The NT Police Cadet program is an 18-month Vocational Education and Training (VET) program for students commencing Year 11.

The program provides a unique experience for students to experience working in the Emergency Services environment, while gaining tertiary qualifications.

The program can provide employment pathways into NT Police. Cadet graduates are eligible for entry level Public Service recruitment via Cadet Special Measures Priority Consideration.

To apply

Applications for our 2025 Cadet intake open on 1 August 2024, and close on 4 October 2024.

All applications must be supported by the student’s school VET coordinator.

General Cadet program enquires can be sent to cadets.pfes@pfes.nt.gov.au at any time.

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As a NT Police Cadet, you will participate in fun and educational activities such as:

POL21122 - Certificate II in Community Engagement (RTO No. 0384) one day a week at the NTPFES College, each school term.
BSB30120 - Certificate III in Business, Charles Darwin University (RTO No. 0373).
One day a week at the Darwin Campus, each school term.
An outdoor adventure and leadership camp.
A visit to an Indigenous community to learn about cultural and community engagement.
Volunteering at local community events and in local community organisations.
Several work placements including within the NT Police
Several weeks specific to learning the tricks of the trade.

POL21122 - Certificate II in Community Engagement (RTO No. 0384) one day a week, each school term.
BSB30120 - Certificate III in Business, Charles Darwin University (RTO No. 0373).
One day a week at the Alice Springs Campus, each school term.
An outdoor adventure and leadership camp.
A visit to an Indigenous community to learn about cultural and community engagement.
Volunteering with local community organisations.
Several work placements including within the NT Police
Several weeks dedicated to learning the tricks of the trade.

The application process

All applications must be supported by the student’s school VET coordinator.

The application process consists of 3 stages:

Submission of the application form, including all supporting documentation, and a one-page handwritten letter detailing why the applicant wants to become a Police Cadet.
Physical fitness assessment.
Face to face interview with staff from NTPFES and CDU.

Supporting information from the school that must be included with the application form include the applicant’s:

year 10 academic results
discipline history and
attendance record for Semester one in the year of your application submission.

Physical training

Physical training is an important part of the NT Police Cadet program.

Cadets participate in an hour of physical training on each Cadet training day at the Police College or a sporting facility in Alice Springs as well as on camps.

A physical fitness assessment is now part of the Cadet application process and will be conducted around the same time as interviews.

This assessment is based on the standard Police physical fitness assessment undertaken by Police recruits, and includes:

the ‘beep test’
pushups to a cadence and
sit-ups to a cadence.

There is no minimum standard for Cadet applicants (ie no pass or fail).

It’s designed to show instructors the physical ability of each applicant and provide a fitness benchmark for applicants to allow for improvement.

We strongly suggest successful applicants start a physical conditioning program. This will ensure they are at a suitable level of fitness prior to starting their Cadet training in 2025.

During the induction week in February, Cadets will complete the standard Police physical fitness assessment. This will be repeated several times during their Cadet program.

A suggested conditioning program has been developed by our Police physical training instructors specifically for Cadets. It’s designed to gradually increase the applicant’s physical ability in the lead up to starting their Cadet training.