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LIFE SKILLS & LIFE EXPERIENCE TIPS AND HINTS

TIPS FOR PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Life skills and experience are important occupational requirements for a police career.

The Position Description for a QPS General Duties police ofcer lists principal responsibilities

such as:

Participating in teamwork

Assisting and supporting other QPS personnel

Delivering public service and support Maintaining positive relationships with the community

Adapting communication strategies to meet client needs

Staying aware of current affairs

Maintaining physical and emotional health

Developing and maintaining ongoing personal performance standards and competence

Utilising appropriate communication, practical and physical skills to protect people from harm or

further casualty

The Key Selection Criteria (KSC) for a QPS General Duties police ofcer also reects the importance of

life skills and life experience. Included are competencies such as personal integrity, emotional stability and

professionalism (KSC1); the ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and members ofthe broader community (KSC3); and effective oral and written communication skills and ability to negotiate and

resolve conict under different situations (KSC7).

Gaining additional life skills and experience is likely to increase your competitiveness in the QPS selection

process because it better equips you with the knowledge and abilities to full the requirements of a General

Duties police ofcer.

The following tips and resources may assist you to gain additional life experience across a range of personal,

family, social and community, educational, occupational, recreational, and spiritual/religious areas of life:

Join a volunteer, charity or non-prot organisation.

Organisations such as St Vincents de Paul, Lifeline, the Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, Rotary Australia and

other community organisations offer opportunities for personal growth.

According to Volunteering Queensland, by becoming a volunteer you can play an important role in

encouraging, recognising, promoting and advocating for disadvantaged people, groups and the community.

Regardless of age, gender, education, socio-economic status, ethnicity or cultural background, volunteering

is an activity in which everybody can be involved.

Visit www.volunteeringqld.org.aufor further information.

Join a community group that encourages you to interact with people from a variety of social,

economic, religious, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.

For example, Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYCs) facilitate and encourage active participationin sporting, recreation, cultural and welfare programs to improve the lives of its members and the

development of local communities.

Further information is available at www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/youth/pcyc/.

Crime Stoppers is also a voluntary community organisation that assists police in the reporting and prevention

of crime.

For further information on Crime Stoppers and how you can volunteer, visit www.qld.crimestoppers.com.au.

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Other community groups relevant to a police career include:

- Queenslands State Emergency Service ......................................(www.emergency.qld.gov.au)

- Rural Fire Service ..............................................................................(www.ruralre.qld.gov.au )

- Queensland Fire and Rescue Service ......................................................(www.re.qld.gov.au)

- Volunteer Marine Rescue Association of Queensland................(www.marinerescueqld.org.au)

- Australian Defence Force (ADF) Army Reserves .............................(www.defencejobs.gov.au)

For a complete listing of Queensland community groups, visit www.communityguide.com.au.

Actively participate in team sports and group recreational activities that allow you to develop

leadership, teamwork and cooperation skills.

Physical activity is important for healthy growth and development, and also adds a new dimension to life by

helping to develop valuable life skills such as cooperation, discipline, respect and tolerance.

To connect with sporting clubs in your area, visit www.ausport.gov.au and www.nprsr.qld.gov.au.

Become a Volunteer in Policing (ViP).

ViPs work at local police establishments to address customer service, community safety and crime

prevention needs in the community.

ViP tasks complement the roles and responsibilities of police ofcers and staff members. Volunteering withthe QPS will provide you with the opportunity to:

- Help police ofcers reduce crime and enhance community safety

- Gain personal satisfaction and sense of pride by doing tasks worthwhile for your community

- Use existing knowledge to help others and gain valuable new skills

- Meet new people, make new friends and get to know your local community

- Gain valuable work experience and improve your employment prospects

Visit www.police.qld.gov.aufor more information on becoming a ViP.

If you have limited work experience, seek out part-time jobs or temporary positions that

offer greater diversity in roles, responsibilities and tasks.

This will allow you to improve your knowledge, skills, abilities and practical experience in the occupational

domain. An online search should provide you with organisations that offer such positions.

Find a new hobby.

Rock climbing, canoeing, bushwalking, dancing, creative arts, learn a foreign language or how to play a

musical instrument can provide you with new skills and develop your potential.

Confront your personal fears.

Engaging in activities or situations that push you beyond your comfort zone will also develop your skills and

potential (e.g. join Toastmasters if you have a fear of public speaking).

Travel locally, nationally or internationally.

Travel often opens your eyes to the world by allowing you to experience new sights, sounds, tastes,

sensations and cultures. Both single day and longer-term trips offer a valuable opportunity to meet different

people and try activities that you would not otherwise experience.

Stay aware of contemporary public issues and current affairs.

Watch the news, listen to radio bulletins and read a variety of books, magazines, newspapers, journal

articles and community newsletters to broaden your knowledge and understanding of local and world events.

Read, read, read!

Reading a variety of ction and non-ction texts will expose you to different social, economic, political,

cultural, ethnic and religious views.