ON QPS? 📞
Recruiting & Careers: https://policerecruit.qld.gov.au
Current Vacancies: https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au (search “Queensland Police Service”)
Head Office: 200 Roma St, Brisbane QLD 4000
Switchboard: (07) 3364 6464
Recruitment Email: recruiting@police.qld.gov.au
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