The following information takes you step-by-step through the police custody officers (PCO) recruitment process to inform and prepare you for what's ahead.
We have made some efficiencies in the process to help you progress though the recruitment process. Not all stages will be completed in the below sequential order.
Recruitment process
In the first stage of the recruitment process, you will be required to submit an application online.
The application form will consist of:
- personal details
- education history
- history of prior offences and dealings with police
- key selection criteria
- location preferences
- resume.
Victoria Police conducts extensive background checks on police custody officer applicants during the selection process.
Code of conduct and prior behaviour
All applicants need to align with the code of conduct expected of our employees. That means the application process involves a thorough assessment to identify any:
- prior misconduct
- corruption
- any form of improper conduct.
The ongoing expectation is that you understand and avoid misconduct, and immediately report it should you become aware of it in others.
Prior offences and Voluntary Disclosure Form (VDF)
Your previous history will be continually checked and assessed. Failure to declare information may result in automatic cancellation of your application.
Check the prior history guidelines
If you have any of the following, we recommend that you submit a Voluntary Disclosure Form (VDF) prior to submitting an application:
- prior convictions
- cautions
- diversions
- good behaviour bonds
- or excessive driving offences.
This will allow you to find out whether your prior history is likely to disqualify you from being considered for the role.
All offences, including those that were committed as a juvenile, must be disclosed in your application.
Instructions for submitting your Voluntary Disclosure Form (VDF)
Submit your VDF using a desktop computer or laptop.
To successfully submit this document, please click on the link below. You can then save this form to your computer before completing your responses.
Voluntary Disclosure Form(opens in a new window)PDF 2.72 MBComplete the required fields in the downloaded form, attach it and send it in for review to pcoemployment@police.vic.gov.au.
If you have any contact with police during the selection process, you must inform the Recruiting Services Branch immediately on pcoemployment@police.vic.gov.au.
Assessment and interview costs
All costs associated with travel to and from assessment venues/stages will be the responsibility of the applicant. You will also need to cover the costs of:
- conducting a sum of skin folds test (if required)
- taking medical appointments
- a first aid certification.
In addition, if you have any contact with police during the selection process, you must inform the PCO Employment Team immediately via email: pcoemployment@police.vic.gov.au
For further information regarding the recruitment process, you may be interested in attending an information session.
Uniform and appearance standards
Victoria Police employees are required to project an image that is consistent with a professional and disciplined law enforcement agency.
Therefore employees’ clothing, grooming and personal accessories:
- must project a favourable image of Victoria Police as a professional and disciplined organisation
- must not be extreme or detract from the need to present as employees of a professional and disciplined organisation.
Applicants with tattoos/body art on the head, face, neck or hands should contact pcoemployment@police.vic.gov.au.
Members are permitted to wear the following items of jewellery:
- wrist watches
- minimal rings of conservative style
- emergency medical alert bracelets or pendants.
Wearing of other jewellery, ornaments, adornments or accessories is not permitted. This includes, earrings, spacers, dental grills, or any facial/body piercings such as plugs, tunnels, bars, chains, etc.
Once your application is received, Victoria Police will perform our own background checks to check for any prior offences and dealings with police.
Any other official background checks completed previously will not be accepted.
Once your application is assessed, you may be shortlisted to attend an assessment day.
The assessment day will comprise of:
- fitness testing
- the entrance exam
Download and read the PCO assessment booklet to prepare yourself before you attend.
PCO Employment Suitability Testing - Candidate Information Booklet(opens in a new window)PDF 3.24 MB
Fitness testing
Prior to attending the assessment day, applicants will need to visit their General Practitioner (GP) and get them to sign a form that confirms that the applicant is physically able to undertake the fitness testing.
You could be invited to attend the fitness testing of the recruitment process soon after applying. The POLICE FIT app is a free training tool exclusive to Victoria Police. It’s designed to help prepare you for the fitness test to improve your chances of passing.The fitness test includes the following components:
- beep test (5.01)
- Illinois agility run (20 seconds)
- grip test (30kg in each hand)
- push ups (five successive push ups on toes)
- prone bridge (hold for 60 seconds).
Entrance exam
Cognitive skills assessment
The Verbal and Numeracy Skills tests are designed to measure verbal and numerical abilities as demonstrated by the capacity to see relationships and solve problems.
The tests are primarily intended as a measure of general ability for selection into occupations that involve a moderate to high level of demand on reasoning ability, and for other purposes where the ability to think clearly with words and numbers is involved.
While the questions involve the use of words and numbers, the level of knowledge required is within that of most people who have completed Year 10.
The Abstract Reasoning test is included in order to give a balanced measure of general cognitive ability.
Literacy skills test
The literacy skills test assesses reading comprehension and ability to recognise correct use of grammar and spelling. For this assessment, applicants are required to answer 50 multiple choice questions.
Numeracy skills test
The Numeracy assessment measures your ability to understand, use, apply and interpret problems where mathematics is embedded in a context.
We are an organisation that supports reasonable adjustments to assist candidates through the recruitment process. Should you require any reasonable adjustments to sit the cognitive and job skills testing components, please apply for special testing conditions via email as soon as possible.
All requests need to be submitted no later than 14 business days before the date of the assessment.
For conditions that occurred after the application deadline, please contact the ACER office for advice on 03 9277 5555.
As the role of a police custody officer can be psychologically demanding, all applicants must complete psychological testing.
Victoria Police utilise a suite of tests to assess candidates' psychological suitability. Applicants will be required to complete an online questionnaire that will take approximately 1.5 to two hours to complete.
The results of the tests are interpreted by psychologists from the Victoria Police Psychology Unit, who provide recommendations to the Police Custody Officer Employment Team.
Following the test, most applicants will be required to attend a one-on-one interview with a psychologist. This is a normal part of the process to get further information about the applicant.
This will assist in the interpretation of their test results, and further assess their suitability.
After applicants have been deemed suitable/competitive following the assessment day, they will be issued with a medical booklet.
Applicants will be given two weeks from receiving the medical booklet to return it. Therefore, we advise that any applicant being invited to the assessment day pre-empts this by setting up their medical appointments one week after.
All costs associated with this stage will be incurred by the applicant.
If you have any concerns regarding your eligibility based on a medical condition, please consult our Medical guidelines.
The comprehensive checks are completed to create a more in-depth analysis of each applicant’s prior history and associations.
We will also perform employment checks at this point, which will include some referee checks from past employers.
A final referee check with your current employer won’t be completed until after the interview stage of the selection process.
The interview is the final part of the recruitment process for the police custody officer position.
The interview will be conducted at the location where you are being considered for the role.
There will be two to three people who will sit on the panel. The interview questions will comprise of:
- motivational questions
- behavioural questions (based on the VPS capability framework)
- scenario based questions.
For tips on how to prepare for your interview, please read the behavioural interviews document.
Behavioural interviews(opens in a new window)PDF 32.82 KBIf you are successful in the recruitment process and pass your panel interview, you will go into the PCO Talent Pool.
Once a position becomes available at your preferred station, you will be invited into a squad to commence your eight weeks training at the Victoria Police Academy.
We will endeavour to provide you with four weeks notice before beginning your training.
Final offers will be made after checks have been conducted to confirm that applicants are still deemed of good character and reputation.
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