Victoria Police has confirmed SuniTAFE Mildura as the home of its inaugural regional academy, marking a historic milestone for police training in regional Victoria.
Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has visited Mildura to announce the partnership, which brings together two organisations committed to supporting regional Victoria and creating opportunities for local people.
The academy will commence operations on 18 January 2027, with Victoria Police set to begin moving into and fitting out its leased facilities at the SuniTAFE campus on Benetook Avenue next month.
The academy will provide aspiring police officers from Mildura, the Mallee and surrounding communities with an opportunity to undertake police training closer to home while maintaining connections to their families, support networks and local communities.
Victoria Police selected SuniTAFE as the academy’s home because of its excellent facilities, strong community connections and central location within the region.
Trainers will be deployed from the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley, with support from suitably qualified local police.
The regional academy program has attracted strong interest, with more than 200 applications received when they closed on 17 July.
Victoria Police will soon begin notifying successful applicants for the first expanded squad of up to 30 recruits, with final interviews continuing.
Mildura is the first location in a regional training pilot, with Gippsland confirmed as the next academy site when the academy moves to a new regional location.
Training at Mildura will mirror the 25-week program delivered at the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley.
Recruits will graduate in a local ceremony and be deployed to positions in the Mallee region.
They will receive the same conditions as recruits training in Melbourne.
This includes paid training, nine weeks of annual leave and a wide range of career opportunities across Victoria Police.
For further details on the new academy visit: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/regional-academy.
