Criminal justice jobs and career pathways in Australia
By Jo StewartPublished on
Studying will help you unlock many different careers in criminal justice, from youth justice to community corrections, policy and beyond. Explore your options with our criminal justice career guide.
Where can a criminal justice qualification take you?
Studying criminal justice opens a variety of career pathways, including roles in:
- corrections
- law enforcement
- community services
- courts
- not-for-profit organisations
- government departments such as the Attorney-General's Department
Many students go on to enjoy long and wide-ranging careers across multiple agencies and sectors.
Bec Medhurst spent many years working as a police officer and prosecutor for South Australia Police. These days she is the online course facilitator for the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Adelaide University where she is also a PhD candidate researching sentencing practices for individuals convicted of online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) offences.
She shares that a criminal justice qualification will prepare you for a range of different roles – it’s up to you to apply your knowledge and skills to the areas you’re most interested in:
The degree will not produce a specific vocational job; it is broader than that. You learn evidence-based theory; and the application of theory, law, policy and crime science to a crime problem. You learn to how think critically and problem solve.
“Our assessments across the courses are not just ‘read this, watch this, regurgitate this’, they are problem-based and look at analysing the current and future problems for professionals working in the sector.”
Read more: what’s the difference between criminology and criminal justice?
Careers in criminal justice at a glance
New graduates could aim for a wide range of relevant roles with government, not-for-profit and private sector employers.
Role titles vary depending on which state or territory you live in, so use this table as a starting point.
Role | Focus | Work environment | Qualification level |
Corrections officer | Working in correctional centres | Prisons and youth justice centres | Qualifications in criminology/criminal justice, social work and youth justice are beneficial to employment prospects |
Community corrections officer | Working in the community with people who have offended | Administrative offices in the community | Qualifications in criminology/criminal justice, social work and youth justice are beneficial to employment prospects |
Police officer | Working in the community to police crime | In rural, regional and urban communities throughout Australia | Qualifications not necessary. Passing a police entrance exam and other clearances is essential |
Policy advisor | Working in government departments to shape policy on crime and community safety | Government department offices | Bachelor degree in criminal justice, criminology, social work or other relevant fields is highly regarded |
Court officer | Supporting the operation of courts and tribunals | Courts and tribunals throughout Australia | Qualifications in criminology/criminal justice, social work and youth justice are beneficial to employment prospects |
Transition worker | Working in the community to support people who have offended to access housing, employment, mental health treatment and other programs | Government and non-government offices throughout Australia | Qualifications in criminology/criminal justice, social work and youth justice are beneficial to employment prospects |
Youth justice worker | Working in youth justice centres with young people who have offended | Youth justice centres | Qualifications in criminology/criminal justice, social work and youth justice are beneficial to employment prospects |
Core criminal justice skills
The broad nature of criminal justice study means you can apply your skills to many different work environments, especially in public service environments such as courts, correctional centres, community services and government departments.
As Bec says:
Criminology and criminal justice graduates develop many transferable skills, such as interpreting and applying criminal law, and understanding crime theory and the underlying causes that contribute to a crime problem.
"Knowing how to interpret evidence-based research helps various agencies and not-for-profit organisations understand crime issues from a variety of perspectives."
Industries that employ criminal justice graduates
Criminal justice graduates find work in a variety of sectors.
Bec says that broadly, there is strong demand for workers with criminal justice qualifications, especially those keen to work as police officers, youth justice workers, corrections officers, community corrections officers and family violence specialists.
Cybercrime in particular is currently experiencing sustained demand. Australian Government research indicates that the rise of cybercrime has led to workforce demands for cyber security professionals in both government and private sector roles.
Careers with a criminal justice major include:
Corrections
Corrections/prison officers, community corrections officer, youth justice workers and detention officers.
Courts and tribunals
Court officer, court support service officer and client service officer.
Law enforcement
Whether working for the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in Canberra or your state’s police force, there are many different roles that can be explored in policing.
Examples include: police officer, detective, protective service officer, prosecutor, investigator, cybercrime investigator, canine handler, community liaison officer, tactical response operator and investigative assistant.
Not-for profit organisations
Not-for-profit and non-government organisations with a focus on supporting victim–survivors, marginalised communities or people who have offended are large employers of criminal justice graduates.
Potential roles include transition worker, program coordinator, administration officer, case worker, victim support officer and client support officer.
Government departments
Federal, state and local governments all employ criminal justice graduates in a variety of roles in areas such as office administration, policymaking, case work, investigations, research, report writing, victims services, legislation development and project management.
Universities
A small percentage of criminal justice graduates end up pursuing a career in academia by taking up sessional, casual or full-time research, teaching, lecturing, curriculum development and administrative roles.
Read more: Criminology jobs and career pathways
How to choose the right career path in criminal justice
With so many different career avenues on offer, it’s worthwhile taking a moment to consider what area within criminal justice you’d be suited to work in.
Reflect on your interests, preferred work environment, long-term career goals and the level of study you’d ideally like to complete. Bec says:
If you are undertaking criminology and criminal justice tertiary study with a particular job in mind, you should research what that role involves, because you may discover that you are not well-suited to the role that you had in mind.
These key questions will support you to make a decision:
1. Are you comfortable working with people who have offended?
If you answered ‘yes’ to the above then you would be well-suited to work in frontline roles in policing, corrections and courts. If not, consider aiming for roles in policy writing, project management, administration, legislation and victim advocacy where exposure to people who have offended is limited.
2. Do you have a strong sense of social justice and/or desire to work with marginalised people?
People who are homeless, have intellectual disabilities, mental illnesses or substance use disorders, or are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander are much more likely to be incarcerated.
Feel a calling to support people from marginalised communities? Careers in advocacy and liaison would put your passion to good use.
3. How do you feel about being exposed to traumatic events or material?
Careers involving criminal justice sometimes include unavoidable exposure to traumatic events or materials.
If you’re concerned about your ability to cope with this, consider avoiding frontline roles in policing, corrections, case work, child protection and courts.
4. What are your natural skills and talents?
A criminal justice qualification provides you with the foundation to follow your own career path.
For example, if you’re obsessed with technology, working in cybercrime may be an excellent way to put your skills to use. If working with young people interests you, then a career in youth justice might be a good fit.
Ask yourself what areas you already excel at and are interested in – this is a simple way to land on a career you can get excited about. Once you have an idea of the career path that you think might fit, one of our dedicated student advisors can help you explore your course options in that area.
How to get started in criminal justice
Some people study criminology, others study criminal justice and some study both via a degree that covers the two areas of study.
Criminology studies factors behind and reasons why someone commits an offence, while criminal justice interrogates the application of justice within a legislative framework.
While there are key differences between criminology and criminal justice, there is overlap between the two. Many people end up studying criminology after working in criminal justice professions (such as policing) for years.
Bec followed this very path after working in the police force for many years. Transitioning to studying and working in criminology was a natural fit for Bec who now puts her skills and experience to use in a different way.
“Towards the end of my policing career I felt that I needed a different purpose. I thought there was a better thing to do than just sending people to prison, and that's what I often did as a prosecutor. So, in my head, the better way to do that was to participate in training and education that upskilled professionals in those roles to respond to crime problems in different ways,” she reflects.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements vary between courses and universities. Check these against your previous studies, qualifications and work experience.
Have you worked in or studied the sector already? You may be able to use your experience to gain course entry, recognition of prior learning or credit towards a degree.
No matter your history, there are study options available. Find out more about pathways into criminology degrees.
Course choices
Many criminal justice careers require study in criminology, criminal justice or a related field.
Depending on your goals, you could choose from:
- a criminal justice or criminology qualification
- a degree combining both study areas
- criminology studied alongside something like psychology, social science or cyber security
- a short course or certificate in fraud, cybercrime or family violence
Specialised study can help you prepare for particular roles, progress within an organisation or move into another area of criminal justice. Explore qualification types, majors and electives in our criminology degree guide.
Studying online through Open Universities Australia, you can choose from a range of 100% online courses in criminal justice from leading Australian universities.
Explore your criminal justice study options through us
Compare the criminal justice courses that are available.
We help you find the right course, meet entry requirements and enrol. You become an online student with your chosen university.
About the author
FAQs about criminal justice careers
Can you switch between criminal justice and criminology careers?
There is overlap between criminology and criminal justice, with many people working in long, varied careers that incorporate both.
If you’re interested in both areas of study, a combined criminology and criminal justice degree will help you to understand crime and challenge injustice via a span of topics including psychology, law and sociology.
Do you need to work directly with people who have offended in a criminal justice career?
There are many different criminal justice career paths and not all involve working directly with people who have offended. Roles in policy, project management and cybersecurity for government agencies, not-for-profits or private organisations may be a good fit if you want to pursue a career in criminal justice without having to work in the police force or prison environment.
Can you work in criminal justice if you don't want to become a police officer?
Absolutely! There are many job opportunities in criminal justice beyond joining the police force.
As a criminal justice graduate, you may be well-suited to roles in corrections, courts or other government departments (such as the Attorney-General’s Department and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission) as well as not-for-profit organisations that work with victim–survivors or people who have been incarcerated.
Can a criminal justice qualification help you advance your existing career?
If you already work in the sector, an undergraduate or postgraduate criminal justice qualification will likely boost your chances of securing a promotion.
For example, a Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice will put you in a solid position to advance your career in crime prevention, local government or community health.
Do you work in policing, policy or social work and want to make meaningful change in violence prevention? A specialised postgraduate course, such as a Graduate Diploma in Prevention and Responses to Gendered Violence will support you to build skills in addressing gendered violence.
Will I be exposed to traumatic content while studying criminal justice?
Course materials and discussions cover aspects of criminal activity and victimisation that can be distressing for some students. This is also the reality of following a career path in criminal justice.
Universities use content warnings and alternative case study options to minimise the impact of traumatic content on students.
“People's ability to cope with exposure to others' trauma will vary widely, and we have got loads of resources and people to connect with within the university that can help put some perspective around that,” says Bec Medhurst, online course facilitator for Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Adelaide University.
Do all criminal justice careers require a background check?
Often there is more to securing a role than nailing an interview or entrance exam. You may also need to tick off a list pre-employment checks. Depending on the role, these checks may include psychometric testing, security clearance, Working with Children Check (WWCC), national police check or fitness for work assessment.
