Hailing from Verona in Italy’s north, Ms Quintarelli worked in logistics both in Italy and Australia before embarking on a new career path.

When faced with redundancy from her last job, Ms Quintarelli began seeking work and stumbled upon an advertisement for the PSO role.

“I thought it was interesting because it was advertised under customer service, but it involved actually getting out there in the community,” she said.

“I was a bit sick of working in the office and being stuck in a cubicle all the time, so I applied.”

Ms Quintarelli has been working as a PSO for around three years now, in what she describes as by far her favourite job to date.

“I love interacting with the community and meeting so many new people,” she said.

But what did it take to become a PSO?

The recruitment process for any position within Victoria Police is a lengthy one due to high demand, and Ms Quintarelli’s own recruitment experience hovered around the one-year mark.

Aspiring officers are required to pass a series of checks, including an entrance exam, fitness and psychological testing, and medical checks.

Ms Quintarelli breezed through the fitness test barely breaking a sweat, but it was the four-hour entrance exam which proved slightly more challenging for the Veronese.

“It was demanding for me as a foreigner because you have to complete a written test and an essay,” she recalled.

“I personally had to prepare myself well, because my English grammar is not up to scratch compared to somebody who grew up here.”

Fast-forward a few years, and Ms Quintarelli is now coaching new recruits fresh from the Victoria Police Academy.

“It’s a very exciting time for me, and it has been my best year yet as a PSO because I am mentoring others,” she said.

The mother of two manages to balance her rewarding career with home life thanks to the consistency of her work roster.

Unlike police officers, PSOs have set shifts, and Ms Quintarelli dons her uniform from 4:00 pm to 2:00 am on the days that she works.

“In the morning I can drop my kids off at school then go back to bed before I start work,” she said.

“My partner is very helpful and he does the ‘afternoon shift’, so we manage in that way and that consistency creates my work-life balance.”

Ms Quintarelli highly recommends the PSO role to others, especially those who are eager to break free from the shackles of an office desk and become more actively involved in the community.

“You can encounter some difficult situations but you are equipped with the tools and training to face any scenario with the help of your work partner,” she added.

Her encouragement comes at just the right time, as Victoria Police are currently running their ‘Be a Force for Good’ campaign to recruit more than 3000 officers over four years.

Ms Quintarelli is one of the 40 or so police and PSOs from across the state who feature in advertisements as part of the campaign, which runs until the end of April.

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the organisation is eager to attract many diverse and suitable candidates.

“This is the biggest investment in Victoria Police’s history and one that will allow us to improve our service to the community,” CCP Ashton said.

“Policing is a rewarding and challenging career. The community has high expectations of its police and we have a responsibility to attract the best possible people for the job.”

If Ms Quintarelli’s experience is anything to go by, applying for a role with Victoria Police could guide you on a new and rewarding career path that you may never have expected.

To find out more about entrance requirements, the application process and to take a test visit www.policecareer.vic.gov.au