Border Force

Select one of the assessments below to learn more.

Medical Assessment

Functional Fitness Assessment

Australian Border Force Recruitment Medical Assessment

The Medical Assessment provides a baseline health assessment for all applicants before they enter an Australian Border Force role. A suitably qualified medical practitioner, contracted by the Department will use a set of medical guidelines developed by the Department of Home Affairs to assess the following actions listed below.

Medical Component – To be completed on day 1
The medical component is broken into 3 sections; Medical History Questionnaire, Screening and Medical Assessment conducted by an occupationally trained doctor familiar with the Departments medical requirements.

Components	Description
Medical History Questionnaire	Previous work type / description or exposures Conditions preventing wearing PPE (if required) Previous incapacities
Screening The nurse/health screener will conduct these assessments but the Doctor will review.	BMI Vision Testing (short, long colour) Urinalysis - blood protein and glucose Audiometry - hearing Spirometry - lung capacity
Medical Assessment	Blood pressure Heart rate Respiratory Abdominal Skin - eczema, dermatitis etc. Musculoskeletal screen which includes a range of movement, postural and neurological assessments.

Once the medical component has been completed and the pathology reviewed, clinic staff will advise if you are to attend your Functional Fitness Assessment (FFA) which is to be booked for Day 3. If you have been assessed as physically unfit, your FFA will be cancelled. Please speak with your Recruitment Officer for further information if this occurs.

Payment for the initial medical and functional fitness test is covered by the Department of Home Affairs. If an applicant is referred for further tests or treatment as a result of the initial medical or fitness testing, individual applicants are responsible for any costs incurred.

Requirements

Participants should attend the Australian Border Force Functional Fitness Assessment wearing a comfortable shirt and shorts, with running or cross training shoes. The clothing should allow for freedom of movement to undertake moderate intensity exercise and a large range of motion.
Participants should attend the Australian Border Force Medical with relevant prescription glasses, hearing devices, medical history paperwork to your role and photo identification.
Limit exposure to excess noise for at least 16 hours prior to your audio assessment.
Refrain from smoking for 24 hours.
It is recommended that participants refrain from training the day prior to testing to give themselves the best opportunity of performing to their maximum ability in all tests.
Allow for fasting prior to pathology tests. Minimum time 8 hours.

Estimate Appointment Time

1 hour

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No Shows: A non-attendance fee will be charged for all unattended appointments. Cancellation and rescheduling must take place 24hrs before the appointment.

Australian Border Force Recruitment Functional Fitness Assessment

The Functional Fitness Assessment (FFA) has been designed in conjunction with the Department of Home Affairs to accurately assess the fitness requirements for Operational Safety Training (OST). It evaluates several key areas of fitness including:

Flexibility and Spinal Mobility
Core Stability
Aerobic Capacity /Cardiovascular Fitness
Agility
Power
Upper Body Strength and Endurance
Lower Body Strength and Endurance
Manual Handling Skills

The FFA gives a representation of an applicant’s overall fitness, and will relate to the requirements for the role. It has been designed to include standardised fitness tests and customised assessments for the physical requirements of a Department of Home Affairs Officer. It is recommended applicants have a good level of fitness before undertaking an assessment and ensure all areas of fitness are addressed as indicated above. Medical clearance must be obtained prior to undertaking the FFA.

Payment for the initial medical assessment and FFA is covered by the Department of Home Affairs. If an applicant is referred for further tests or treatment as a result of the initial medical or FFA, individual applicants are responsible for any costs incurred.

Test	Pass Measure	Characteristic Assessed	Description	Time Allowed
Knee Extension	> 135°	Hamstring flexibility	FLEXIBILITY & SPINAL MOBILITY: Flexibility is a key area of fitness for performing duties in awkward or confined spaces. Flexibility is well documented as being a major key to injury prevention. In the Border Force environment flexibility and range of movement which is essential for actions such as performing kicks, punches and high-speed takedowns. The flexibility tests indicated here give the simplest and quickest indication of overall flexibility relative to the tasks and potential injury concerns.	2 minutes
Thomas Test	To parallel or below	Range of motion around the hip		2 minutes
Waiters Bow	> 40°	Lower back stability		1 minute
Core Stability Test	Level 6 or greater	Transversus Abdominis Stability	CORE STRENGTH: The Transversus Abdominis muscle (TVA) is crucial to the stability and function of the deep abdominal wall, pelvis and lower back. The function of this muscle is therefore of high importance during times of physical stress, particularly when impact is involved due to the high level of stabilisation required. Good core function helps prevent many sprains, strains and tears that can occur in combat activities. Due to constant twisting, pushing, pulling and bending coupled with the impact operational safety training imposes, a high demand on the ability to stabilise the lower back and prepare for movement is imperative. Therefore, the abdominal muscles’ strength and function becomes crucial, particularly when surfaces are unstable or there are sudden and unexpected changes of direction and force associated with non-compliant clients.	2 minutes
Lower Abdominal Strength Test	> 150°	Abdominal strength		1 minute
Queens College Step Test	Age and gender specific	Predicted aerobic capacity	AEROBIC CAPACITY / CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS: Cardiovascular ability can assist the body cope with physical stress, particularly where mental pressure is also high. As physical fitness is a resource in these situations it is important to test an applicant’s capacity in this area. The Queens College Step Test is used to measure cardiovascular fitness. It is a 3 minute step test on a 40cm step at a constant tempo of 22 steps per minute for women, and 24 steps per minute for men. Monitored heart rate monitor is used (this is provided by the qualified assessor) and then converted using a formula into a VO2 max, which is a measure of cardiovascular efficiency and capacity.	3 minutes
Multi-directional Lunge Test	8 out of 10 correct lunges	Coordination, balance and strength during lunge action	LOWER BODY STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE: The squat is the foundation movement for a wide variety of skills necessary to participate in operational safety training. In addition, the squat is a highly effective measure of functional flexibility and muscle balance due to the requirement of depth and body positioning – factors that are crucial to operational safety training. The lunge is a key movement pattern to most all operational safety training tasks – it is the foundation for punching, striking, kicking and forms the key element to stances, lifts and positions used. The stabilisation sequence of throwing a punch follows the course of foot/ankle/knee/hip/core then through to the shoulder. As the lunge pattern assesses all these elements for stability it is clear how this test is a useful measure of stability and therefore force generation potential.	3 minutes
20 Repetition Squat Assessment	20 complete and proper squats	Strength and stability during squatting action		2 minutes
Vertical Jump	>= 35cm for males >= 26cm for females	Lower body power	POWER: Power is simply strength multiplied by velocity (speed). Power is an integral part of operational safety training; the ability to perform the skills/tasks taught quickly and with the required amount of force is dependent on the individual’s level of power output. A good score in the power assessment requires joint stabilisation of the whole body in order to generate force. Therefore the test is also useful to screen those who may lack stability and be posing an injury risk to themselves.	1 minute
Hexagonal Obstacle Test	< 20.9 seconds	Agility, coordination and balance	AGILITY: A measurement of balance, agility and coordination is crucial to a functional assessment protocol for operational safety training due to the high level of requirement in these two bio-motor abilities. The Hexagonal Obstacle Test measures the ability to move and coordinate while exhibiting a high level of cognitive demand, and hence has a strong correlation to training and on-the-job performance ability.	2 minutes
Push Up Test	>= 10 reps for males >= 8 reps for females	Upper body strength endurance	UPPER BODY STRENGTH ENDURANCE: The ability to control the spine and shoulder girdle while exerting force is very similar in requirement to striking and punching etc. as used in operational safety training. Rather than assess pure strength/strength endurance as the old format does, the assessment can provide more information on injury susceptibility and stabilisation.	2 minutes
10 Repetition Functional Lift Test	10 complete and proper lifts	Stability and strength	MANUAL HANDLING SKILLS: Many situations require an ability to lift and apply strength effectively within operational safety training. Those with good movement skills and functional stability will perform better with less risk of injury in situations of heavy lifting and strength application. Lifting equipment and either conformant or non-conformant clients or objects during the course of duty must be carried out as safely and efficiently as possible. The Functional Lift Assessment analyses an applicant’s manual handling knowledge and ability to lift an awkwardly-shaped, moderately heavy load. Weighted bags are used and the applicant is required to lift the object, carry, and return it to the starting position to simulate lifting with awkward grips and a more realistic lifting environment. An assessor may stop this test, or any assessment, if a safety risk is demonstrated.	2 minutes

Completing the Assessments

Warm Up

It is expected that participants will undertake a basic warm-up prior to coming to the assessment. This warm-up should include 3-5 minutes of light aerobic activity such as walking or jogging, followed by some light stretching.

The participant will then undergo some light stretching at the start of the assessment as the tester explains the assessment procedure.

PLEASE NOTE: Equipment type/brand may vary from clinic to clinic. Each item used has been approved by our lead Physiotherapist as a suitable alternative to provide accurate and fair results.

1. Knee Extension

Knee extension is used to assess true hamstring length.

Test Procedure:

Applicant to lie flat on the exercise mat.
Assessor will raise applicants left leg so the thigh is vertical to the ground. Let the right leg lie flat.
Assessor will gradually extend the left knee ensuring the thigh stays vertical to the mat.
When the end point has been reached (end of stretch), the knee angle is measured by the assessor.
Repeat steps 2 through to 4 on opposite leg.

Scoring:

Knee Angle º	Points
Greater than 135º	Pass
Less than 135º	Fail

Figure 1

2. Thomas Test

Range of motion plays an important part in lower back stability. The Thomas Test is specifically designed to detect flexion contractures (abnormal shortening or contraction of a muscle due to spasm or fibrosis of the local soft tissue and inability to move the associated joint to its neutral position) of the hip, but it can also be used to evaluate hip range of motion in extension.

Test Procedure:

The applicant should be lying flat on the table.
The pelvis should be straight and square (Figure 2) to the torso so that an imaginary line drawn between both hips is straight.
The applicant is to bring both knees to their chest (Figure 3).
The applicant to hold the right leg by gripping it around the shin and then slowly lower the left leg downwards toward the floor, while maintaining a flat lower back (lumbar spine). (Figure 4).
Assessor will measure the angle along the line of the thigh/hip (Red line in Figure 4). This should be parallel or below.
Repeat steps 3 through to 5 on the opposite leg.

Scoring:

Femur Angle	Points
To Parallel or Below	Pass
Above Parallel	Fail

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

3. Waiters Bow

Lower back stability and strength are important in reducing the incidence of back pain. This test assesses these components.

Test Procedure:

Instruct the applicant to stand with their feet shoulder width apart (Figure 5).
Applicant’s hands should be placed behind them at their lower back, with hands locked.
Applicant to bend forward from the hips ensuring they maintain a straight spine.
Assessor will measure the angle of flexion at the hip (Figure 6).

Scoring:

Hip Flexion º	Points
Greater than 40º	Pass
Less than 40º	Fail

Figure 5

Figure 6

4. Core Stability Test

This test has been developed as a tool for assessing core stability. Core stability is a vital component in all areas of performance and injury prevention. The core stability test is a ten level test in which the participant must satisfactorily achieve a level before moving directly onto the next./p>

Preparation:

Starting position for Stage 1 is lying flat on the floor with knees bent to 90 degrees. The feet, without shoes, should be comfortably apart, in contact with the floor, and not held (Figure 7).
Biofeedback Stabiliser should be placed so the bag is at middle of arch of back.
The core stability test is a continuous test, and there are no rest intervals between levels. (Example: Figure 8 to 14).
The applicant must maintain pressure on the biofeedback stabiliser throughout the assessment.

The following technical violations will result in the attempt being invalid:

Applicant fails to return biofeedback stabiliser to 40 mmHg after keeping reading between 30 and 50 mmHg when asked to perform given movement.
Applicant is unable to maintain correct body alignment - lower limbs must remain parallel at all times throughout the tests and not fall out laterally.
Applicant fails to steady needle at 40 mmHg before attempting next level- a needle that is moving does not show control of core muscles.
If a technical violation occurs, the participant may attempt the test 1 more time (starting from the first level).

NOTE: The test can be performed with or without shoes. If you prefer without shoes, please ask the assessor.

Scoring:

Level	Points
Level 6 or Greater	Pass
Level 5 or Lower	Fail

Figure 7

Figure 8

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Figure 10

Figure 11

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Figure 13

Figure 14

5. Lower Abdominal Strength Test

Abdominal strength is a major factor in reducing the incidence of back pain as well as providing a strong basis of support around the spine.

Test Procedure:

Place the Biofeedback Stabiliser on the mat at middle of arch of back.
Instruct the applicant to lie down on the exercise mat in flat position, with knees bent (Figure 15), and Biofeedback Stabiliser bladder under the lower back.
Instruct the applicant to raise their knees to 90º at the hip (hip flexion) and maintain knees at 90º (Figure 16).
Instruct the applicant to flatten their lower back against the ground while their legs are still at 90º hip flexion.
Increase the pressure in the bladder up to 40mmHg.
The applicant must maintain between 30mmHg and 50mmHg of pressure on the bladder while lowering both legs simultaneously toward the ground (Figure 17).
Record the greatest hip flexion angle (Red line in Figure 17) the applicant achieves before the pressure in the bladder goes outside the range of 30mmHg and 50mmHg.

NOTE: The test can be performed with or without shoes. If you prefer without shoes, please ask the assessor.

Scoring:

Hip Flexion Angle	Points
Greater than 150º	Pass
Less than 150º	Fail

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

6. Queens College Step Test

Cardiovascular endurance is a specific requirement of any employee involved in the range of Australian Border Force enforcement activities. Cardiovascular endurance ensures they can maintain a period of sustained intensity without suffering from high levels of fatigue.

Dietary Considerations:
A heavy meal eaten one or two hours prior to testing will cause an elevation in the heart and respiration rate. Stimulants such as tea, coffee and cigarettes will also affect the heart rate and should therefore be avoided. No food or drugs should be ingested for a minimum of 2 hours prior to the test.

Test Procedure:

Fit the heart rate monitor to the client using water or contact gel/sanitising gel as the contact medium on the electrode which if fitted around the chest area. Once fitted, start the watch to ensure the heart rate is being captured and take a resting heart level.
Set the metronome to the required tempo and demonstrate stepping up, up, down, down to the metronome beats.
- Males 96 (24 step cycles per minute)
- Females 88 (22 step cycles per minute)
Continue the test for 3 minutes, ensuring the applicant maintains the appropriate step rate. After 3 minutes, instruct the applicant to stop and stand (not sit) still, taking deep breaths while you take the heart rate measures.
Assessor will record the pulse rate at 10 seconds, 15 seconds and 20 seconds and determine the applicant ‘sVO2max.

Scoring:
The scoring for this test is based on age and gender. The examinee’s VO2max result is determined as a Pass or Fail:

Gender	Age	Pass	Fail
Male	20-29	Greater than or equal to 42	Less than 42
	30-39	Greater than or equal to 40	Less than 40
	40-49	Greater than or equal to 38	Less than 38
	50-59	Greater than or equal to 35	Less than 35
	60+	Greater than or equal to 31	Less than 31
Female	20-29	Greater than or equal to 35	Less than 35
	30-39	Greater than or equal to 33	Less than 33
	40-49	Greater than or equal to 31	Less than 31
	50-59	Greater than or equal to 28	Less than 28
	60+	Greater than or equal to 26	Less than 26

Figure 18 – Start/Finish Position

Figure 19 – Position 1

Figure 20 – Position 2

Figure 21 – Position 3

7. Multi-directional Lunge Test

Coordination, balance and strength are all required for effective lunge movements. The lunge is highly applicable to a range of Border Force operational tasks.

Test Procedure:

Instruct the applicant to stand with their hands on their hips, feet shoulder width apart (Figure 22).
The applicant lunges forward with the left foot and must lower the thigh to 90º or parallel with the ground, and then return back to the starting position (Figure 23).
The applicant then lunges at a 45º angle with the left foot leading, and then returns to the starting position (Figure 24).
The applicant then lunges laterally to the left, and then returns to the starting position. Encourage the applicant to make a big lateral step in order to get the lead thigh to parallel with the ground (Figure 25).
The applicant then lunges at a 45 º angle backwards and to the left, and then returns to the starting position (Figure 26).
The applicant then lunges directly backwards, and then returns to the starting position (Figure 27).
Repeat steps 2 through 6 for the opposite leg.

Note: For steps 2 through 6, the right foot does not move from its starting position, and the head is always facing forward.

Scoring:

	Points
8 out of the 10 lunges must be completed successfully by maintaining posture and stability while taking the front thigh parallel to the floor.	Pass
Failure to complete the above.	Fail

Figure 22

Figure 23

Figure 24

Figure 25

Figure 26

Figure 27

8. Vertical Jump

The vertical jump is a method of assessing general power of an applicant.

Test Procedure:

Instruct the applicant to stand with their back facing the wall.
The applicant has to extend their hand above their head elevating the shoulder as they reach. Ensure both feet remain flat on the floor. Record the Standing Reach (SR) at the highest reach achieved.
Applicant is to execute an explosive jump. Applicant uses a counter movement (swing arms and squat as low as they like) to jump as high as possible with the applicant tapping the wall with their hand at the height of the jump.
The takeoff must be from two feet, with no preliminary steps or shuffling.
Allow the applicant to have several jumps until no further improvements occur.
Calculate the difference (Jump Height – Standing Reach) in cm.

Scoring:

	Male	Female
Pass	35cm or above	26cm or above
Fail	Less than 35cm	Less than 26cm

9. Hexagonal Obstacle Test

Agility and coordination are essential to any Border Force officer trained to apply Use of Force. This test measures the ability, balance and coordination.

Test Procedure:

Instruct the applicant to stand in the middle of the hexagon facing towards the line marked A. The applicant is to face line A at all times.
On the command Go, the watch is started and the applicant jumps with both feet over line A, then back to the middle, then line B, then back to the middle, then line C, and so on.
The order in which the applicant must jump is:
1. Clockwise – A, B, C, D, E, F, A
2. Anti-Clockwise – F, E, D, C, B, A
3. Clockwise – B, C, D, E, F
The test is finished when the applicant returns to the middle of the hexagon after jumping back from F on the final clockwise sequence.
Assessor will record the best time out of 2 successful tests (if required).
If the applicant jumps on the wrong line or lands on a line then the test is to be restarted.

Scoring:

Rating	Time
Pass	Less than 20.9 sec
Fail	Greater than 20.9 sec

Figure 28

Figure 29

Figure 30

Figure 31

Figure 32

10. Repetition Squat Assessment

The squat action is a key to many bending and lifting movements and is necessary for injury prevention and strength while undertaking a range of enforcement activities. Effective squatting action will show adequate strength and a reduced risk of injury.

Test Procedure:

The applicant should place their feet shoulder width apart with weight equally spread on both feet and arms extended directly out in front.
The applicant should then undertake 20 slow continuous squats. Each squat requires the thigh to go to parallel to the floor or below, while the applicant maintains a neutral spine.
Do not bounce at the bottom of the movement or stop during the assessment.
If a squat is considered incomplete, then this is instructed to the applicant and that squat is not counted. A total of 20 complete squats must be undertaken.

Scoring:

	Points
All 20 squat must be completed successfully by maintaining neutral spine while lowering the thighs to at least parallel with the ground.	Pass
Failure to complete the above.	Fail

Figure 33

Figure 34

11. Push Up

Upper body strength endurance is extremely important and directly relates to the applicants ability to apply force primarily for restraint.

Test Procedure:

Place the marking cone/object on the floor under applicant’s chest.
Males are to complete push-ups on their toes, while females can complete a modified push-up (on knees) if they choose.
Instruct the applicant to assume the starting position, hands shoulder width apart, arms fully extended.
The applicant must lower their body until their elbows reach 90°. The chest should make contact with the top of the marking cone but should not rest on the marking cone.
Correct position should be strictly enforced. The correct position involves the individual having a neutral spine and maintaining these natural curves without any change to them through the entire push up sequence.
The push-up action is to be continuous with no rest; however no bouncing should occur at the bottom of the push-up.
A slow continuous action should be sustained with one complete push up being complete every 1-2 seconds.
Complete as many push-ups as possible.
Record the total number of completed full body push-ups. Do not include any incomplete push-ups.

Scoring:

	Male	Female (modified)
Pass	10	8
Fail	Less than 10	Less than 8

Figure 35

Figure 36

Figure 37

Figure 38

12. 10 Repetition Functional Lift Test

Strength is an important physical characteristic required by Border Force officers. This simple test demonstrates the ability to repetitively lift a 20kg dead-weight in a safe and effective manner from point A, turning, walking and placing object at point B.

Test Procedure:

Mark point A and point B on the ground, 2 metres apart.
Instruct the applicant to assume the starting position (Figure 39) in front of the 20kg bag.
Each repetition involves the participant bending at the knees while maintaining a neutral spine, picking up the weight with two hands and lifting it as shown in Figure 40.
While lifting the weight, the applicant is then required to turn around and walk to point B, where the weighted bag is lowered to the ground.
The applicant is then required to lift the weight again as above, and return to point A.
A total of 10 repetitions are required with each repetition being the movement of the bag from point A to B. The test is a continuous test with no rest between lifts.
Ensure the applicant maintains a neutral and straight spine.
The test finishes when the applicant lowers the weight to the ground at the completion of the 10th repetition.

Scoring:

	Mark
All lifts must be completed successfully by maintaining posture, stability and a neutral lumbar spine. Each lift should include leg drive and not result in a loss of form.	Pass
Failure to complete the above.	Fail

Figure 39

Figure 40

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Figure 42

Figure 43

Figure 44

Requirements

Participants should attend the Border Force Fitness Assessment wearing a comfortable shirt and shorts, with running or cross training shoes. The clothing should allow for freedom of movement to undertake moderate intensity exercise and a large range of motion.
Participants should attend the Border Force Medical with relevant prescription glasses, hearing devices, medical history paperwork to your role and photo identification.
Limit exposure to excess noise for at least 16 hours prior to your audio assessment.
Refrain from smoking for 24 hours.
It is recommended that participants refrain from training the day prior to testing to give themselves the best opportunity of performing to their maximum ability in all tests.
Allow for fasting prior to pathology tests. Minimum time 8 hours.

Estimate Appointment Time

1 hour

Download This Information

No Shows: A non-attendance fee will be charged for all unattended appointments. Cancellation and rescheduling must take place 24hrs before the appointment.