Victoria Police begins recruiting drive for first regional training academy in Mildura
Expressions of interest are now open for Victoria Police's first regional academy. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
In short:
Victoria Police's first regional academy will welcome its first recruits in Mildura from January 18 next year.
Up to 25 recruits will be included in the first intake for a 25-week training program.
What's next?
If successful, the location of the academy will change each year.
Victoria Police has opened up expressions of interest for its new regional training academy in Mildura in the state's north-west.
From January 18 next year, a full 25-week training program will be available for up to 25 recruits.
It will mirror the program delivered at the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley.
Detective Inspector David Rowe said the regional academy would provide an option for those previously unable to pursue a policing career due to their location.
"There'll be no need for anyone to travel to metropolitan Melbourne for any of the assessment process prior to joining the Victoria Police," Inspector Rowe said.
"What we're aiming for is to train local people with a view to them working locally."
Training at the regional academy will mirror the program delivered at the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley. (ABC News)
Recruits will be paid to train in Mildura on an annual starting salary of $84,060 plus allowances for probationary constables and nine weeks paid leave a year.
They will graduate at a ceremony at Mildura and be deployed to positions in the Mallee region.
Several police stations within the division, including Kerang, Mildura, Robinvale and Swan Hill, have had vacancy issues, which the academy hopes to address.
"This initiative allows us to tap into the wealth of talent we have locally to build a more stable and sustainable workforce," Inspector Rowe said.
A second intake of recruits at the regional training academy is expected later in 2027.
If the model proves successful, the academy will change locations each year.
Inspector Rowe said discussions about the academy's exact location in Mildura were ongoing.
"There's still some conversations around securing the venue, which we are hoping will … have some sort of accommodation options available," he said.
"We will have Victoria Police academy trainers in Mildura supporting local trainers."
Specific training exercises provided at Glen Waverley, including defensive tactics and firearms training, would be conducted at community facilities in Mildura.
The majority of interest is expected to come from the state's west and from border towns in New South Wales and South Australia.
"The beauty of it is, should the Mildura experience be successful, we'll have a model that we can use in other areas across the state," Inspector Rowe said.
"I'm really eager to see those who would like to express interest get those applications in, certainly before the end of July 2026."