The Selection Process
Application
The documentation detailed below is required to be submitted upon notification of successful completion of the Appointment Examination.
- Covering letter (typed)
- Completed written Application for Appointment as a Trainee form (hand written)
- Completed Integrity Tests Agreement form
- Current curriculum vitae (typed)
- Document addressing each of the selection criteria for the Statement of Rank for Trainee to a maximum of 200 words per criteria (typed).
It is a requirement that the application and supporting documentation be on A4 paper. For administrative purposes please do not staple of bind your application.
After the application has been assessed, applicant’s may be invited to attend an Examination for Appointment.
EXAMINATION FOR APPOINTMENT
PART 1 - Spelling, Word Usage and Punctuation
The test consists of three passages in which errors are to be identified and corrected. The first passage requires spelling mistakes to be corrected. The second requires identification and correction of words which are correctly spelt, but have an incorrect spelling for the meaning of the passage, e.g. their/there. The third requires correct punctuation to be provided. Time allowed is 25 minutes (excluding instructions).
Applicants should note that a high number of exam participants fail in this area and applicants should consider tuition if they are not strong in spelling, word usage and punctuation.
Exercise One - Spelling
In this test, you are to identify words that are incorrectly spelled. Circle any misspelled words and write the correct version in the box on the right-hand side of the page immediately opposite the error.
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Sample:
The inspecter entered the building cautiously because he had been informed that the fugative was inside. -
Corrections:
inspector, fugitive
Exercise Two - Word usage
In this test, you are to identify words that are incorrectly spelled. They may sound the same as the correct word, but they have been misspelled and therefore have an incorrect meaning in the context in which they have been used. Circle any misspelled words and write the correct version in the box on the right-hand side of the page immediately opposite the error.
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Sample:
The car finished forth in the race butt was but disqualified when it was discovered that it had not been threw all the checkpoints. -
Corrections:
fourth, through, but
Exercise Three - Punctuation
In this test, you are to correctly punctuate a passage of writing. Here is a sample exercise to show you how the test should be done.
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Sample - Uncorrected:
the constable saw a teenage boy lurking near a car at eastlands shopping centre what are you doing queried the officer ive lost my car keys I cant see them anywhere replied the youth -
Sample - Corrected:
The constable saw a teenage boy lurking near a car at Eastlands Shopping Centre. "What are you doing?" queried the officer. "I've lost my car keys. I can't see them anywhere," replied the youth.
PART 2 - Job Suitability Test
Applicants will be required to undertake a number of written tests / questionnaires to determine their suitability for the role of a police officer. Research has shown that there are certain character traits associated with the successful performance of police duties and this testing is designed to evaluate how closely each applicant matches this profile. Some applicants will match the profile more closely than others. Tasmania Police does not wish to place applicants in a role in which they may be unsuccessful or have difficulties managing the stress of the job.
The profiling session lasts for a maximum of four hours but applicants may finish in less time. The tests are forwarded to the Australian Institute of Forensic Psychology for assessment. Some applicants request feedback on the results of their profiling, however, feedback would not alter the test results and subsequent recommendations. Therefore, feedback is not available and applicants are required to sign a document to that effect at the time of the test.
If the test is evaluated as suitable for progression to the next stage, the applicant may be invited to undertake the Assessment Day activities at the Tasmania Police Academy.
An applicant’s relative merits, compared to other applicants, are taken into account when considering suitability. Those applicants who are not invited to an Assessment Centre Day will be advised in writing. Reasons for non progression will not be included in the correspondence.
Assessment Centre Day
The Assessment Centre Day consists of a range of assessable activities involving:
- physical fitness test
- operational exercise
- public speaking (presentations to assessors)
- group problem-solving exercises, and
- formal interview (formal interview may be held at a later date).
The members of the Selection Panel will be present throughout the day and will be assessing applicants on the relevant Trainee Selection Criteria.
Following the completion of the Assessment Centre Day, successful applicants will be notified and provided with advice on the progression of their application. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified accordingly. Applicants will not be provided with feedback about their performance during the Assessment Centre Day.
Following the Assessment Centre Day, applicants who are considered suitable will be placed in a selection pool and will be required to ensure that all prerequisites are completed. No offer of appointment is made at this stage.
Selection Pool
The selection pool consists of applicants to be considered for appointment into a Police Recruit Course. Selection of suitable applicants for appointment with Tasmania Police is based on individual merit against the Selection Criteria and organisational needs.
In some instances, although applicants may progress to the selection pool, they may not be at a competitive standard and will be declined appointment.
Applicants in the selection pool may be invited to attend an Awareness Day. No offer of appointment is made at this stage.
Awareness Day
The final phase of the selection process is the Awareness Day. The purpose of the Awareness Day is to provide applicants and their families with the opportunity to gain further insight into the life of a police officer. It is also an opportunity to obtain further relevant information on all aspects of the roles, responsibilities and requirements of a police officer. A range of topics will be presented in a four-hour session by serving police and their spouses.
Selection
Providing all prerequisites are met and applicants have attended the Awareness Day, an offer of appointment may then be made. In some instances, applicants may receive an offer of appointment at short notice. Selected applicants will progress through to induction and commencement of training at a date to be determined.
Timings
Whilst, on average, at least two trainee programs are conducted each year, applicants need to be aware that the duration and dates for each stage of the selection process are determined by many varying factors such as:
- organisational needs (i.e. the number of trainees required, predicted dates for Trainee Recruit Courses)
- number of applications received in total
- number of applications received from each regional area
- availability of venues and resources, both external and internal, to conduct each stage, and
- number of applicants progressing through to each stage.
The duration of time from the date of application to finalisation of the selection pool may vary significantly, from approximately six weeks to in excess of six months for some applicants.
Problems/Queries
Applicants who encounter any issues or have any queries are encouraged to contact Recruiting Services on 1800 628 680 (toll free from Australian landlines) or email recruiting@police.tas.gov.au.
