Victoria Police is encouraging employees who speak languages other than English to join a specialised program that offers additional allowances and aims to strengthen engagement with culturally diverse communities.
Victoria is home to people who speak 290 languages and have 314 different ancestries.
Under the Language Allowance Scheme (LAS), officers and staff who are fluent in a language other than English can receive a yearly bonus if they use those skills in their role.
The initiative is designed to support communication with Victoria’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, where language barriers can affect access to services and trust in law enforcement.
To qualify, employees must demonstrate fluency in another language and pass a Community Language Aide test administered by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).
The test assesses basic oral communication and the ability to assist in two-way conversations.
Police said the scheme allows multilingual employees to assist in a range of duties, including community liaison, operational support and investigations.
Officers may be called on to help bridge communication gaps in situations where individuals are unable to speak English or to support specialist units when required.
The program is offered in addition to normal duties and is open to employees after one year of service.
Victoria Police said the scheme not only recognises language skills within its workforce but also helps build trust and improve communication between police and the community.
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