Fifteen new constables have graduated from the Tasmania Police Academy at Rokeby, with seven of them heading straight to Launceston.
Recruit Course 2/2026 has been welcomed it ranks, made up of 10 men and five women aged between 19 and 41.
The new officers will start at Hobart, Bellerive, Glenorchy, Launceston and Burnie stations from next week.
They come from a mix of past careers, including a travel advisor, a legal receptionist, a project manager and a barista.
Commissioner Donna Adams and Commander Jo Stolp attended the ceremony to congratulate them.
Stolp said the group had finished an intense 28-week course and was ready to start work.
“Graduation day is obviously a significant milestone for our recruits and these are the early days of their longer and rewarding journey with Tasmania Police and working to build stronger communities,” she said.
Benjamin George, 19, of Hobart, was named Dux of the Course. Taiye Whiting was runner-up.
George previously worked in customer service and will be based at Hobart.
“The last seven months have been hard, lots of hard work, but it’s really rewarding and feels like a massive achievement to reach this point,” he said.
“I’m starting on shift next week and I’m pretty keen to get stuck in and just start learning as much as I can.”
Abby Rees, 30, of Devonport, will be posted to Burnie.
“I’m really, really proud to be a part of the blue team now and to have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the community,” she said.
“It’s a lot of hard work being away from family and friends for that 28 weeks, but I feel extremely happy and extremely proud, to be where I am today.”
Police Minister Felix Ellis said the graduates would boost the frontline at the state’s 24-hour stations.
He said the government was also backing officers through a 12-month trial of tasers, involving up to 110 officers across the state.
Around 70 have already finished the training.
“Our taser trial complements our rollout of metal detection wands, which is helping to detect weapons in our community before they lead to tragedy,” he said.
“Our police on the beat put their lives on the line every day they go to work and these investments will give them greater confidence to go about their day and keep Tasmanians safe.”
Nineteen constables graduated from the academy in July and 21 in February.
