Pathway to Policing

Thought about a career in Policing?

Want your studies to teach you skills relevant for your future career?

South Australia Police has partnered with Thebarton Senior College to offer a Pathway to Policing Program.

This unique program provides Year 12 students with the opportunity to undertake studies that serve as a career pathway into the South Australia Police, whether as a Police Officer, Police Security Officer, Community Constable, or other roles with SAPOL.

The curriculum focuses on building essential policing skills, including:

Interpersonal Skills: Develop effective communication and relationship-building abilities.
Critical Thinking: Learn to analyse situations and make informed decisions.
Problem Solving: Gain techniques to address and resolve complex issues.

What subjects to expect?

Activating Identities and Futures
Essential English
Workplace Practices
Fitness and Wellbeing
Elective

Testimonials

Read testimonial from students of the 2024 program and their parents

The Pathway to Policing course has truly changed my way of thinking. It has helped me understand my work in class and learn more about myself, such as my strengths and the limits of my comfort zone. This course pushed me to achieve more than I thought possible and provided amazing opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Each opportunity has greatly improved my character both in and out of the classroom. If you’re interested in a career with SAPOL, I highly recommend this course. It’s a fantastic step towards a rewarding future in SAPOL.

I strongly believe that people should join the Pathway to Policing course because it is more than a course, it is more like a friendly environment, where you will be able to learn the value of the friendships you have made and work with others. Throughout the course you will have a lot of experiences and excursions that you would never be able to experience and you will be able to go through all that with your classmate’s help. That’s why I recommend people to join this course, it’s not just a course, is more than that.

The Pathway to Policing program has benefitted me in a variety of ways, both physically and mentally. The program has given me the opportunity to learn from and engage with South Australia Police, allowing me to gain insight into my chosen career path.

The Pathway to Policing program is a beneficial program Thebarton Senior College runs to increase readiness for a future career within South Australia Police. The program has many benefits, such as the extensive support by SAPOL, including visits to different branches, helping cadets at the police academy, and guest speakers sharing their experiences. Another benefit to this program is the support by the teachers, as there is a small class size, there is more time for the teachers to work one-on-one with students to help with class work. Overall, this program is something any year 12 students should look into if they want to pursue a career within SAPOL or gain life experiences year 12’s won't normally get to experience while in school.

This program has been a lot of fun, and among its many advantages is the opportunity to meet and interview a police officer to learn about their experiences and challenges in the field of policing. We have completed a lot of enjoyable activities using this program, and it is also helpful. Because it assists in acquiring the knowledge required to become a police officer, I would suggest this program.

I highly recommend the Pathway to Policing course to anyone seeking a career in policing. The program offers an abundance of opportunities throughout the year, with the highlight being the camp experience. Our class has formed strong bonds, and we've been supported by exceptional teachers every step of the way. The support from South Australia Police (SAPOL) has been outstanding, providing us with a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of policing. We've had the privilege of visiting and learning from diverse units, including mounted, dog squad, STAR, SRS, PSO, water police, and PolAir, among others. These experiences have been invaluable in preparing us for a career in SAPOL. If you're considering a career in policing, I strongly recommend this course – it has opened my eyes to the many aspects of this rewarding profession.

The benefits of the Pathway to Policing course is the range of different opportunities and experiences that we get. This includes the in-depth chances and insight we get into SAPOL when on excursions. SAPOL involvement within this program has been phenomenal. We have had the opportunity to work closely with a range of officers from different branches which has provided great insight to their daily life. Overall, the program has been a great experience as it provides an engagement with SAPOL. The curriculum benefits the job and teaches you what you will need to learn within the job.

The benefits I received through this program include the chance to be able to go on excursions and meet different specialist areas, for example the Dog Squad, Mounted Operations, Water Operations and learning about working as a Protective Security Officer. We were also able to visit the academy, have a tour of police headquarters and have work experience in a police station. Having a small class is good, as you really get to know everyone and we have become good close friends. The excursions and camps have been great for team building, and teaching us lots of new and good things that can be used later in life.

The Pathway to Policing program has been well organised, had great communication and provided my son with an incomparable experiences into Policing. The TSC staff have gone over and above to provide experiences that are second to none for students. My son has been well supported through his SACE, whilst undertaking the program - which is exceptional work by TSC staff. SAPOL staff interaction with the students has built confidence and provided excellent involvement.

This program has changed our son's attitude towards school and our son has made some great new friends. The support from the staff at TSC running this program has been amazing, they take the time to listen to the students, help and assist them and treat them as individuals. Our son has become enthusiastic about his future and applying for the police force. The students have had so many opportunities to interact with SAPOL in many different areas to understand the complexity and pathways within SAPOL. This program has given our son the opportunity to be invested in his learning and take ownership of his career aspirations. SAPOL has been 100% committed to working with the students during this program.

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