QPS recruits gamers for training day to test police readiness

Two popular gaming content creators have swapped their keyboards for obstacle courses, finding that skills honed in virtual worlds may translate more readily to a career in policing than they expected.

Berticuss and Vindooly visited the Queensland Police Service's training facility for a full day of recruit-style challenges, guided by Constable Dorron and Senior Constable Tidswell. The pair were put through three distinct assessment phases designed to mirror the physical, cognitive and communication demands faced by real QPS recruits.

The day opened with the BAOCC obstacle course — a demanding physical circuit requiring the pair to climb, crawl and push through sections that left their legs, in Vindooly's words, "like jelly." Neither creator had a background in organised sport or physical training, and both admitted the course was significantly harder than it looked from the sideline.

The second challenge shifted from the physical to the procedural. Seated as passengers in a police vehicle, the two were tasked with managing radio communications while officers drove — a scenario designed to test attention under pressure. The exercise quickly exposed the gap between knowing what needs to be done and doing it when the situation is moving fast. The pair overshot their destination and struggled to relay accurate location details, drawing good-natured corrections from the officers.

The final segment combined physical exertion with a memory recall test — a format used to assess cognitive resilience. After being briefed on suspect descriptions and an address in Wacol, the pair had to complete a physical circuit before reciting the details back under fatigue. Both managed to recall key information, including clothing descriptions and the street address, despite the physical toll.

Reflecting on the experience during a debrief, the creators noted some genuine overlaps between gaming and policing. Staying composed during horror games, they said, had built a tolerance for high-stress scenarios. Communication in the police car felt familiar to coordinating with teammates over Discord. The officers confirmed that composure and clear comms are among the most transferable qualities a recruit can bring, regardless of background.

Senior officers on the day emphasised that QPS careers are not one-size-fits-all. "No matter what you're passionate about, there's a career for everyone in this job," one constable said, pointing to the range of specialist roles available within the service.

The initiative reflects a broader QPS effort to reach younger audiences and challenge the perception that policing demands a conventional athletic or military background. Queensland is actively recruiting, and the force appears willing to look beyond traditional pipelines to find candidates with the right temperament and transferable skills.

For the two gamers, the takeaway was clear: the training was punishing, the job is serious, and the people who do it every day earn their reputation the hard way.