The aim is to put returning members in counter roles to free up serving officers to spend more time in the community detecting and preventing crime.
Reservists will perform administrative duties at police stations, including manning counters, answering phones, helping with paperwork, signing statutory declarations, receiving exhibits into police custody and taking crime reports.
Victoria Police analysis shows police spend more than 4000 hours a day — 1.4 million hours a year — staffing reception counters in police stations.
"The best place for police is out in the community keeping people safe, not sitting behind a desk,“ Victoria Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Karen Nyholm said.
It’s anticipated the first reservists will begin in the next few months, with necessary legislation to enable their appointment currently before the Victorian Parliament.
Applicants must have at least two years of service with Victoria Police or any other police force in Australia, while people who have served in New Zealand and United Kingdom forces are also eligible.
Full-time and part-time positions are available, with eight-hour shifts rostered between 7am and 7pm on weekdays.
The full-time salary is $86,188 a year, with nine weeks’ paid leave.
Victoria Police is calling on as many former members as possible to register, citing that many reservists are expected to work part-time, meaning it will take multiple staff to fill each of the 200 available full-time positions.
"We have an incredible pool of talent and experience to draw from and I know our former police will step up to this challenge, just like they did when they were in the job,“ Acting Assistant Commissioner Karen Nyholm said.
"Policing is a calling and we know that drive to help the community never leaves you.“
To fast-track deployment, training will be streamlined and tailored to the role, taking into account that reservists have already served.
Reservists will not be required to carry operational safety equipment such as firearms, as their role is confined within secure stations.
Victoria Police has said there will be no impact to existing reception counter times or police numbers.
For more information and details on how to register, click here.
