If you are fluent in another language and can use it in your role as a Victoria Police employee, you could receive extra benefits and a bonus allowance.
Victoria Police's Language Allowance Scheme (LAS) is a rewarding option for our employees who are fluent in a Language Other Than English (LOTE).
The Language Allowance Scheme (LAS)
Victoria features a rich array of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities. Sometimes our CALD community members prefer, or need to, speak to us in a language other than English.
The LAS offers benefits to Victoria Police employees who can use their language skills to help our CALD communities. It also shows communities that Victoria Police recognises and values cultural diversity.
Note: Your LAS role is in addition to your normal duties.
The benefits of taking part in the LAS
There are lots of advantages for our bilingual or multilingual employees to take part in the LAS.
Utilise language skills you already have
Eligible employees who speak a LOTE may apply for the LAS if:
- they can provide regular language help in LOTE, and,
- pass a NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) community Language Aide test.
Build a better connection with your community
People can feel more comfortable to approach and trust someone who can speak the same language as them.
It helps remove barriers in situations where English isn’t the first language of the people involved.
Victoria police employees fluent in another language are vital to:
- help overcome language barriers
- build community confidence, and,
- increase community engagement.
A range of languages in Victoria Police also helps us build stronger rapport and trust between police and community members.
Multilingual can mean multiple opportunities
Speaking a community’s language may make you more competitive for other Victoria Police roles working with that community.
Our LAS members may be asked to assist with:
- specialist roles
- community liaison tasks, or,
- other operations (for example, assisting Homicide detectives in an investigation).
The LAS exposes our employees to different areas of the organisation. It can even help you stand out in transfer and promotion processes and leadership opportunities.
More variety in your everyday police duties
Being part of the LAS can add more variety to your daily duties, making the job more rewarding.
Some of the benefits of speaking a second language may include:
- working in your own community for a crime prevention/recruiting/information event
- using your knowledge of culture and taboos to better engage with CALD communities
- working as a conduit between the CALD community and Victoria Police
- acting as an example for making a difference in someone’s life and showing others that they can do the same
- using your language skills others may not have to make your daily work more efficient
- assisting with cases where the people involved cannot speak English
- helping people overcome frustrating previous experiences because you can relate to them in the same language
- being a source of verified Victoria Police information in the community.
An extra financial benefit
If you are successful in becoming part of the LAS, we will pay you a bonus yearly allowance.
When you can apply for LAS
You can apply for the LAS once you have been a Victoria Police employee for a year.
This gives you time to get used to life at Victoria Police before considering using your skills as a LOTE member.
How to qualify for the LAS
To be eligible for the LAS, Victoria Police employees must:
- speak another language fluently
- willing to sit a NAATI Community Language Aide test (paid for by Victoria Police), and,
- be able to use LOTE frequently at their work location (in addition to their normal duties.
NAATI Community Language Aide (CLA) test
NAATI stands for the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
NAATI is the national standards and certifying authority for translators and interpreters in Australia.
The CLA test will check:
- your basic oral communication skills in a language other than English, and
- your ability to support community members or stakeholders in a two-way conversation.
The CLA test has been delivered in over 70 languages so far.
Learn more about the Community Language Aide (CLA) Test.
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