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AFP Recruitment
Career Advisors Presentation
May 2014
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3 entry level processes to
join the AFP.
Sworn Base and PSO Recruit,
Directions Program and Graduate
Program.
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ACT Community Policing,
Federal Agents and
Protective Service Officer
Everything you need to know …
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Outline
• Professional Standards
• What you can expect in ACT Policing?
• What you can expect in National Operations?
• What you can expect as a Protective Service Officer (PSO)?
• The Recruitment Process
• Employment Suitability Questionnaire
• OCAT
• PCA
• Assessment Centre
• Medical
• Security Vetting
• Diversity Programs
• Graduate Program
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Professional Standards
The AFP is a values-driven organisation and the core values
represent the organisation's principles or standards
therefore:
‘AFP appointees must demonstrate the highest level of
professional standards both in their official and private
capacities. The organisation has high expectations with
regard to character and places importance on each
individuals integrity and their ability to maintain that
integrity. ‘
The AFP Core values are:
Fairness, Accountability, Commitment, Excellence, Integrity
and Trust
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ACT Policing Roles:
General duties
•
•
Crime prevention
SRG (Specialist Response
Group)
•
CI (Criminal Investigations)
•
Traffic
•
•
•
Watch House and Judicial
Operations
Intelligence
Counter Terrorism and
Emergency Response
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Federal Agent Roles:
• Counter Terrorism
• Airport Security
• Organised Crime
• People Smuggling
• Sexual Servitude
• International Drug Trafficking
• Major Corporate Crime
• Major Fraud and Identity Theft
• Cybercrime
• Environmental Crime
• Family Law
• Missing Persons
• Online Child Exploitation.
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PSO Roles:
•
PSO’s engage in high visibility
protective service roles that
ensure a safe and secure
• Protective security duties are
environment for Australian High
conducted at –
Office Holders, internationally
• Diplomatic and consular
missions
protected persons, the diplomatic
• Commonwealth premises
community and Commonwealth
including Parliament House,
establishments.
The Lodge, Kirribilli House,
•
•
Admiralty House, Government
House, High Court and
selected defence
establishments.
Overseas Australian Embassies
Other critical infrastructure
sites Australia wide.
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Recruitment Process Timeline - Sample
1. Online application
form
January - 4 weeks
2. Aptitude testing
(OCAT)
February
3. Vetting of application
February-March
4. Physical fitness
testing (P-PCA)
March-April
June-July
5. Assessment Centre
May-June
August-September
6. Medical examination
July-August
October-November
7. Psychological
Assessment
July-August
8. Security Vetting
After shortlisting
Course commencement
Following year
October-November
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Minimum Requirements
At the time of application, all
candidates must:
•
•
•
•
•
Be over 18 years of age
Have a full Manual driver’s
licence
Be an Australian Citizen
Have a Year 12 certificate
or Year 10 plus a Trade
Certificate
Have Year 10 only for PSO
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Additional Requirements:
•
Senior First Aid Certificate
•
100m unaided swim
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Recruitment Process
1. Online application form
www.afp.gov.au/jobs
2. Aptitude testing
Online Cognitive Ability Test
(OCAT)
www.onetest.com.au
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OCAT Example Question
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OCAT Example Answer
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Recruitment Process
3. Vetting of application
•
All candidates will complete an Employment Suitability Questionnaire
(ESQ) as a part of the application process and each candidate is
assessed against the AFP Character Guidelines.
•
The ESQ will ask questions relevant to - Traffic history: Candidates are requested to supply a current
and complete traffic history
- Known Associations
- Background information including drug, criminal, firearm
and personal history
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Recruitment Process
4. Entry Physical Competency Assessment
(EPCA)
Purpose of the EPCA:
Assess an individual's baseline level of fitness
and to confirm a candidate's ability to undertake
the physical components of operational training
and perform the inherent requirements of
policing.
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Recruitment Process
Medical Certificate
• AFP Medical Certificate to completed by your
Personal GP. (A letter from your Doctor doesn’t
suffice)
• AFP Medical certificate needs to be obtained
from the AFP Website or AFP Recruitment.
• All Medical Certificates are valid for 3 months
from date of issue.
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EPCA Components
The EPCA contains three (3) components. Each of the
benchmarks outlined below must be met on the date
of testing for a candidate to be deemed successful at
this gateway.
– Beep Test – Level 6.5
– Phased Sit-Up Test – Level 4
– Push-Up Test (Full) – Male 15/Female 8
Further information regarding the EPCA and training
tips can be found at: http://www.afp.gov.au/jobs/afpofficer-gateways/gateway-3-physical-competencyassessment.aspx
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Recruitment Process
Training for PCA
Individuals will require a different amount of
time and effort in training to pass a PCA.
Some individuals may require more than 6
months of consistent training where others
may need only a week.
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Recruitment Process
5. Assessment Centre
• Interview
• Group Discussion
• OCAT Validation
• Literacy Assessment
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Recruitment Process
6. Medical examination
• Medical examination;
• Hearing test and respiratory test; and
• Electrocardiogram (ECG - if over 40 years of
age)
7. Psychological Assessment
• Face-to-face psychological interview
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Recruitment Process
8. Security Vetting
• A Security Clearance is a mandatory gateway of
the recruitment process
• A Security Clearance can take in excess of three
months to finalise, longer in some cases. The
process involves external checks and therefore is
largely out of the AFP’s control.
• The Security Clearance process is very intrusive.
• Certified copies of personal documents are
required.
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Recruitment Process
• A candidate will be asked to
provide a great deal of
personal information in
relation to your:
–Finances
–Personal relationships
–Friends and associates
–Criminal history and
associations
• All information provided will
be verified
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Recruitment Process
• A candidate will be required to provide
certified copies of:
–Birth Certificate
–Marriage and/or Divorce Certificates
–Citizenship Certificate
–Payslips and Group Certificates for you and
your Partner
–Drivers Licence
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Recruit Applicant Validation Centre (RAVC)
•The RAVC is utilised to confirm candidate's course readiness and their
ability to undertake the physical components of operational training at
the AFP College as well as give candidates an insight into life at the
college before commencing on a Training Program.
•The RAVC will be held over a two day period approximately 4-6 weeks
before commencement of each course and may include:
– A tour of the AFP College;
– A medical review including a musculoskeletal examination to ensure each
candidate still meets the AFP medical standards;
– Uniform fittings;
– Team building activities;
– Revalidation of the PCA to ensure each candidates physical fitness has been
maintained; and
– Information sessions outlining the responsibilities as an AFP employee are
provided from various AFP business areas including Health Services, Operational
Safety Training and Professional Standards.
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Directions Program
•The AFP Directions Program is an integrated
entry-level pathways program offering a range
of employment options for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Australians.
•The Directions Program includes:
 Traineeship Program
 Cadetship Program
 Secondee Program
 School-based Apprenticeships
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Traineeship Program
•The AFP Traineeship Program is a 12 month employment
and development program offered to Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Australians.
•The Traineeship provides exposure to the diverse range of
business areas within the AFP and permanent employment
in the AFP upon successful completion of the Traineeship.
•The AFP has employed 32 Trainees through the Directions
Program since 2010.
•Applications open in July or August each year for a period
of 5-6 weeks.
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Cadetship Program
•The AFP Cadetship Program targets Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Australians who are in their 2nd or 3rd year
of an undergraduate University degree.
•The Program provides financial assistance as well as
valuable work experience for 12 weeks during the summer
break for each year they are studying.
•The AFP has employed 15 cadets through the Directions
Program since 2010. The retention rate remains high.
•Applications open in February or March each year for a
period of 5-6 weeks.
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Graduate Program Outline
•Degree requirements
•Eligibility
•Recruitment process
•Development of Graduates
•Our Program
•Experiencing the AFP
•Graduating from the Program
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Degree requirements
The AFP Graduate Program recruits recent university
graduates from a broad range of disciplines. For
example:
–Communications, Media and Journalism
–Forensic Science
–Security Analysis, Criminal Justice, Intelligence and Counter
Terrorism
–Commerce, Finance and Economics
–Arts, Law, Business and Social Science
–Information Technology, Computer Science and Corporate
Systems
–Engineering and International studies.
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Eligibility
•To apply for the Graduate Program candidates
must:
–ƒ
be an Australian citizen
–have completed a three year minimum degree, or be in the
final year of the degree (scheduled to finish prior to February
the following year)
–ƒbe no more than three years post completion of their most
recent degree at the time of application
The degree must be obtained at an Australian
university, or be recognised by the National Office of
Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR).
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Graduate Recruitment Process
•The recruitment of Graduates follows a similar
process to Sworn Base Recruitment:
–Online application
–Employment Suitability Questionnaire
–Online Cognitive Ability Test (OCAT)
–Assessment Centre
–Security Vetting
Note: no Physical Competency Assessment is required
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Development of Graduates
•Graduates work in many of the AFP’s business units.
The roles they perform contribute to the outcomes of
the AFP.
•The Program uses a 70-20-10 model of development:
–70% on the job experience, self reflection and problem
solving
–20% feedback, mentoring and observation of others in the
workplace and
–10% formal training and education.
•Throughout the Program the Graduates are supported
by the Graduate Coordination Team.
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Our Program
The AFP Graduate Program is a twelve month
program, after which the Graduate is permanently
placed.
The Program typically consists of the following
components:
–program specific induction process
–Graduate Coordination Team available to support the
Graduates
–monthly discussion groups
–meetings with senior executive staff
–learning and development opportunities
–formal and informal mentoring opportunities and
–work rotations across the AFP.
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Experiencing the AFP
•During their Graduate year
the cohort is exposed to
many facets of the AFP that
they may not otherwise
experience.
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Graduating from the Program
•By the end of
the Program the
Graduates are
professionals
equipped with
career
management
strategies,
mentors and
life-long friends.
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Questions?
Contact details:
Website: www.afp.gov.au
Email: afprecruitment@afp.gov.au