Video transcript
Dr Jomini Chong: Hi, I'm Dr Jomini Chong, the Senior Police Medical Officer at Victoria Police.
Jacqui Brown: And I'm Jacqui Brown, the Senior Occupational Health Nurse. Together, we manage the medical gateway for Victoria Police applicants.
This video runs through exactly what the medical gateway is, what's required when submitting your application and common mistakes to avoid.
Dr Jomini Chong: We'll also go through how you can get more information prior to submitting your application.
Working in Victoria Police is fast-paced and can be both physically and mentally demanding.
Police officers are required to use operational equipment, including firearms, and there are situations where you may be required to drive at high speeds and outside regular road laws. To make sure our officers can perform these duties safely and effectively, all applicants must meet specific medical standards.
The medical gateway helps us assess your medical fitness and readiness for the role.
The medical guidelines
Jacqui Brown: Before applying, it's crucial to consult our medical guidelines which outline the requirements for various conditions.
The guidelines give you an idea of what reports and tests are needed for your medical assessment. This includes conditions such as asthma, physical injuries including fractures and dislocations, eyesight issues, or chronic conditions like diabetes or ADHD.
For example, if you have or have had asthma in the past, you'll be asked to undergo specialised lung function testing. This helps us determine the risks of certain irritants members may be exposed to in the field.
If you have a condition not covered in the guidelines, or need further clarification, please submit a preliminary enquiry of medical condition form. This allows us to review your condition and provide guidance on your eligibility before you proceed with the full application.
Specific conditions and requirements
Dr Jomini Chong: There are key requirements for common conditions, such as fractures and sprains. While childhood injuries are generally acceptable, severe or recent injuries may require additional orthopaedic reports.
Another is your eyesight, as your vision must meet specific standards without corrective lenses. Applicants with colour blindness will need further testing.
If you use hearing aids, we will need a report confirming their effective use.
A general consideration for all conditions and treatments is a period of stability. This is usually around 12 months, but depending on the condition or your treatment, may be longer or shorter.
Conditions like epilepsy need a neurologist report showing stability without seizures for 10 years.
For Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis, reports from a specialist are necessary to confirm that your condition is manageable without severe complications.
The medical assessment process
Jacqui Brown: The assessment process begins with a comprehensive review of your medical history, followed by specific tests such as hearing, vision and cardiovascular assessments.
If you've recently undergone surgery, or had a severe injury, you may need clearance from your specialists.
These evaluations help us determine if your condition is compatible with the physical and mental demands of police work. For example, if you have lower back pain, you may require additional reports from your treating health professionals, such as a physiotherapist, orthopaedic surgeon or sports physician.
Contact with the Medical Advisory Unit
Jacqui Brown: Depending on your conditions, you may be contacted by us to clarify any medical concerns and for further assessments. These consultations allow us to understand your condition in greater detail.
For mental health conditions we assess your treatment plan, stability and ongoing management to make sure your condition is well-controlled in high stress environments. Our aim is to support you, whilst maintaining safety standards.
Medication and additional considerations
Jacqui Brown: Certain medications are not compatible with police roles. For example, blood thinners like Warfarin, or medicinal cannabis.
If you have diabetes, we will need a report from your endocrinologist confirming stable control. Stability is crucial as there is a possibility that while performing policing duties, you may be in a situation where you don't have access to food or access to medication for several hours.
There are no specific height or BMI requirements, but we do consider your overall health and fitness.
Impairments like reduced depth perception may require further evaluation to make sure it is compatible with police duties.
Preparing for your medical assessment
Dr Jomini Chong: To prepare for your medical assessment, gather all relevant medical documents from your GP, specialists and any treating professionals. This helps streamline your assessment and allows us to make accurate decisions on your fitness for duty.
As mentioned previously, submit a preliminary enquiry of medical condition form if you have concerns about a specific condition not covered in the guidelines, so we can review your condition in advance, and provide guidance on your eligibility.
A final tip is that when providing information, please make sure that you provide as much detail as possible. For example, dates, any relevant investigations, and paperwork such as specialist letters or reports. If you're not sure if something is relevant, please still provide it or note it in your application. This includes conditions that you've recovered from.
What if I don't pass?
Jacqui Brown: If your medical assessment does not meet the required standards, it may not be a reflection of your overall health, but rather specific areas relevant to operational policing may need further management, improvement or stabilisation before you can reapply.
We encourage you to maintain your health and continue engaging with your treating specialists to address any highlighted areas.
If your condition or treatment changes or stabilises, you're welcome to contact us with updated information.
The medical gateway is here to make sure all applicants meet the health standards required for these demanding roles. Thorough preparation and understanding of the process will give you the best chance of success.
A key take-home message is to submit a preliminary enquiry before you apply. This will help to shorten the turnaround time in the medical gateway, and hopefully save you some money.
Please remember to submit a complete application, including all relevant medical documents, or your application may not be eligible to progress.
For more details and specific condition requirements please visit police.vic.gov.au and search for "medical guidelines". If you have further questions, or need assistance, reach out to us at the Medical Advisory Unit.
Best of luck with your application and thank you for watching.
Contact the Medical Advisory Unit
Contact the Medical Advisory Unit by:
- emailing recruit-medicalenquiries-mgr@police.vic.gov.au
- calling (03) 8335 5601 (from 8am - 4pm, Monday to Friday).
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