A career with the ABF gives you the opportunity to work in fast-paced, dynamic environments, while developing a career that is both challenging and rewarding. Our officers are operationally focused, uniformed and part of a disciplined law enforcement agency. They patrol our air and seaports, remote locations, mail and cargo centres and Australia’s extended maritime domain. Our officers also perform specialist functions relating to investigation, compliance and immigration detention operations.
Border Force Officers are multi-skilled, mobile, agile and responsive. We look for people who can:
- commit to our values and behaviours, maintaining a high level of integrity and professionalism
- meet and maintain stringent medical and psychometric standards, as fitness, health and mobility are vital to our work
- commit to developing their skills and knowledge
- exercise lawful authority efficiently and appropriately
- meet and maintain high standards of operational readiness
- use critical thinking, sound judgement, and be prepared to take reasonable and necessary actions
- commit to community engagement and protection as well as client service
Our work is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Officers may undertake shift work as part of their role. Busy periods for us tend to align with peak travel periods when higher numbers of people enter and depart Australia, such as school holidays and Australian events. Opportunities for officers to take leave during peak periods may be limited.
To become a Border Force Officer and protect our border and our community, you must be:
- an Australian citizen
- 18 years or older
- able to attain and maintain an Australian Government security clearance and Employment Suitability Clearance
- able to attain and maintain relevant medical and fitness standards.
In addition to the above eligibility requirements, to apply for the Border Force Officer Recruit Traineeship (BFORT) you must:
- be willing to complete Operational Safety Training and be willing to carry and use personal defence equipment, including a firearm, if required
- have completed a Year 12 education, or Year 10 with a trade certificate or Year 10 with a Cert IV and/or equivalent
- be prepared to meet our requirements as outlined below.
To work as a Border Force Officer you will need to:
- be operationally ready (by attaining and maintaining the medical, fitness and psychometric standards required for the role)
- swear the ABF oath or affirmation
- wear a uniform if the position requires
- actively participate in career management (ABF postings and deployments)
- be able to be deployed at short notice across a range of operational domains
You may also be required to complete a working with children or vulnerable persons check.
Medical, fitness and psychometric standards
For general recruitment, you must meet the ABF medical requirements to be deemed operationally ready. You must undergo the ABF Medical Assessment with a suitably qualified medical practitioner, contracted by the Department of Home Affairs, and receive certification that you have the minimum level of health required to safely carry out the duties of a Border Force Officer.
You must also successfully complete the ABF’s Basic Fitness Assessment which will test your upper and lower body strength, core stability and aerobic capacity. A number of our roles require increased medical, fitness and psychological standards. To be recruited to these roles, you will need to successfully complete a Functional Fitness Assessment which will include a test of your flexibility, agility, strength, balance, coordination, power, speed and endurance. These roles include:
We may also require you to undergo periodic re-assessment.
ABF oath or affirmation
You will take an oath or affirmation when you are sworn in as a Border Force Officer. This reaffirms your commitment to uphold our values and behaviours and execute your duties according to law, while upholding our reputation.
