Applying to be a sheriff's officer

Once you’ve decided to become a sheriff’s officer, there are a few things you need to know to about the role before you apply.

Position description

We recommend that you read the position description. 

It will give you an understanding of the expectations and responsibilities of a sheriff’s officer. 

This can help with your application process and give you a sense of the requirements of the job.

Download the position description (External link)

Important information to consider

Integrity

The highest levels of integrity are expected from all employees. In your job application you are required to fully disclose any offences or convictions you have had, regardless of the type of offence or when they happened. It is an important indicator about the level of your integrity that you disclose the information at the start of the process.

Working arrangements

You’ll be required to work an eight-day fortnight. Shifts are around 9 and a half hours in duration and start between 7:00am and 12pm, Monday to Friday.

Uniform

Sheriff’s officers are provided with a uniform that they wear during their shifts.

Staff vaccinations

While it is no longer a mandatory requirement for sheriff’s officers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, all staff are strongly recommended to maintain their vaccination status in line with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommendations.

Application and recruitment process

Online Application
Fill in the online application form.
Tell us about yourself and your employment history.
Upload your resume and confirm your eligibility.
Allow 15 to 30 minutes.

Multiple choice assessment
Complete a basic maths, English and logical reasoning test.
Allow 20 to 30 minutes online.
 

One way video interview 
Attend and pass the video interview.
Tell us about your motivations and what you know about the sheriff’s officer role in a short one-way recorded interview. 
Allow 1 hour online.

Assessment centre
In-person behavioural interview and practical simulation. 
Participate in a role play and an interview with a panel made up of Senior Sheriff’s officers and recruitment team.
This will run for 2 hours and is in person.
 

Security and background checks
Undergo and pass the security and background checks.

All sheriff’s officer appointments are subject to the following checks:

• offence history and Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) (refer to the disclosing offences section below for more information)
• VicRoads information and licence check
• warrant history
• Australian Securities Investments Commission bankruptcy
• conflict of interest
• reference checks
• social media checks
• medical and physical assessment.

You will be asked to disclose some information about yourself so that the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) can determine if your application is suitable.

It is important to provide truthful and accurate information. Failing to declare details or supplying false or misleading information may lead to your application being deemed ineligible.

This may result in:

• an application not proceeding
• any offer of employment being withdrawn
• commenced employment being terminated.

Medical and physical assessment 
Undergo and pass the medical and physical assessments.

We will provide you with a health assessment that will be completed by a third-party medical provider. Being fit for work is important. 

To find out what's involved and the best ways to prepare:

Download the pre-service health assessment fact sheet

Watch our health assessment video (External link)

Director review

All applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis prior to any offers being made.

Verbal offer and additional security checks
Receive verbal offer, and undergo and pass additional security checks.

Declaring and disclosing

Declaring associations and conflicts of interest

You will be asked to declare any association or potential conflict of interest that may affect your ability to fulfil the role.

Disclosing outside employment

You must disclose any other employment you wish to undertake while working as a sheriff’s officer.

Disclosing offences

You tell us about any disclosable criminal offences.

There are certain offences and/or disclosures that may disqualify your application.

For example, if you have:

• served any term of imprisonment
• served a sentence in a youth justice centre (including juvenile justice centre or youth training centre) within the past five years
• been a client supervised by a corrections agency (e.g. a supervised community order or placed in home detention) within the past 10 years
• been found guilty of a sexual offence, a homicide, or a drug trafficking offence
• been involved in a serious property crime, particularly in circumstances posing physical risk or potential risk to victims
• committed any offence against a lawful authority
• committed any offence involving fraud
• been subject to a final intervention order (unlimited timeframe).

There are also several disqualifying offences under the Control of Weapons Act 1990. (External link)

If you have a disclosable offence on your criminal record check

If a disclosable offence appears on your criminal record check, DJCS may seek more information from you.

You may be asked about the nature of the offence, when it occurred and the penalty and any relevant background information.

Your personal information is private

The selection process and all matters relating to it are treated in the strictest confidence. Personal information received during the selection process will be managed in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. (External link)