Wanting to make a difference in the world, and drawn by the “challenging and exciting nature” of the job, Scott Loudon worked hard to achieve his goal of becoming a Victoria Police officer.
With the aim of giving himself the best chance of succeeding, Scott enrolled in the Advanced Diploma of Justice at Chisholm. There’s no requirement to study a course to join the police, but Scott felt it would be beneficial for his career.
“I believed the course would equip me with the tools and knowledge, such as learning and interpreting legislation to court processes, which I could apply to my policing career from the application phase, to the academy and so on,” he says.
Once he finished the course, Scott lodged his application and prepared himself for the Victoria Police recruitment process, which can take six to 12 months and includes eligibility, background and health checks as well as an entrance exam, fitness testing, psychological testing and a panel interview.
“The panel interview was probably the most daunting and nerve-racking part of the process for me,” Scott says. “It is the final stage prior to being accepted into the job. My nerves came from the pressure I placed on myself, as I wanted nothing more than to join the force. I overcame this by taking a breath, being well prepared and believing in myself.”
Scott says during the interview he was able to recall his learnings from the justice course, such as how to look up and interpret legislation, policing procedures, court processes and laws. “This acquired knowledge and skills obtained from the justice course I feel helped me stand out from fellow candidates,” he says.
As a successful candidate, the next stage was for Scott to head off to the Victoria Police Academy for his training.
“In the academy, when it came to learning and studying legislation, court process and policing procedures I was already well equipped with a good level of understating and knowledge in many of these areas,” he says.
Now he’s working on the beat as a First Constable, Scott says he applies his learning from the course daily.
“I am now able to practically apply the skills and knowledge I have acquired from the course in the fields of mental health, family violence, drug and alcohol abuse, cultural diversity to name a few,” he says.
“I love the challenge of the job. I love the variety of the work. I love that every shift is different. I love heading into work not knowing what’s in store. I love that I get to help people and make a difference.”
So, what tips does Scott have for others who wish to don a uniform, uphold the law and keep the community safe?
He recommends being as well prepared as possible for the recruitment process by attending Victoria Police information sessions and using the information on the force’s careers page.
“Believe in yourself. It’s a challenging but rewarding career,” Scott says.
