Criminology jobs and career pathways in Australia
By Jo StewartPublished on
Studying will set you up for many different criminology career opportunities, including roles in policy, advocacy, research and corrections. Discover the possibilities with our criminology career guide.
Where can a criminology qualification take you?
Studying criminology leads to many different career pathways, including roles in:
- community services
- not-for-profit organisations
- corrections
- courts
- government departments such as the Department of Justice or Attorney-General’s Department.
As lecturer in criminology and criminology course coordinator at Edith Cowan University, Dr Piero Moraro witnesses the wide variety of career directions criminology graduates take:
About 20% of our students end up working with the offenders in institutions and about 80% work with the government at the policymaking level in different ways. A small percentage stay in academia, end up doing a PhD and become academics themselves.
Piero adds that while some students end up working in frontline roles in law enforcement and corrections, many students use their qualification in administrative, research and policy roles.
“Some students end up working for the police force but many work in government for the Department of Justice, for example writing policies and reports for the Commissioner for Victims of Crime,” he says.
“Some students are now working at a higher level in the corrective services department, so they don't work in the prisons; they actually work with the minister on addressing the numerous issues that the prison system has.”
Read more: what’s the difference between criminology and criminal justice?
Careers in criminology at a glance
Criminology career opportunities come in many forms. This table provides a starting point for common roles criminology graduates pursue, but there are plenty of other jobs on offer too.
Role and department titles vary from state to state, so use this table as a guide only.
Role | Focus | Work environment | Qualification level |
Policy advisor or analyst | Working in government departments to shape policy on crime and community safety | Government department offices | Bachelor degree in criminology, social work or other relevant fields is highly regarded |
Researcher/academic | Researching crime problems and facilitating criminology courses | Universities and other educational institutions | Bachelor degree minimum |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Explore careers in criminology
Since criminology involves studying the different aspects behind the drivers of crime, you can apply your skills to many workplaces.
Public service environments with a focus on crime and rehabilitation such as government departments, courts, correctional centres and community services are key employers of criminology graduates.
Piero shares that career paths that start with a criminology degree can be especially rewarding if you’re focused on enacting incremental, positive change in society.
Working in criminology gives you the freedom to pick your favourite issue, study it, think about better solutions to address the problem and consult with people in positions of power. It's very rewarding. Even a small change is worth years of work, and some jobs don't give you that.
He points out how criminology differs from forensics – an area that students sometimes ask about.
“The past of a person explains why they're committing a crime. Criminologists are more interested in dealing with the root causes of crime, while a forensics person is interested in finding out whether or not that specific person is guilty of that specific crime.”
Industries that employ criminology graduates
Criminology graduates find work in a variety of sectors, from working courts in clerical roles to being accepted to graduate programs within government departments.
While priorities shift over time, cybercrime is one area experiencing strong demand for talent. Piero says:
“We have had a few students that have gone to Canberra to work in cybercrime. That's one of the government's main priorities right now due to the rise of AI.
Careers with a criminology major include:
Not-for profit organisations
Not-for-profit and non-government organisations with a focus on supporting marginalised communities or people who have offended are often employers of criminology graduates.
Potential roles include transition worker, program coordinator, administration officer, case worker and client support officer.
Government departments
Federal, state and local governments all employ criminology 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
Some criminology graduates end up pursuing a career in academia by taking up sessional, casual or full-time research, teaching, lecturing, curriculum development and administrative roles.
Corrections
Career opportunities include prison officer, corrections officer, community corrections officer, youth justice worker and detention officer.
Courts and tribunals
Roles in courts and tribunals can include court officer, court support services officer and client services officer.
Law enforcement
A career in policing can lead to a wide range of opportunities, whether you join the Australian Federal Police in Canberra or a police force in your state or territory.
Potential roles include police officer, detective, protective services officer, prosecutor, investigator, cybercrime investigator, canine handler, community liaison officer, tactical response operator and investigations assistant.
How to choose the right career path in criminology
Criminology careers can take many directions. Before starting your studies or applying for roles, think about what aspects of criminology interest you, what you’re good at and what types of roles you’re well-suited to.
These key questions will support you to make a decision:
1. Are you interested in working towards solutions to improve society?
Criminology delves into the sociological reasons why crimes are committed and how these can potentially be avoided in the future, as opposed to criminal justice, which is concerned with the application of justice after a crime is committed (read more about the difference).
If you’re curious about getting to the root cause of an issue and contributing to positive change, careers in policy, research and report writing within government departments and not-for-profit organisations may be a good fit.
2. Do you have a strong sense of social justice and/or desire to work with marginalised people?
Careers in advocacy, policy and community liaison can offer a meaningful way to support people who are overrepresented in the justice system.
This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people experiencing homelessness, and people living with intellectual disability, mental illness or substance use disorders.
3. Is there a particular area of criminology that interests you?
From family violence to cybercrime, organised crime and beyond, there are many specific areas of crime you could potentially specialise in.
If drilling down into a particular area sounds appealing, you could even consider a research or academia role on your chosen area.
4. How do you feel about being exposed to traumatic events or material?
Frontline work in policing, corrections, case work, child protection and the courts can involve confronting traumatic situations or distressing material.
If that kind of exposure may be difficult for you to manage, you may prefer to explore criminology careers outside these areas.
5. Are you comfortable working with people who have offended?
If you’re keen to make a difference by connecting directly with people who have offended, you may prefer to work in frontline roles in policing, corrections and courts.
If not, consider aiming for roles in policy writing, project management, administration, legislation and advocacy where exposure to people who have offended is limited.
If you’d prefer not to work in the prison environment but want to work with people who have offended, community corrections roles might suit you. As Piero explains:
A lot of our students don't actually work with the offenders, at least not in prison. They might work in community corrections, dealing with offenders who are on probation or parole.
Once you discover a career path that you think might be a good fit, one of our dedicated student advisors can help you explore your course options.
How to get started in criminology
Criminology attracts people from all walks of life. Some people study a Bachelor of Criminology straight out of high school; others gain work experience, then complete a course of study to boost their long-term career prospects, secure a promotion or pull off a mid-life career switch.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements vary between courses and universities. Check these against your previous studies, qualifications and work experience.
There are various available pathways into criminology degrees.
Course choices
Your study pathway can take different shapes, depending on the criminology career you’re working towards.
You might choose:
- a qualification in criminology or criminal justice
- a degree combining both study areas
- criminology paired with psychology, social science or cyber security
- a short course or certificate focused on areas such as cybercrime or family violence
Some roles require formal study in criminology or a related field. More specialised study can also support career progression, help you prepare for a specific position or make it easier to move into another area of criminology.
Explore qualification types, majors and electives in our criminology degree guide.
Studying online
100% online courses in criminology from leading Australian universities are available through Open Universities Australia.
Explore your criminology study options through us
Compare the criminology 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 criminology careers
Is criminology a good career for the future?
Having criminology qualifications would likely support your employment prospects in law enforcement, corrections and the community sector. Cybercrime and domestic violence prevention in particular are two areas the Australian Government is investing in, with workforce development and deployment a priority nationwide.
Do you need postgraduate study to work in criminology?
Postgraduate study is not mandatory to work in criminology although it may improve your job prospects and ability to seek higher duties. An undergraduate degree offers a solid foundation to pursue a career in many different government and non-government roles.
Can a criminology degree help you work overseas?
While different jurisdictions have varying legal frameworks and ways of operating, a criminology degree could be used to work overseas, especially in countries with similar legislative frameworks like New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Is criminology only useful for law enforcement careers?
Some students end up working in law enforcement but there are plenty of other job opportunities for criminology [majors]. Roles in corrections, courts, academia, advocacy, not-for-profit organisations and government areas such as policy, research and program delivery are all options you could consider after studying criminology.
Can criminology lead to a career in forensic investigation?
Forensics and criminology are very separate areas of study. If you’re interested in forensic investigation Piero suggests studying a science degree focused specifically on forensics (such as Bachelor of Forensic Science) instead which is focused on putting all the scientific evidence together.
“Forensics is when you branch out more into physics to try to understand how a crime was committed, but you don't get to the root causes of the crime. It is more about tracking a specific crime rather than the sociological drivers of crime,” Piero explains.
