GTFC

WAPOl have not taken steps towards this and I would very much doubt they would. Our Commisoner is very big on protecting his employees and wouldn't see this happen

TZracer

Hi Imran. Well since I've been looking for another force, I did read in one of WAPOL's 'Police News' issues that there have been a few problems there with workers compensation. That was over a couple of officers who were badly injured, one was beaten almost to death with a wheel brace, the other just beaten by a group of yobs. The officer beaten with the wheel brace ended up shooting his attacker dead, as he was patrolling a stretch of highway and back up was something like half an hour away. There were some issues with the civil libertarians about shooting the guy.
But anyway the article was complaining about the lack of support etc with medical expenses etc. From memory one of the 2 retired under medical grounds the officer who shot the attacker is still in the job from what I gathered.
The main difference between WAPOL and SAPOL is that if you have to, you can take legal action to sue the Government and take a hefty payout to retire. In SAPOL you can't do that, they offer a small payout, and I mean small to retire on medical grounds (Been told it's no more than about $100,000) thats if you are no longer fit for working at all, it's legislated that you can not sue the Government even if it's the forces fault you were injured. In WA from what I gather what you get is enough to survive on. Every other State has something different but South Australia is the only State which won't let you sue them for work related injury even if you can never work again!!
WA are bringing in new legislation to also assist former members who have retired due to medicals (WA Police News April 2008) this should help.
If any body on this forum has had any issues with workers comp in WAPOL I'd like to hear, as it was one service I was considering, just got to talk the family into moving again. Or I may go to Canada, who knows, I've read the people there are enjoying it.
Anyway Imran, I'd start reading the WA Police News online and go to Australian Law online and check out Workers Comp. in WA. Do some research.
Take care and hope all goes well.

lufc71

Many thanks for the information.

Regards

TZracer

Just to add to all out there considering WAPOL, I read an article in the Western Australia Newspaper, that the course that graduated in February 2008, had 31 members ( experienced Police officer course)from other Australian States, UK, South Africa and the United States!! yeah the US of A! Don't know how long they will last in Oz! under strict Oz policing conditions or should I say weak policing, we even have to call our villains 'clients' here now, get em a cuppa if they want it after a night of raping and robbing, then get em whatever they want from McDonalds for breakie!! can't convey them in a 'cage truck' as they could fall over and hurt themselves if they are cuffed, so you have to have em in the car with ya, spitting and kicking!! Aint the job great ? Thats SAPOL anyway, don't know what the other forces do here in Oz.
It appears that when they start accepting applications from overseas police officers (WAPOL) they have not just considered the UK now.
I wonder if SAPOL will do the same?

BPurnell

Evening all,

Am looking to make contact with any serving Western Australia Police officers to get a general overview of what the service is like? Would appreciate any advice you may have to offer. Currently 3 years PSNI and looking to get out. [email protected]

Greebo

Hi folks, I am a current serving officer with WAPOL, I moved from a Scottish force to start with them in Nov last year so am relatively clued up on the current application process. Any questions, ask away and I will try to help, or at least point you in the right direction but may I suggest that you start by looking at the 'step forward' site, http://www.stepforward.wa.gov.au/ (if you haven't already done so).

WAPOL were planning on starting a recruitment drive around now but we got notification about a week ago that it has been postponed until the end of this year/start of next....

Baz

Greebo what force were you in bonnie scotland? I was L&B.

Greebo

Was the little mickey mouse one mate, Central Scotland.

terrykins

How long did it take for you to go through the citizen process? I got onto the Peel Police and they were very interested but said I had to gain Canadian Citizenship first. Of course, working for a British Police Force I should have known that

Pompeyboy

I did the PNP route with EPS..the visa took about 6 months once everyting else was in place.

Glasgow Polis

Greebo,
I am a serving Cop from Glasgow with nearly 9 years service and I am very interested in moving to WA. I have some questions you may be in a very good position to answer for myself and other members. If you transfer to WA is your service held in regards in relation to salary i.e. do you start at the bottom scale or somewhere near the middle, for a constable? What about specialised disiplines CID etc (after your probationaly period)
Also I have been looking about for information in relation to length of service for WA, is it until your 65? and last one and probably most difficult (for now) whats the story with pensions?
I know the last one is probably different for every body but an idea would be great.
I have been reading the SA stories, and hope that WA is more positive. Any advice or info will be great!!
I would have PM you but the site will not let me until i have a few posts under my belt, and I have just stubmbled onto this site!!!
I look forwar to hearing from you.

TZracer

Hi Greebo,
Well firstly welcome and I'll try and answer your questions in relation to working as a police officer in Australia.
I am still with SAPOL but currently and actively pursuing another force here in Australia. South Australia Police (or now referred to as SAPOL) have had it's fair share of problems with ex pat recruits. Problem number one was failure to actually recognize the previous rank/service. Secondly poor pay and a reluctance to transfer and virtually no promotional prospects.
Now in mentioning those last couple, in fairness to SAPOL they have advised that they are going to change the approach to recruiting experienced police officers. They now tell us they are going to take into consideration your previous rank and years service and also any specialist type positions previously held. They found they were the main reasons why so many resigned and went home or moved on as I'm going to, possibly WA, even considering Canada, once I talk the family into it.
In SAPOL as it presently stands, once you graduate from the bridging course you are assigned to general uniformed patrols and that's that! Anything from there on is only after probation and if a vacancy exists and you met the criteria - then apply with 100+ applicants if it's a decent promotional position. Like every force I suppose, but SAPOL found they had experienced Detectives/Flight Observers/Traffic Officers/Firearms officers etc etc working in general patrols for years. But as stated they have promised it's going to change: hopefully. For the younger transferees it's ok as they have years to get to where they want to go, but for the oldor ones it's been frustrating here.
Pay upon arrival was terrible, that's suppose to change as well and the pension is a lump sum, which for some at 55 wouldn't be much at all without bringing the UK pension with them, depending on age on joining here, you may have to work until 65 for a bigger lump sum. The cost of living in SA is quite expensive in comparison to the pay. The older SAPOL people that are on the old pension scheme are much better off than us that's for sure, they get paid until they die basically!! We newer ones get a few bucks upon retiring, then taxed on that!
Now from what I have found out in regards to WAPOL (West Australia Police) conditions seem to be better, promotions are easier, some ex pats are even Sergeants / Senior Sergeants now. I've been to Perth and love it there, only problem is it's a long long way from the rest of Oz!! But Perth and W.A. is a booming place as a result of the Mining Industry. I can't comment on the pension scheme in WA, I'm sure if you e-mail their Recruiters there they will help with answering that. One good thing with South Australia is it's closer to the main eastern states, it's only a 50 minute flight to Melbourne and a bit longer to Sydney and the airfares are cheap at the moment.
In closing Greebo, whatever force you join you will love Australia, once you have established yourself here and got permanent residency/Citizenship you can go to almost any police force in Oz, all oz forces have lateral transfers at present for experienced Australian officers, but it's only SAPOL and WAPOL that are assisting with Visa's for officers with overseas experience at this stage, so it's a choice between the two to begin your Australian police career.
All I can say is, take your time and research the 2 forces, if you can afford it, visit and take a look around, visit some Stations and talk to some of the people.

BPurnell

For those who do not know. As of 20.08.2008 WA has suspended international recruiting until late 2009 at the earliest. I am a PSNI officer in Northern Ireland and have been waiting nearly 18 months on them recruiting. They stated that they are concentrating on domestic recruiting as they had enough international officers to take them to Autumn 09.

I was gutted to start off with but will wait and see. NZ police may be recruiting at the moment if anyone wants to get in touch I can share the info I have.

[email protected]

kind regards

Barry

Greebo

Hi Glasgow Polis and TZracer.

Before I go any further, I would just like to say that WAPOL have today announced that they are accepting applications from international officers, conducting a recruitment drive in London in February 2009. There is nothing on the step forward site as of yet but keep checking.

TZracer, thanks for taking the time to reply but I think you’ve got me confused with Glasgow Polis, I am currently serving with WAPOL but, regardless, your post is informative for others on the site considering applying to an Australian force and I wish you all the best in your prospective move, wherever it may take you.

Glasgow Polis, will try to answer (some of) your questions with regard conditions in WAPOL. With your service, the way it works is whilst at the academy, (12 week course for officers undergoing ‘direct entry accelerated training’ – likewise for interstate officers) you will earn 5th year connie wages (currently $59435) until you pass the 1st class exams (done at the academy) then when you graduate, you would go onto $64275 and would stay on that until you have done your senior connie exams (done in your own time and cannot get rank until you have 9 years recognised), then you'd be on $68371.

Shift penalties are not included in this and they work as follows:

Day Shift - Any shift which commences on or between the hours of 6am and 1030am = 8hr penalty (Sat/Sun only) $27.25 , 10hr penalty (Sat/Sun only) $34.06

Afternoon Shift - Any shift which commences on or between the hours of 11am and 430pm = 8hr penalty $31.00 , 10hr penalty $38.75

Evening Shift - Any shift which commences on or between the hours of 5pm and 730pm = 8hr penalty $37.20 , 10hr penalty $46.50

Night Shift - Any shift which commences on or between the hours of 8pm and 530am = 8hr penalty $46.55 , 10hr penalty $58.19

As for specialist positions there is no probationary period for direct entry accelerated training officers and once out of the academy, you are free to apply for pretty much any position because WAPOL do recognise prior learning. Despite hearing rumours that some are not getting where they want to be (especially in CID), I know plenty of people who have ended up in plum spots as a direct result of this. The promotion structure isn’t bad either, first class connies can apply for Sgt positions and senior connies can apply for Senior Sgt positions….not saying that the opportunity for that arises that often though.

Retirement and pension….hmmm, minefield. Only definite I can tell you that the scheme here is 9% non contributory, as far as I’m aware you can retire when you are 55 but you cannot get your mitts on your tax free Superannuation (pension) until you are 60.

You can transfer your UK pension over (I intend to but have put it off – have too many other things going on) but obviously, everyone’s circumstances are different, best to get advice from someone who knows lots about numbers.

Anything else at all, just ask away, I will try to answer as best I can.

Greebo

Further to my last, the application forms are now on the website. I have started a new thread in relation to this

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=567728

Good luck to everyone planning on taking the plunge.