Australian Federal Police seek to recruit protective service officers in the Mid West

The Australian Federal Police has issued a call-out to recruit protective service officers, who are at the forefront of protecting airports, as well as government and defence locations — and they’re focused on the Mid West and Gascoyne. The AFP’s team of PSOs perform vehicle, foot and bike patrols, and static protection against terrorism and violent protests. Some also provide close personal protection services for key political figures and diplomats. AFP assistant commissioner specialist protective command Alison Wegg said PSOs were based across Australia, including major capital cities, as well as regional locations. PSOs in the region can be stationed at the Naval Communication Station at Exmouth and Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station in Geraldton. Kurt, whose surname is withheld, is a PSO and officer-in-charge of the Geraldton base, and was shown a newspaper ad by his mum while he was studying aquaculture at university. “The training course was in Canberra, which was somewhere I had never been and the AFP was going to pay me to travel there to study — I thought ‘sweet’,” he said. Kurt graduated in 1990 and has worked in multiple places around Australia. “I’ve also had the opportunity to move around Australia and deploy overseas, so I’ve been paid to see the world,” he said. Troy spent 11 years as a scuba diving instructor on the Great Barrier Reef, in Sydney and then in Exmouth before deciding to switch careers. He joined the AFP in 2009, completed his training in Canberra and was then stationed in Exmouth. “The AFP opened up opportunities to learn new skills, while providing job security, good work life balance and the ability to travel on various deployments,” he said. Mitchell, 21, became a PSO last year, after working as a labourer and machine operator and then deciding he wanted to pursue a career in policing. “I have already been able to achieve some things I would not have thought of a bit over a year ago, such as being part of an operation and attending the Short Barrel Rifle course, which provides specialised training to respond to serious security incidents,” he said. Individuals are paid to train at the AFP college for a 14-week course, which does not accrue a higher education debt. The course includes meals and accommodation on site, at no extra cost, and once graduated, PSOs receive a base salary of $72,690. This month, the AFP announced extra financial incentives for PSOs who help protect remote defence sites. “The Remote Defence Capability Payment is $30,000 extra a year for PSOs servicing the Naval Communication Station at Exmouth and $10,000 extra a year for PSOs servicing the Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station at Geraldton,” Ms Wegg said.