Pete

"I joined South Australia Police in 2012, after a decade of service in the UK, including two years with the Royalty Protection Department. The move wasn’t just about a job; it was about a lifestyle change.

In Adelaide, I found a community that feels like family. The mateship here is incredible, and the outdoor lifestyle keeps everyone fit and positive.

I love the variety of things to see and do, the beautiful beaches, and the warm weather. It’s a stark contrast to London - less crowded, cleaner, and just feels right.⁣

My advice to fellow UK officers?

Do it. It’s better to try and see for yourself than to live with regret. Give it two years to settle in, adapt to the Australian way, and I promise you won’t look back."

Jo

"I moved from Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, to Adelaide in 2010 because I wanted to continue policing - a career I love - but enjoy a better lifestyle and weather.

The transition was smooth, and I love the laid-back lifestyle here.

Adelaide’s outdoor activities, festivals, and welcoming community make it a fantastic place to live and work. And, on top of that, policing here is less stressful, and the community feels much safer.

My advice to overseas recruits?

Just do it - you won’t regret it!”

Matt

“The pay’s a lot higher over here. It’s just a bigger environment...more career opportunities and just a different style of policing.”⁣

Matt swapped the idyllic alpine mountains of New Zealand’s South Island for a career with South Australia Police last year. As a former Police Sergeant in Queenstown, he now works for one of Adelaide’s busiest stations on Hindley Street, and has fully embraced the switch from semi-rural to metropolitan policing (not to mention warmer temperatures).
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I’m on a really good team, I have a really good supervisor...I like it here, Adelaide is pretty chilled out compared to the bigger cities. I love the beaches and hills and the weather is great.”

Kelly

"As a five-year old child I looked at an atlas and decided I was going to move to Australia one day. There was less rain and no volcanos! Sticking true to her childhood dream, Kelly made the move across from England to South Australia with her husband back in 2010, transferring from her policing role in Hampshire, England to SAPOL. And she hasn’t looked back - citing better pay, a far greater work-life balance and a more enjoyable lifestyle in general.⁣ 
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I lost track of the amount of BBQ’s we tried to organise (in England) and ended up huddled under umbrellas because it decided to rain!⁣ Jumping at the opportunity to experience ‘true Australia’, Kelly initially spent three years in remote South Australian outback postings, before eventually settling in Adelaide where she’s currently an Inspector and Project Officer for the Thebarton Barracks Relocation Project.⁣ 
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Her advice to others? "Just do it. Take the leap. We’d never been here before and have never regretted a second!”

JD

A fellow Police Officer’s ‘tour of Australia’ was enough to plant the seeds of change in Senior Constable Jamie ‘JD’s' mind to migrate from the UK to Australia.  
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"He actually came around to our house for a curry and showed us a slideshow of all the photos of Australia of where he’d been and we just sat there in November - it was freezing cold - and I just remember saying to him ‘I don’t know what we’re doing here but we need to be over there." After applying to SAPOL, JD was offered a remote position in Whyalla, which he accepted.  
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"We started doing a bit of research and we looked at Google Earth and it was just red. It honestly looked like Mars."

Despite some initial hesitation, JD and his wife fell in love with the laid-back Whyalla lifestyle and decided to stay for 3 rather than 2 years - even inspiring his brother Ryan to relocate and join SAPOL! JD’s currently based in the Recruiting team at Police Headquarters in Adelaide.