FAQ's
You have questions? We have answers.
About SOPAA
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Why did SOPAA start?
To give members a choice of representation. Police Officers can now join a truly independent association with their RUSH subscription, not one selected by the Government or your employer. (See RUSH's subscription rates for the comparative rates).
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Who can join?
All police officers can join as members from anywhere in Australia.
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Which States do you cover?
You can join from anywhere in Australia!
We provide cover Australia-wide. We endeavour to provide in-person support where practicable, however, if we are unable to provide that we will be able to assist you with your issues via video conference or phone call.
We do, however, recommend that you join one of our sister associations, particularly if there is one available in your State. To view our sister associations, please click here.
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Is SOPAA Inc a trade union?
The SOPAA Inc is an industrial association/trade union which is an incorporated association in Victoria.
Read more about our new structure here.
We pride ourselves on being run by sworn officers, not union officials or bureaucrats and will never donate any of your money to politicians or their parties.
Services
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What legal support is available?
SOPAA Inc's expert industrial advocate and Red Union Law's legal support team are considered to be some of Australia's best. RUSH will pay for a lawyer to ensure you're covered for all workplace issues. SOPAA Inc guarantees expert workplace support to ensure you're represented for a variety of workplace issues including Enterprise Bargaining, pay disputes, internal disputes, bullying and more. Most importantly, we guarantee a resolution of your issue.
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Enterprise/Agreement Bargaining
We guarantee strong advocacy on workplace policy, procedures and system changes. Under Federal Law, you are entitled to appoint one of our SOPAA Inc representatives to the bargaining table to negotiate your Enterprise Agreement.
If you have an Enterprise Agreement that you would like us to bargain for you, please check the "Enterprise Bargaining Representation Request" section of your member dashboard. Once there, please check our list of Agreements we're currently negotiating and appoint us as your bargaining agent or complete the representation request form.
Subscription Fees
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Will my subscription fees be used for party political campaigns?
No. That’s how our membership fees are able to remain so competitive.
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Is my subscription tax deductible?
Yes, your tax invoice/statement is emailed following each payment and can be downloaded from the billing portal in your member dashboard.
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How do I resign from SOPAA Inc/SOPAA Ltd/RUSH?
Please note, we are unable to accept resignations over the phone because we are unable to verify your identity. Therefore, your resignation must be in writing.
Please head to your member dashboard, complete the membership change request form and one of our friendly staff will help process your cancellation.
Member Disputes
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What if I have an issue with another SOPAA member?
We pride ourselves on being able to provide quality member-to-member dispute representation, a membership perk often not found with our competitors.
We provide both parties to a dispute with quality representation. If necessary, we also refer matters to third-party legal representatives to ensure the privacy of each member is protected.
The Sworn Officers' Professional Association of Australia (SOPAA and/or SOPAA LTD) is a professional association. SOPAA Inc is an industrial association whose principal purpose is to protect and promote the interests of members in matters concerning their employment or professional engagement. No membership fees are used to support any political party (including the ALP), so we are able to source and/or provide representation for all members, on all issues, better than our competitors.
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