Course description
Where it will take you
The first three years of your police career will normally be spent performing general duties in a Local Area Command (LAC), assigned on an elected preference basis, subject to NSW Police Force needs. The commencing salary for a probationary constable is approximately $50,000 pa (2008).
Policing provides a number of career paths including community policing, investigations, intelligence, specialist and technical operations, and leadership and management.
CSU offers a number of courses designed to support policing career development. These are closely aligned with industry needs and articulated with internal police training programs.
Course components
To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 128 subject points made up from 18 individual subjects. Unless otherwise noted, each subject is worth 8 points.
The course integrates field-based education with classroom and distance education study. Classes are scheduled Monday through Friday and full-time students should expect to be on campus from Monday morning until Friday afternoon. Some weekend activities may also be required.
Face-to-face teaching hours for full-time students are equivalent to full-time study within the University sector.
Hands-on experience
Activities in communication, physical skills and operational safety provide students with the opportunity to participate in hands-on training in the practical aspects of policing.
Practical experience
The program is focused on the practical application of the applied skills necessary for the modern policing profession. Subjects in communication, and physical skills and operational safety, for example, may require students to participate in scenarios designed to emulate events that often occur during routine police service.
Field placement
Field placement forms an integral part of the ADPP. You will undertake a field experience placement with the NSW Police Force, which provides an insight into the practical application of the theoretical foundations of the course. The placement, which is arranged by the NSW Police College, Goulburn, is situated as close as possible to your requested location and requires 80 hours (approximately two weeks) to complete. On campus full-time students will undertake the placement between Session 1 and 2 of the course. DE students can elect to undertake the field placement as either a two-week block or two separate one-week blocks during Session 1b of the course. Further field experience is gained during Sessions 3, 4 and 5 of the program which are studied via distance education whilst working as a Probationary Constable.
Entry pathways to the Associate Degree
There are four pathways for entry into the Associate Degree:
* Full-time on campus – Sessions 1 and 2 will be studied on campus at NSW Police College, Goulburn
* Mixed mode – combines two sessions of home-based study (Session 1a and 1b), then distance education students join full-time on campus students for Session 2 at the NSW Police College, Goulburn
* The Bachelor of Justice Studies (Policing) – full-time study at CSU Bathurst for two years, including residential schools at the NSW Police College, then students join full-time on campus students for Session 2 at the NSW Police College, Goulburn
* RCC (Recognition of Current Competency) i.e. prior policing experience – direct entry into Session 2
Recognition of Current Competency
(Course code KAPP)
If you have completed a degree in a study area DIRECTLY related to policing, you may be eligible for RCC, meaning you enter the ADPP in Session 2.
If not already undertaken, you may have to complete an 80-hour police placement prior to the commencement of Session 2.
RCC entry eligibility may also include people with a minimum of one years previous/present operational policing experience (after the completion of probation), including interstate and overseas.
Depending on an applicant’s previous policing work experience, academic studies and period of time since last employed as a police officer, an applicant may be required to undertake supplementary subjects in addition to those in Session 2.
All successful RCC applicants will receive, in addition to a weekly Accommodation Scholarship ($100 per week), a guaranteed minimum AUD$1,760 scholarship. A Higher Value Scholarship of $4,000 or $6,000 per session can also be applied for on the basis of demonstrated financial need, however there are only a limited number available and these are awarded in competition with full-time applicants.
All RCC applicants will be required to successfully complete Sessions 2, 3, 4 and 5
What should you know about studying the Associate Degree in Policing Practice by DE?
Part-time study: as a part-time student, you study the two sessions (Session 1a and 1b) of the course over an eight-month period, based at home, without having to resign from your job
Support: you will receive subject materials and teaching aids to assist with study
Tutors and lecturers: can be contacted by phone (leave messages to be returned) or email to help with any inquiries or problems you may encounter
Orientation: a compulsory orientation weekend will be held when the course begins where you will receive information to help you manage and cope with the study
Subject information: will be provided at the orientation weekend
Residential schools: compulsory residential schools will be held throughout your eight-month study to simulate practical practical aspects of the policing profession, to provide feedback on your fitness levels, for assessment, and to network with students and teachers.
There will be a three-day residential weekend and a five-day residential week in both Session 1a and 1b, making a total of 16 days. Residential schools are conducted at the NSW Police College, Goulburn. All students are involved in both physical and academic activities. Students should come prepared with appropriate clothing and subject materials to suit both activities and the Goulburn climate
Assessment: you will be assessed via a combination of assignments, examinations, practice simulations, presentations or seminars. The work requirements of assignments vary but often written essays, short answer questions, practical work, fieldwork or verbal presentations are used to assess skills and understanding of a topic.
Online: access to online facilities is provided for your convenience.
Goulburn College: you join the other students at the NSW Police College, Goulburn for Session 2 (14 weeks duration) at which time you will be eligible to apply for a scholarship (see the Admissions Eligibility Guide for detail information on scholarships). Limited on campus accommodation is available at a cost of around $100 a week (2007). Please note that there is a strong demand for the on campus accommodation and you will have to consider the possibility of living off campus.
Sessions 3, 4 and 5: you continue to study in these sessions by DE if you are employed as a Probationary Constable.
Scholarships
Students who apply for entry to the Associate Degree in Policing Practice at Charles Sturt University are invited to apply for a tax-exempt Policing Scholarship.
To be eligible for a scholarship, students must be enrolled in the Associate Degree in Policing Practice and satisfy the professional and academic criteria for the program. Once these criteria are fulfilled, scholarship information will be sent out to students. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and financial need. Should a scholarship be awarded and at some later stage it is found that the student no longer satisfies professional, financial or academic criteria, the scholarship may be withdrawn. Successful scholarship applicants are advised at the same time an offer of placement in the course is made.
Details of the range of scholarships available and how to apply for them are contained in the Admission Eligibility Guide contained in the information pack
Articulation
The Associate Degree in Policing Practice articulates fully with the Bachelor of Policing and the Bachelor of Policing (Investigations) .
Graduation requirements
To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 128 points.
Further study
CSU also offers postgraduate courses in Policing Practice , Child Protection Investigation , Investigations Management , Fraud Investigation , Compliance , Criminal Intelligence , Police Negotiation , Fire Investigation , Crime Prevention and Leadership and Management through the School of Policing Studies, Goulburn and the Australian Graduate School of Policing in Manly.
