Protective service officer (PSO)

Join the AFP as a Protective service officer

As a protective service officer (PSO), you'll be a frontline defender.

You'll protect important people and key locations, like:

• major airports
• Parliament House in Canberra
• Department of Defence sites across Australia
• Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).

Leave, pay and benefits

What you’ll do

Your day-to-day work of keeping people and places safe makes a difference. If you’re a confident communicator who stays calm under pressure and is passionate about a meaningful career, becoming a protective service officer with the AFP is where your skills and career can shine.  

You could do things like:

• patrol critical infrastructure by vehicle, bike or on foot
• control access to critical sites
• run surveillance and respond to alarms
• engage with the community
• provide static and mobile protection to our diplomatic community
• respond to national security threats.

As your AFP career progresses, you can develop advanced skills, such as:

• canine handling
• drone operation
• maritime operation
• rapid appraisal of hazardous materials
• short-barrelled rifle training
• tactical response.

You'll graduate with a Certificate IV in Protective Services. Use it as credit for extra studies to boost your career.

Apply now