SAPOL Recruitment

In reply to Mr TELFER (Flinders) (25 June 2024). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN (Kavel—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Special Minister of State): I have been advised:

There are a number of direct and indirect costs attributable to the overall cost of recruiting an experienced police officer from the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland or New Zealand as part of SAPOL's international recruitment campaign.

Direct costs which are incurred during the assessment of an applicant's suitability to receive an offer of appointment from South Australia Police (SAPOL), regardless of their jurisdiction of origin, are estimated at $3,927 per recruit, and includes language, literacy and numeracy and psychometric assessments, medical and functional capacity assessments, and psychological assessments.

As part of the terms of the international campaign, SAPOL is offering:

Reimbursement of up to $10,000 of relocation costs for interstate and New Zealand applicants who are serving or recently served police officers.

Reimbursement of all visa charges and the peripheral costs associated with securing a permanent visa for the main applicant and their eligible family members recruited from United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. On the assumption of a family of two adults and two child dependents, the total cost is estimated to be $11,875 per recruit. In addition, a visa nomination fee of $5,070 is payable to the Department of Home Affairs and must be paid by the nominating employer. This is a total cost of $16,945 per recruit.

Based on a pro-rated 15 week version of the existing cadet training program, SAPOL's transition program is estimated to cost around $58,771 per recruit. This reflects 2024-25 academy costs only, and does not include any calculation of field tutor allowance post-graduation.