Protective service officer

Overview

AFP protective service officers (PSOs) use specialist capabilities and data to keep people and places safe. They protect important Australian places, like Parliament House in Canberra and Defence sites. They also provide security to the diplomatic community. PSOs are first responders to criminal and national security threats.

Places our PSOs work include:

• Defence establishments
• parliamentary sites and designated official establishments
• places with important safety and security requirements, like the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation or the Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre.

They also work in remote Australian locations, or travel overseas providing personal protection to Australian politicians or diplomats.

What you'll do

Your day-to-day work will be challenging and varied. It can include:

• performing high-visibility vehicle, foot or bike patrols
• providing static protection services
• responding to national security incidents
• collating, retrieving and reporting on data for operational purposes.

To learn more about life in the AFP, and get to know our people, visit our people's stories.

Joining the AFP as a new recruit

To start your career as a protective service officer with us, you must:

• be aged 18 years or over
• be an Australian citizen
• hold a valid Australian driver's licence (P plates are accepted, if you have a learners licence don't apply until you have your provisional licence)
• meet our character standards
• hold at least one of the following qualifications:
  • Year 10 Certificate and 2 years of work experience
  • Year 10 Certificate and a nationally recognised vocational education qualification at Certificate III level or higher
  • Year 12 Certificate
  • vocational education (TAFE) qualification or university qualification at Diploma level or higher.

You must also provide evidence that you:

• have had 2 primary doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine at the time of application (evidence can be provided in the form of an immunisation history statement or COVID-19 Digital Certificate)
• hold current first aid and CPR certifications
• can swim 100 m freestyle.

Find out more about joining us as a protective service officer.

How to apply

We advertise vacancies on our Jobs portal.

Each position will outline the application process.

To see the current positions available, visit our Jobs portal.