Police & Court

Cut-off for first intake to regional police academy looms

By Bree Harding

Jul 15, 2026

For the first time in history, Victoria Police will offer fully regional-based training at a new academy. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

For those who have ever considered becoming a cop, but were put off by metropolitan beats and training in the city, there’s now an alternative.

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A new Victoria Police regional training academy will open in January next year.

Applications for the first intake will close on Friday, July 17.

More than 100 prospective police have already applied after more than 240 expressions of interest were initially made.

The new regional academy, opening on January 18, means for the first time future officers can complete their entire police training without having to travel to Melbourne.

Training will mirror the 25-week program delivered at the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley.

Recruits will graduate in a local ceremony at Mildura before deployment to the Mallee region.

They will get the same conditions as trainees in Melbourne, including an annual starting salary of $84,060 plus allowances for probationary constables and nine weeks’ paid leave a year.

“Training recruits locally opens up a policing career to people who may never have been able to pursue one before,” Mildura police Detective Inspector David Rowe said.

“For the community, it means local people working where they live and love.”

Parents who have previously been unable to pursue policing dreams due to family commitments are among those who have applied to undertake training at Mildura.

More than half of applicants are from the Mildura area, including the city itself and nearby Irymple and Red Cliffs.

Around a fifth are from interstate, mostly NSW border communities.

Victoria Police is urging potential recruits to submit their applications in coming days to have the best chance of being in the academy’s first squad.

“Now is crunch time to make sure you don’t miss out,” Det Insp Rowe said.

“To have the best chance to be among the Mildura regional academy’s first recruits you must submit your application by Friday.

“Do not miss this opportunity to be part of something unlike anything we’ve offered before.”

The lead time between now and January is needed so applicants can undergo the required screening and checks to assess their suitability.

To submit an application, go to police.vic.gov.au/regional-academy