The Central Coast has 10 new police officers with four new probationary constables at Tuggerah Lakes Police District and six at Brisbane Water Police District.
They are from the class of 364 comprising 298 new recruits who graduated on Friday, December 6, from Goulburn Police Academy – the largest group in a decade.
They have completed eight months of training in the Constable Education Program and will now undertake a year’s on-the-job training as general duties police, gaining valuable experience working alongside their seasoned colleagues.
Class 364 comprised 218 men and 80 women aged between 18 and 52, with eight recruits receiving awards for outstanding academic, physical, marksmanship and practical policing achievements.
This is the third class to benefit from the NSW Government’s paid study allowance during their training at the Academy.
Minister for Police and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley congratulated the new probationary constables, wishing them a long, rich and rewarding career with NSW Police.
“Class 364 is the largest attesting class in a decade – strong evidence the tide is turning on recruitment and next year is set to be even bigger, with more than 1,000 recruits attesting,” she said.
“The NSW Government is focused on retaining experienced officers and recruiting new ones which is why we’ve secured a historic pay deal, we’re paying recruits to train and offering recruits from the bush a pathway to work in or near their hometown after attesting.”
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said Friday’s attestation marked a turning point for the NSW Police Force.
“Recruitment has been a key focus of my team and seeing the biggest class in 10 years graduate from the Academy is a major achievement in rebuilding our organisation,” she said.
“Not only that, our application numbers continue to rise, and I look forward to the even bigger classes set to graduate in 2025.”