Should I Join The Police?

elarion on 19/05/2026 - 21:50
Last edited 19/05/2026 - 21:56

Hey Guys, so this post is about helping me decide whether I should join the police. Here is some context, I finished school in 2020 with an almost 90 atar and was accepted into the 2nd best uni in Sydney for a double degree covering business and IT. The uni is notorious for being purposely difficult but I didn't know that then. In the few months break between High school and Uni I just let loose and tried to enjoy life within the confines of my house of course. And so the days past January came and went and I was just enjoying my holiday and barely paid any attention to any pre uni prep tasks although I did manage to enroll. So uni started and classes and stuff but I didn't even go and then once I was behind I ended up just failing all my classes that semester by not even trying. So that exact cycle in some ways or others has been going for the past 5 years basically and it is now 2026 and I have only completed about 24 credit points worth of uni. Other than that I have not had any job or any form of self development although I do live a fairly active lifestyle. So, here we are 2026 no one in my family knows my academic success in my degree and right now they are under the impression that I am looking for a job.

Now, so I am now at a almost dead end in my life, I will either somehow magically land a proper job somehow despite not having a degree or I will have to come clean to my parents that I have wasted the last 5 years of my life and need to fresh start which idk man it will cause great shame to them I am sure cause every one we know thinks I've graduated and if I could I would leave the house and run somewhere else but idk man that wouldn't work. So this brings me to a possible way out that my ADHD brain has thought of and was inspired by a friend who is 4 years younger than me who graduated last year from HS and now works in NSW POL.

So, some of you might be in tears right now reading my sad story but let's focus now. Should I or Could I, join the NSW POLICE or AFP?
My preference would be the AFP because I like to think of myself as a fairly intelligent person and smarter than your average Joe cop but beggars can't be choosers. But even NSW police seems to be a fairly good path that promises to vastly improve the trajectory of my life from where I am now. But I need you guys to give me some wisdom man as I don't want to regret it in the future like I am regretting my past right now. I am a fairly resilient person I think as I put myself under immense athletic training in the past and done some fairly intense discipline things and emotionally I am completely stone cold most of the time policing won't really have that psychological toll on me. But what would my parents say hypothetically if I told them I want to join the police tomorrow? I would love any advice you guys can give and I would be happy to answer any questions you guys may have.

I would Love working in the AFP as it would give me the chance to possibly work in a corporate environment which my parents might be more accepting towards I guess. But I have basically unlimited energy to move around all day so even NSW police is a fine pathway for me as long as my life isn't in danger for obvious reasons but I'm no hero anyway so in dangerous situations most of the time I will run the other way. I say that but in real life situations I do end up trying to be a hero so my mileage may vary in staying alive in dangerous situations.

TLDR: I have wasted my past 5 years since completing school doing nothing and now the best option now to catch up in life seems to be to join the police

Poll Options

  • 65
    Join AFP
  • 40
    Join NSW Police
  • 19
    Find a Office Job Somehow
  • 170
    Just keep doing whatever you've been doing
Education & Work

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  • YeemaiI on 19/05/2026 - 22:02

    I ended up just failing all my classes that semester by not even trying.

    I like to think of myself as a fairly intelligent person and smarter than your average Joe

    • 127
    • gooston on 20/05/2026 - 15:46

      Perfect for a general duties cop.

      • 42
      • SarcasticEmu on 20/05/2026 - 16:05

        Come on, there’s a lot more to the badge than just a uniform. OP:

        Do you love a good power trip the second someone questions your authority?

        Do you look at a homeless person or a minority and see a target instead of a human being?

        Are you ready to look the other way when your mates cross the line, protecting the "boys' club" at all costs?

        When you look at a domestic violence offender, do you see a kindred spirit as you beat your own wife?

        Do you enjoy strip searching kids?

        If you're answering "yes" to those kinds of basics, congratulations, the NSW Police Force is looking for exactly your type.

        • 23
        • Jackson on 21/05/2026 - 00:32

          You forgot "when peace protestors put their hands in the air, do you see it as an invitation to pay into them?"

          • 7
        • Wayne7497 on 22/05/2026 - 05:50

          Wow obviously have a wee bias ?

          • 1
    • skillet on 20/05/2026 - 16:02

      Failing in class doesn't mean you fail in life. A lot of people who didn't finish high school cracked the code and became founders of top 500 companies. Follow your heart do something you like, life is short stop wasting time. Get off your ass doing something is better than doing nothing. Being in the police force is a million times better than spraying piss on my windscreen and scraping it with stolen squeegee.

      If you want challenge then Australia is short of tradies. It pays well and suits a young person like you.

      • 13
      • belongsinforums on 22/05/2026 - 20:14

        Who are these 'a lot of people '? Einstein?

        • 0
  • welcomeUniverseWorld on 19/05/2026 - 22:02

    Mate honestly, I reckon you’re being way harder on yourself than you should be. Yeah, you’ve stuffed around for a few years and avoided dealing with it, but that doesn’t mean your life’s cooked. It just means you got stuck and didn’t know how to get yourself out of the hole once things started going downhill.

    And to be fair, your story actually makes sense. You went from school where everything’s structured and people are on your back about deadlines, straight into uni where nobody cares if you show up or disappear. Once you fell behind a bit, the shame probably kicked in hard and every semester became “I’ll sort it out next time.” That happens to heaps of people, they just don’t admit it out loud.

    The main thing is this isn’t really about intelligence. You clearly aren’t stupid. A dumb bloke doesn’t pull a near 90 ATAR. The issue sounds more like motivation, structure, avoidance, maybe ADHD, maybe burnout, maybe all of it mixed together.

    As for police, I actually don’t think it’s a terrible idea at all. In some ways it sounds like the first thing you’ve talked about that genuinely suits the type of person you are. You seem like someone who needs structure, pressure, routine, physical movement, and a clear purpose. Some people are built for open-ended uni life and corporate grad programs. Other people need something more hands-on and disciplined to actually function properly.

    But don’t romanticise it either. It’s still a hard job. Shift work, dealing with deadshits all day, seeing rough stuff, paperwork, stress. And don’t go in thinking you’re emotionally untouchable because everyone thinks that before reality hits them. You can be mentally tough and still get affected by things over time.

    And honestly mate, I think the bigger thing hanging over you isn’t even the career stuff. It’s the lying to your parents and carrying that stress every day. That’s probably draining more energy out of you than anything else. The longer you keep pretending, the worse it gets in your head.

    I genuinely think your life improves the second you stop hiding and start moving forward properly, even if the first conversations are uncomfortable.

    If I was your mate, I’d tell you this:
    Get assessed properly for ADHD if you haven’t already. Get any normal job for a bit just to rebuild confidence and routine. Start sorting your head out. Then seriously look into NSW Police or AFP if it still feels right after that.

    You haven’t ruined your life mate. You’re just finally at the point where you’re sick of drifting and actually want things to change. That’s a good sign, not a bad one.

    • 96
    • TrivagoTeeth on 20/05/2026 - 19:39

      ^ I wondered if someone would touch the potential ADHD.
      I was winning at everything until I actually had to be an adult, and life went to shit, unless I kept shaping things to my way. So marriage kids was a sledgehammer.
      Went for police, smashed all the tests, and got shot down in the interview. They said I should get tested, and it's a no.

      Regardless of anything, be kind to yourself. Life doesn't just magically click. It can be a grind, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

      I could've achieved a shitload more than I have (or could I??) and I could've died early, making real mistakes, like others unfortunately have.

      Life is complicated.

      • 9
      • welcomeUniverseWorld on 23/05/2026 - 16:27

        My son has Autism Level 2. I have ADHD. I know. I feel it inside me. I think I masked all my life. Recently, I started to try to be what I want to be… and am becoming happier

        • 2
        • TrivagoTeeth on 23/05/2026 - 18:13

          Medication made a big change for me, then made it worse. Changed medication twice. It's really good now, but there isn't anyone at work that hasn't called me rain man, either in a warm or a hateful way.

          I know exactly what they're referring to. Things have slowed down enough to pull SO much from the depths. I didn't realise how much was back there. And by all accounts… "No, that's not normal".

          I could look into a further diagnosis, but not sure of the benefit. Life is good & stable, finally. Employment, family & I are stable. First time in 30-odd years I've stayed employed somewhere for 2yrs.

          I only share this, hoping to helps others. Never said it out loud. Particularly now that "everyone has ADHD now… Everyone is on the spectrum now" etc I beg to blend in, be "normal".

          • 1
  • ozwog05 on 19/05/2026 - 21:53

    If you can't join them, let them beat you. Or something like that.

    • 82
  • freefall101 on 19/05/2026 - 22:08

    I did a similar thing 20+ years ago, thought I was super smart, straight A student up until to uni, turns out you can't wing university. Actually, very similar, double degree in IT and business. Hi, junior me. My main advice is - don't think being smart will get you anywhere.

    My recommendation - don't try mirror someone else because it feels like a way out without fixing the root problem. You need to actually focus and work hard on something, because if you don't, you'll just keep pulling the same excuse out forever. For me that was doubling down on my degree with a heavy courseload to get it done, taking a shit job to build a career, somehow wound up in big 4 audit in another country and things worked out well from there. For you it might look very different, but IMO take the hard road.

    I never sorted out that ADHD thing though, I wish I did that.

    • 23
    • toomuchdogfur on 20/05/2026 - 10:12

      I have the same story… also with a business and IT double degree. Is this a cursed combo?

      In my case it took me 7 years and dropping the business component entirely to graduate uni. I struggled hardcore with the accounting major I picked, so in the end I graduated with just an IT degree, as I ended up moving completed units from business to fulfil it.

      Which sounds awful, but the context is that I got a job in the IT industry halfway through the degree, so I dropped down to part-time uni. By the time I got to 7 years of studying, I had 3 years of industry experience, so it made sense just to wrap up the one degree and focus on work rather than chip away on the remainders of a business degree that I hated.

      So it does suck to lose time, but it's very far from the end of the world. Take the chance to realign to figure out what you really want to do. If that happens to be AFP/Police then sure, but don't do it because you think you have no more options!

      • 9
      • Benno007 on 21/05/2026 - 20:11

        Interesting to see the different strokes or ADHD/Autism.

        I did well at school and then barely needed to attend my business/IT degree to pass/do well. Hyperfocus but not perfectionism, good memory, high pattern recognition and high injustice sensitivity.

        My brother on the other hand struggled at uni, did a few things, then came back, didn’t like it, but pivoted to a masters to make some use of his existing subjects. He then got diagnosed with ADHD and has been so much better when he’s on the medication he says.

        I hired people in uni when I had finished, and gave them letters to give them course credit, I think I got people out of about 4 subjects total because they’d completed all the learning objectives on the job.

        • 0
      • tikei on 22/05/2026 - 09:32

        Another business/IT ex-student here! I ended up dropping the IT component and graduated with only a credit average. I was a high achiever in high school but the lack of prodding in uni and my lack of motivation made me average now 😭
        I do think OP should find something with disciple and structure. Uni is clearly not for him.. just find a job in something. If it's a bad fit, changing jobs is better than wasting more time and money on uni.

        I heard TAFE feels like school? Maybe do a trade? I know people with degrees who ended up being tradies and are making big bucks.

        • 0
    • Perth027 on 21/05/2026 - 13:49

      This is really good advice for the OP. They need to focus inwards, reflect and be honest with themselves as to why they are here. If they truly think that joining NSW Pol is their true calling, then go for it, but don't do it if you just see it as an easy way out of this situation.

      Chances are if you don't sort out your shit, you might flunk police academy too, or have some big f*** up at work as a junior. Get help if you need to, there is a lot of councelling offered at uni (both career and mental health) I wish I made more use of.

      • 0
    • Donmega123 on 21/05/2026 - 13:57

      Man as an adult it's no free pass and can be a disaster in and of itself. My brother in law torpedoed his marriage taking more dexies and vyanse than he was meant to all the while rabbiting on about being neurotypical.

      • 0
  • Wiadro on 19/05/2026 - 22:21

    AFP is boring, unless you like walking around airports, shipping terminals, standing around when international dignitaries come, etc. It's 5 years until you can move into a role which is more exciting eg investigations, international work etc.

    NSW Police is more fun, you are in GD's for 3 years and then can move into different roles (if the region commander allows) where you stay for a minimum for 3 years,
    Those 3 years can be boring or heaps of fun, if you like getting out and hunting for crooks you have fun, or you can go to a PAC/LAC which doesn't get much action and its boring at times. theres alot of DV and disturbance work, you see and interact with alot of stiffs (dead bodies), if you dont leave your work at work, it can affect your personal life greatly so you need to know when to turn off or ask for support/help/counseling.
    Once you complete your 3 years, you can move into any role you are qualified for in NSW Police. This can include HWP, PORS, CUI, TOU, PCT, PTS, MAC and many more, plus many desk-job investigation roles.

    Rather than asking a forum go see your local station (call ahead) speak to the sarg or maybe the PAC/LAC Commander might be there to have a chat, dont give them the sob story they dont care, but they can give you some idea of the work you would be doing.

    Also be fit to submit if you do apply.
    lots of info on their Youtube

    • 19
    • geosta on 21/05/2026 - 09:16

      This is excellent advice. The only thing I add is to reinforce the mental health aspect of the job - it is bloody tough work, dealing with really crappy parts of society for long stretches of your day. You need to be very resilient mentally, but also have the strength of character to put your hand up when you're struggling. If you can do that, then you can make a really rewarding career in the police. Good luck young person!

      • 1
  • pegaxs on 19/05/2026 - 22:30

    Do you like working 12~14+ hour days?
    Like not knowing where in the state you are going to be shipped?
    Like being spat on, yelled at, verbally abused for just doing your job?
    Like living in a major city for the next few years for maximum rent?
    Like not knowing what your employment pathway looks like or how long it’s going to take?
    Like being brainwashed to not trust anyone around you?
    Like doing long long hours of nothing but just paperwork and more paperwork?
    Like a toxic workplace environment?
    Like working night shift?
    Like spending the rest of your life living with PTSD?

    I’m not suggesting that you don’t join, hell, give it a crack, but just realise that you need to do some research on what the job actually entails. I have lots of ex-copper friends and almost all of them are (fropanity) up in some way.

    It takes a special kind of person to be a copper, and it seems that there are not enough of the good ones and too many bad ones.

    It isn’t a job you have to do for the rest of your life, and I say have a go. I did the same thing years ago when I left being a mechanic and went and worked at the casino, and it was the best experience ever. You will never know unless you experience it for yourself.

    • 18
    • BewareOfThe Dog on 19/05/2026 - 22:33

      Yes, I have been in some groups with off duty cops, and their can be a great deal of b****ing about colleagues etc.

      • 2
    • Wiadro on 19/05/2026 - 22:37

      It isn’t a job you have to do for the rest of your life, and I say have a go

      You should see how many new recruits leave after 1 year, it's mainly all the young kids thinking it's TikTok videos all day everyday.
      They shouldn't allow 18-year-olds to apply and join; there should be a minimum of 21 years old, but the bosses can't keep the troops

      they are now doing 4 attestations a year from 3, thats how desperate they are to get new recruits.

      • 2
      • MS Paint on 19/05/2026 - 23:03

        Have you enjoyed being a cop?

        • 0
        • Wiadro on 19/05/2026 - 23:05

          never been one, worked with them though for a lot of years.
          still have many cop mates

          • 0
    • juki on 20/05/2026 - 19:00

      hey that sounds like my job at the hospital. I'm quite sure most cops i've met recently have all been irish :D

      the adults i meet that dont like law enforcement are usually some sort of eternal teenager that act tough out of insecurity and get upset when you give them instructions

      • 0
    • p1 ama on 20/05/2026 - 23:28

      I did the same thing years ago when I left being a mechanic and went and worked at the casino, and it was the best experience ever.

      What did you like about working at the casino?

      • 0
  • singlemalt72 on 20/05/2026 - 09:24

    If you cannot dedicate yourself to even showing up to classes I don't think a procedural occupation like police work is really going to suit you.

    • 12
  • holdenmg on 20/05/2026 - 06:25

    The Police disbanded in 1984…

    • 8
  • djones145 on 20/05/2026 - 08:10

    ymra eht nioj
    ymra eht nioj

    • 8
  • thisusernameistaken on 20/05/2026 - 00:16

    First of all, I want to start off by saying good job on acknowledging the situation that you're in and wanting to change it. That's half the battle. Yes, you may have lost a lot of valuable time and don't have much to show for it but try not to focus on the past. I'm sure you've heard the quote, "The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago, the second best time is today".

    Your problem right now is that you current identity (studying at uni) isn't working for you.

    Apply for the police job but don't fall back into your old ways while you wait or if you aren't accepted. I'd imagine that the application process will take months and that's valuable time. You don't want to let "applying for police work" to become your new identity. Instead, you should be striving to grow into a responsible disciplined adult.

    I encourage you to watch this video as it's a cautionary tale of what happens if you continue doing not much: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjfClL6nogo

    • 7
  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 20/05/2026 - 07:01

    When Marge told me she was going to the police academy I thought it would be fun and exciting, like that movie, Spaceballs! But instead it's been painful and disturbing like that movie Police Academy.

    • 7
    • Gunnar on 20/05/2026 - 12:27

      Why do you think I took you to see all those Police Academy movies? For fun? Well I didn’t hear anyone laughing. Did you?

      • 3
      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 20/05/2026 - 12:29

        Except for that guy who makes sound effects!

        .. where was I? Oh yeah. STAY OUT OF MY BOOZE!

        • 0
  • tsunamisurfer on 20/05/2026 - 12:27

    If you are willing to lie to your parents for 5 years about your academic failures, would you pass the character test for police?

    • 7
    • AustriaBargain on 20/05/2026 - 12:55

      I think that's one of the requirements actually. A level of tolerance for casual corruption is absolutely a requirement in the public service in Australia.

      • 9
      • tsunamisurfer on 20/05/2026 - 13:06

        That's what the cynical part of me was originally thinking when typing my response.

        • 0
        • AustriaBargain on 20/05/2026 - 13:13

          I couldn't navigate the system I think. At any time you could be expected to do something you know is unethical or illegal, against all the policies and procedures the service says it stands for. But you could be the change you want to see, if you're tough enough to be a 100% honest cop and not get sidelined for it. Could make you unpopular, could be stressful.

          What about being an ambulance officer. No need to even manage corruption, the qualification is relatively easy compared to being a qualified paramedic. The job is a reason to stay or get fit. Everyone will respect you, more than being a cop anyway. Job won't be completely automated in your working lifetime. Guys in uniform look good too.

          • 0
          • ssfps on 20/05/2026 - 14:19

            @AustriaBargain: Impossible to be a 100% honest and ethical cop, since they're job is essentially to use violence for the government's purposes, and our government and laws aren't honest and ethical.

            • -1
      • Some Random Guy on 20/05/2026 - 13:55

        Especially for NSW Police. The most corrupt of them all

        • 0
        • Porker on 20/05/2026 - 14:32

          Victoria could give you a good race to the bottom.

          • 0
      • ssfps on 20/05/2026 - 14:20

        Came to post this, glad to see OPs strengths getting identified.

        • 0
  • p1 ama on 20/05/2026 - 11:48

    Now, so I am now at a almost dead end in my life, I will either somehow magically land a proper job somehow despite not having a degree or I will have to come clean to my parents that I have wasted the last 5 years of my life and need to fresh start which idk man it will cause great shame to them I am sure cause every one we know thinks I've graduated and if I could I would leave the house and run somewhere else but idk man that wouldn't work. So this brings me to a possible way out that my ADHD brain has thought of and was inspired by a friend who is 4 years younger than me who graduated last year from HS and now works in NSW POL.

    This logic doesn't make much sense to me - what you've basically concluded is that the options are (i) run away somewhere, or (ii) become a police officer?

    What about all of the other options? For example, you could go back and finish your degree, or you could work in a multitude of different jobs that don't require a qualification. If you can talk to people, then I'd look into customer support roles, or get an entry-level personal banking job at one of the big banks.

    If you're active and fit, you could consider logistics and warehouse jobs. You could look into the trades, and look into an apprenticeship.

    There are lots of options out there. If you want to become a police officer, I think that's great and you should pursue it (obviously noting all of the other points brought up here on why it's a challenging career). However, I definitely wouldn't become a police officer just because you can't think of anything else to do. It's not a career that I'd go into without consideration.

    Even if you want to stay within emergency services, I'd suggest becoming a firefighter - not that there's no issues in that line of work, but I know a few firies and cops, and invariably, the cops are pretty messed up whilst the firies are pretty chill.

    My preference would be the AFP because I like to think of myself as a fairly intelligent person and smarter than your average Joe cop but beggars can't be choosers. But even NSW police seems to be a fairly good path that promises to vastly improve the trajectory of my life from where I am now. But I need you guys to give me some wisdom man as I don't want to regret it in the future like I am regretting my past right now. I am a fairly resilient person I think as I put myself under immense athletic training in the past and done some fairly intense discipline things and emotionally I am completely stone cold most of the time policing won't really have that psychological toll on me. But what would my parents say hypothetically if I told them I want to join the police tomorrow? I would love any advice you guys can give and I would be happy to answer any questions you guys may have.

    To be honest, if your attitude is that you're "smarter than your average Joe cop", it's probably not the right profession for you.

    Even if you're right, it'll just lead to you feeling that you're going to work with a bunch of idiots, which I don't think is good for your happiness nor your career. You're better off going into a profession where you feel that your colleagues are worth respecting, and are on your level.

    • 6
  • BewareOfThe Dog on 19/05/2026 - 22:14

    Are they reforming, and what instrument are you playing?
    ;)

    • 5
    • BewareOfThe Dog on 19/05/2026 - 22:18

      Seriously though, the Police is not for everybody. I looked at joing the Police 10 years ago, but I was worried about my Physical Fitness. Maybe, the Armed Forces, might be an avenue?

      • 4
      • elarion on 19/05/2026 - 22:24

        Physical fitness is a non-issue, I run sub 25 min 5ks consistently, can swim fairly well and could play for the Australian Cricket Team tomorrow if needed with my left arm orthodox and front foot defence

        • -7
        • BewareOfThe Dog on 19/05/2026 - 22:32

          I wish you all the best OP. There are plenty of opportunities in defence.
          In regards to the Police, you don't want to end up at Moree etc.

          I have a former school colleague who became a Fed, and he ended up in the NT. I haven't been in contact with him for a while, but he seemed to enjoy it.

          • 1
          • tenpercent on 20/05/2026 - 11:32

            @BewareOfThe Dog:

            In regards to the Police, you don't want to end up at Moree etc.

            In regards to defence, you don't want to end up in Iran etc.

            • 5
            • brendanm on 20/05/2026 - 18:33

              @tenpercent: Don't you want to die for Israel?

              • 1
              • BeoWulf on 20/05/2026 - 20:28

                @brendanm: Rather Israel than the other group that worships the 7th century warlord devil figure. Unfortunately, most people are too naive to connect the dots.

                • -1
  • Nillionaire on 19/05/2026 - 22:32

    Are you under the impression you can't land a non-police office job without a degree or professional experience? You can.

    • 5
  • TheMindsetTraveller on 19/05/2026 - 23:28

    Apart from your younger friend, who is now a police officer, are there any other reasons you think this might be a good path?

    In a past life, I used to do workers' compensation for the police and the things they went through was pretty terrifying (and a few posters above have mentioned how some ended up with 'a few missing screws' once they left the force). Sure things have improved from the days where you were told to have a drink at the pub after a serious incident, and told to come in the next day because you're a man and your supposed to be tough, but now there are new sets of challenges.

    On another tangent, an easier path in the short term would be to sign up to some recruitment agencies that can help you secure temporary or contract-based roles, consider government roles, as most entry-level roles require nothing to get in. You might end up there permanently, and most folks earning upwards of $100k per year, usually stay there until retirement because skill level requirement is low, and workplace flexibility is high. Zero room for career progression, and you will never reach self-actualisation, and probably regret working there for xx years.

    • 5
  • DingoBilly on 19/05/2026 - 22:28

    Are you taking meds/seeing a psych for the ADHD? Might be you need someone to help you focus/talk through some things.

    Coming clean to family would also help. They can help talk it through with you and/or may be able to help with some of the above.

    • 4
    • nsta8487 on 21/05/2026 - 09:24

      Unless the parents are absolutely daft, they have to be aware OP is failing uni. They've never wondered when the graduation ceremony was or why they didn't get invited and there are no pictures?

      • 0
  • mskeggs on 20/05/2026 - 14:24

    If you think the cops is an easy way out, I don't think you will be successful there. I feel like the force can deal with all levels of ability in people who are committed, but I don't think that applies to people who just think it is a bit beneath them, but an easy ride.
    I didn't really know what I wanted to do when I left school, and uni was a place to mature a bit.
    Well, you've had some time to mature a bit and it looks like you recognise you need to do something. I'd suggest applying for some jobs now, whether or not you apply to the cops.
    Get a bit of experience in an office, and you might hate it, or in a warehouse or something. You'll be in a better position to know what might be a good job then.

    • 4
  • 82norm on 20/05/2026 - 23:28

    He’s a tip. Grow up ffs.

    • 4
  • Benoffie on 20/05/2026 - 15:37

    I haven't read the rest of the posts but I'll give you the same advice I gave one of my Year 12 students who was super keen on the AFP. This is from actual real knowledge - family members have served in state and federal policing for decades and we still have many friends in both.

    AFP - do not join the AFP thinking you're going to not be a beat cop.
    1 - All AFP police, with very rare exceptions, end up as ACT police. That's it. So unless you have a real love of Canberra and street policing, think hard about this
    2 - the pay, for the work, is not any better than state. In fact, many state forces (and certainly agencies you could move into later) pay much better with less issues
    3 - moving to plain clothes is a process that takes a) time b) qualifications beyond an undergraduate degree c) actual talent d) recommendations
    4 - the AFP is a highly political organisation that, if you pi$$ off the wrong person/s, it will ruin you. There's no 'AFP Brotherhood' - there's just cliques

    State - obviously each state force is different. If you were in Victoria, I would have a much more negative opinion but being in NSW, the options are much greater
    1 - yes, same beat cop routine and like other states, I have no doubt the NSW Police will require a country stint. Most state police refuse to send people back to their home towns.
    2 - the pay, when you factor in allowances, shift penalties etc is likely superior to the AFP. In most states, the base is now quite high. As it should be.
    3 - moving to a specialist field is still an option and generally speaking, progression in state policing is much more transparent. Will you have to wait your turn? Sure. Do you still need qualifications? Of course Will you need recommendations? Absolutely. But I haven't seen a state police force hide this.
    4 - yes, state police forces have the same office politics and douches as anyone. But state police tend to be much more protective of each other. You know, they'll actually have BBQs together, or look after each other's kids, that sort of thing.

    • 3
    • p1 ama on 20/05/2026 - 23:20

      But state police tend to be much more protective of each other. You know, they'll actually have BBQs together, or look after each other's kids, that sort of thing.

      The reason for this is because the state police forces have much stronger unions than the AFP, which basically has a non-existent union that does next to nothing for its members.

      • 0
      • Benoffie on 21/05/2026 - 00:14

        100% and obviously that has its pros and cons from the public perspective. But from a member perspective, it's a real positive.

        • 0
  • bigbadboogieman on 22/05/2026 - 07:58

    Join the Army. What you need is discipline in life.

    • 3
    • GourmetFoodie on 23/05/2026 - 13:27

      not a bad idea. i agree he needs discipline big time. any structured job will provide this. so he's on the right track with police. army could be very good too.

      • 0
  • Overclocked91 on 20/05/2026 - 07:10

    Enjoy your 20s but on the other end, need to work hard to setup for the future. You can do both.

    I did my apprenticeship as soon as i left school. Qualified at 21. Then went to UWA when i was 26 studied a Bachelors in Human Anatomy and Physiology. Got accepted into Optometry in Canberra then dropped the whole thing. Went back to the trade.

    Went to Europe twice and partied all of my 20s. In my 30s i couldn't think of doing anything worse but the times have changed.

    I strongly recommend getting a decent qualification (trade-Electrical or Plumbing) or degree under your belt as a fail safe (law, economics, finance, medicine). Once complete, let your hair down and do as you wish. You seem pretty switched on and to be honest could get a job with the Police at anytime.

    • 2
    • MS Paint on 20/05/2026 - 08:11

      You seem pretty switched on

      Smarter than the average Joe. Apparently.

      • 6
    • Wiadro on 20/05/2026 - 08:53

      Went to Europe twice and partied all of my 20s. In my 30s i couldn't think of doing anything worse but the times have changed.

      same, i went to Europe like 5 times in my 20's and now i think all the typical European cities are the worst places ever.
      Paris, Amsterdam, London, Rome i feel are all shit now

      • 0
  • SlickMick on 20/05/2026 - 09:40

    As already mentioned, the ADF would be good for you.

    Firstly, they offer many civilian-equivalent roles, plus many specialist ones, and thier application process helps guide you to something suitable.
    Secondly, they teach some life skills that you're currently obviously lacking.

    I could be wrong, but I expect the police recruitment might be unimpressed with your history. The ADF don't care, they will fix you.(Well, break you or fix you.)

    I've seen the ADF fix a few people who weren't good at life.

    • 2
  • Boioioioi on 20/05/2026 - 13:09

    Funnily enough I did a very similar thing, down to the part about not telling my family also.

    What I did: Decided to take uni seriously and focus, forget the bad grades in the past just focus on finishing eventually. While at Uni I got an internship, my bad grades didnt stop me here. (you may think you need good grades for this but many companies dont care, they are more so looking for good attitude and someone smart)

    Then I worked hard at said internship where I continued working, I started making good money and got a great career now in IT.

    Everything worked out pretty quickly within 12 months of me deciding to sort things out. I reckon you are being too harsh on yourself, sure police is an option but it is not the only option.

    In your shoes I would just focus on doing whatever you do; well.

    • 2
  • jv on 20/05/2026 - 14:10

    Should I Join The Police?

    Is your name Roxanne ?

    • 2
    • tenpercent on 20/05/2026 - 18:51

      Roxanne

      You don't have to put on your headlights.

      • 2
      • jv on 20/05/2026 - 23:23

        Rock sand, you don't have the foot on the red light…

        • 0
    • Cheap Gamer on 24/05/2026 - 12:41

      Broadband, you don't have to blink your red light.

      • 0
  • liability on 20/05/2026 - 20:10

    Having been in both NSW and AFP, if you want to join a police force go with NSW. Far more posting/promotional opportunities.

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  • airtime on 20/05/2026 - 20:47

    First, you need to honest to your parents and family. Hiding this will only make the hurt and pain worse as time passes. You said you haven't had a job but your comment history demostrates a fairly well-off lifestyle, you don't seem short of money. So if you've been truthful here on OzBargain, it means apart from lying to your family, you've been happy to leech off them as well.

    You also seem to be working on the assumption that AFP or NSW Police would actually accept you - given your attitude demonstrated in this thread, I would suggest that isn't a given.

    1) Talk with family and come clean - that will be painful for a few months perhaps, but will help a lot going forward. While its often not so obvious at a young age, your family can often end up being all you have when times get really tough - show them some respect, then show them over time you can re-earn their trust
    2) Consider other vocations. If you are as fit and sporty as you claim, unable to stay still, why not consider something an occupation focused on physical fitness and activity
    3) If uni hasn't kicked you out yet, or even if they have, talk with them to defer your studies, having a place to go back to may be valuable to you in a year or two
    4) Set small, short term achievable goals and work towards them. Start with daily goals, then weekly, then something a month off - get some wins under your belt before stepping up a teir

    • 2
  • mauricem on 20/05/2026 - 23:11

    Don't you need a degree for entry to AFP? Apart from the physical risk in state policing it can definitely mess with your psyche. Having to deal with the bottom 5?% of society most of the time many police get burnt out and become extremely cynical about non police. I worked police rounds for a major metro newspaper back in the day and got to know a lot of the higher profile guys and man did they have to deal with some shocking scenes, no wonder they drank so much and were all on 2nd or 3rd marriages.

    • 2
  • serpserpserp on 20/05/2026 - 23:14

    accepted into the 2nd best uni in Sydney

    You poor thing ending up at UNSW

    • 2
  • onceupon8 on 21/05/2026 - 09:13

    I'm not sure you would get accepted to the police force with your lack of life/work experience. I know a young person who made it some way through the police recruitment process and was told to come back in several years after getting more life and work experience. You could always try though and it would give you a goal to come back to if the same happened for you. If you do fail or decide against the police, it's time for you to grow up and get a job. Your ATAR doesn't mean much except for getting into university.

    • 2
  • Cheap Gamer on 22/05/2026 - 12:34

    Which character from Police Academy best describes you? Mahoney, Jones, Hightower, Tackleberry, Zed, or Sweetchuck.

    • 2
    • elarion on 22/05/2026 - 13:40

      The character that best describes me is Milo Minderbinder from Catch 22.

      • 0
      • Muppet Detector on 22/05/2026 - 13:42

        That wasn't the question.

        • 1
        • elarion on 22/05/2026 - 13:44

          You'll have a hard time finding 23 year olds who have watched police academy mate

          • 1
          • Muppet Detector on 22/05/2026 - 13:49

            @elarion: Can't follow instructions and can't use google. Yeah nah, you need to be choosing a career where you won't be given a gun.

            • 4
            • Kayrhcp on 23/05/2026 - 09:20

              @Muppet Detector: Absolutely savaged lmao

              • 2
              • Muppet Detector on 23/05/2026 - 12:59

                @Kayrhcp: Those sorts of answers are indications that a person doesn't want to (or can't) work as part of a team.

                There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but these types of occupations tend to value teamwork (and morality) quite heavily.

                Furthermore, they don't just give you multiple choice questions to practise at school so that you don't have to do very much writing.

                • 2
  • Bobss on 24/05/2026 - 07:26

    My advice would be DO NOT join the police. As an organisation, they will treat you as expendable because that is the nature of large organisations. You are simply a replaceable cog in a machine that will ground you down. They have high rates of PTSD, compassion fatigue, and psychological injuries. I don't know where you are, but in NSW, police officers are exposed to significant amounts of secondary traumatic stress, and frequently to trauma. There are a lot of compensation claims for this reason - 75% of NSW Police compensation costs are for psychological injury claims. And when you make legitimate claims, you will be ground down by the process of making a claim. All this chronic stress will affect your long-term health, your sleep and your relationships.

    Then if you have any integrity, you will be placed under pressure to lie to support your co-workers, even if you see wrongdoing. Perhaps a third report having felt betrayed by a manager, colleague, or systems/people in their organisations over 50 times during their career. You will be told by superiors to take no action or to respond inappropriately, even when you see wrongdoing or crimes committed. There have been substantial public allegations of current and historical instances of misconduct, bullying and sexual harassment within the NSW Police, so much so that they've been forced to conduct a review.

    But don't take my word for it - read the following and do some further research for yourself:

    https://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/our-work/reports/the-mental-hea…
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5KubaaDkEQ&t=19
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-11/nsw-police-auditor-ge…
    https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/resource-library/whs-researc…

    • 2
    • tenpercent on 02/06/2026 - 08:54

      It almost sounds like it's effectively a branch of some large and well established organised crime syndicate. Most members probably have no idea.

      • 0
  • Gunnar on 20/05/2026 - 09:37

    because I like to think of myself as a fairly intelligent person and smarter than your average Joe cop

    And

    Physical fitness is a non-issue, I run sub 25 min 5ks consistently, can swim fairly well and could play for the Australian Cricket Team tomorrow if needed with my left arm orthodox and front foot defence

    Yet here you are talking about your 90 ATAR, living the life of someone who peaked in high school.

    You’ve got a lot to work through OP, including the expectations you and others have of you (and not living up to them)

    If you didn’t come across as so arrogant you may get people actually wanting to help you

    • 1
    • tenpercent on 20/05/2026 - 09:43

      Yet here you are talking about your 90 ATAR, living the life of someone who peaked in high school.
      …
      If you didn’t come across as so arrogant you may get people actually wanting to help you

      I don't think it came across as arrogant. I assumed it was included for context. I.e. I was doing pretty well (e.g. ATAR) but then I fell off the rails (e.g. failing uni courses).

      • 6
    • xrayed giraffe on 22/05/2026 - 12:28

      I think it's this kind of arrogance that mean he'd fit in perfectly with the police force.
      Obviously it's not the type of person populations should want as a police officer, but they'd fit in

      • 0
  • weezlebub on 20/05/2026 - 10:55

    Any chance you're drinking too much?
    - ADHD peoples turn to alcohol
    - Alcohol kills the motivation of ADHD people
    - ADHD people waste a few years

    Cut back on the booze, get your sleeping patterns in order, see how you go with one more semester.

    Maybe chat with police recruitment, see if you can join with a specialisation where they'll support your degree (or another) or similarly, with the military.

    AFP sounds boring

    Why not wait for the next intake for ASIO? the process is pretty full on, but if you're smart enough, it could be fun (I went through 5 rounds of interviews, then got a job that paid better so never went down that path)

    • 1
    • juki on 20/05/2026 - 19:05

      out of curiosity what sort of qualities interest ASIO ? 5 rounds of interviews seems like a lot of trouble

      • 0
      • weezlebub on 21/05/2026 - 11:22

        it was basically an IQ test and background check for most of them … the fun one was towards the end where we were put into a room and given 4 pages of newspaper clippings and asked to write a summary of the local factors that might be of interest - in 45 minutes … that was actually quite fun

        • 2
  • trustnoone on 20/05/2026 - 11:59

    I unno bro. Feels like your depressed and you have no "north star" or specific thing you really want to do, so your having trouble with studies because your doing it because you were told to instead of doing it for your own fulfillment for yourself. And as such you turn to the other growth and fulfillment in your life and thats your fitness stuff.

    But your realising you can't do that forever (also uni wont let you) so your looking at joining anything for a job, not because you have a job you really want to do but because of ease and because of your parents opinion. And that maybe in that job you'll find something you enjoy like the AFP corp life.

    IMO, if your still in uni use that to get free counseling/therapy I know your not super depressed but at least to get a second opinion and be able to talk about this to someone that you can't talk to your family about.

    If possible ask yourself what you actually see yourself doing/enjoying as a career/life it will make this process easier (even if you don't go that direction) so you aren't picking "AFP because then I can get in coporate so that my parents will be accepting" but instead "I think I'll enjoy this because then I get to do ….."

    If your still in uni I'd suggest looking for internships etc, because while at uni your a "student studying" so companies see that as potential and then once you have experience the uni studies matter less. But if your already out, then its harder to find roles against those with experience & degree.

    That doesn't mean don't do police/AFP but understand your doing it not because you want to but because you feel its an easier pathway for a job and once in you'll still need to find "that thing you actually enjoy or want to do day to day". It will be a lot easier if you genuinely figure it out now, even if you still choose AFP you can go in saying "I love IT and business, and want to use my skills to help the police force to make things safer, I'd love to work in the corporate environment figuring things out to help those in the front lines". Or something similar that resonates with you, it will also help when you interview.

    • 1
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