A $50-million overhaul is on the way for the Oxley Police Academy, promising state-of-the-art classrooms, new scenario-training spaces and upgraded accommodation for recruits who will one day patrol their areas of assignment.
Opened in 1972, the academy has long been the heart of police training for Brisbane’s south-west. The forthcoming project will be its biggest facelift yet, replacing ageing lecture rooms with tech-rich learning suites and adding an indoor tactical village that can mimic everything from suburban homes to convenience stores.
Local residents stand to benefit directly: the expanded campus is expected to train up to 1,600 new officers over the next four years, increasing the pool of frontline police available to the western suburbs. Additional driver-training facilities and refreshed fitness centres will ensure recruits graduate job-ready and fit for duty.
Plans also include a digital-forensics lab and upgraded firearms simulation ranges, equipping future officers to tackle cybercrime, youth offending and vehicle-related crime more effectively. Early site works are slated to begin within the 2025-26 financial year, with completion targeted ahead of the 2032 Olympics.
Where the money sits in the bigger picture
The academy revamp forms part of a $290.3-million program earmarked for new and improved police facilities across Queensland. Budget papers outline further spending on modern equipment for frontline officers, including 6,500 Taser 10s, upgraded body-worn cameras and tactical first-aid kits.
An additional $147.9 million has been set aside for these tools, while long-range planning documents confirm a dedicated $50 million line item to “upgrade and relocate functions of the Oxley Police Academy”.
Brisbane South’s regional brief also lists new CitySafe CCTV installations, extra POLAIR flight hours and continued funding for early-intervention youth-crime programs—all designed to bolster community safety alongside the academy upgrade.
Why it matters to the western suburbs
For residents eagerly waiting for updates, the redevelopment means more locally trained officers, faster response times and a police cohort versed in the specific challenges of Brisbane’s south-west.
Training staff say the new facilities will allow recruits to practise real-world scenarios drawn from local call-outs, making on-the-job transitions smoother once graduates hit the beat in Oxley and other western suburbs.
Published Date 26-Jun-2025
