They graduated from the Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way (IPROWD) program during a ceremony at Dubbo on Wednesday.

The IPROWD program helps students gain a national qualification, which gives them academic entry to Charles Sturt University and enables them to progress applications to join the NSW Police Force.

Students from Dubbo, Wellington, Narromine, Lightning Ridge, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Leeton and Tamworth were among those who had achieved the outcomes of the course, demonstrating they had the right attributes to join the NSW Police Force.

TAFE Western Institute Director Kate Baxter said IPROWD, a joint project of the Australian government, TAFE NSW, NSW Police Force and Charles Sturt University, was an excellent example of a partnership that could bring about life-changing results.

"The students here today have achieved a Certificate III qualification through a range of academic subjects and they've also done policing subjects and fitness, which is a requirement of entry to the NSW Police Force," she said.

Dubbo MP Troy Grant, himself a former police officer, said he was excited about the prospects for students who had graduated yesterday.

"IPROWD takes people who have had limited opportunities and aspirations in the past and has shown them they can have a pathway to achieving their dreams," he said.

Mr Grant said IPROWD had helped to produce police officers who ultimately returned from the police academy to work in or near their own communities.

"We've got three sworn police in Dubbo from the IPROWD program right now and about seven or eight who are in administrative roles here."

"(For those who don't return straight away) it is often good to get experience in other communities first because it prepares you to handle what can be challenging issues with potential conflicts in their own communities. A lot of students look forward to putting back into their communities when they have that experience under their belt."

Dubbo graduate Ebony Flanders said she had been inspired by the success of some of her friends who had completed the IPROWD program. She hoped to apply for the NSW Police Force as soon as possible.

"Once I pass the fitness test and do three years of general duties I'm hoping to study to become a profiler," she said.

Shakira Randall, 39, also of Dubbo, said she had always wanted to become a police officer.

At an August ceremony to welcome new IPROWD students, she told the Daily Liberal it was "one of the biggest things I've ever done, even with seven children I'm going to juggle the challenges that come with training, essay writing and endure intense competition."

Yesterday the proud graduate said she could not wait to apply for the NSW Police Force.

"I'm waiting for the big fitness test. Hopefully I'll be on my way to the police academy in Goulburn in May," Ms Randall said.

"After spending three years in general duties, I'd like to become a detective or join the dog squad."

Dominic Seymour of Narromine was another graduate who had always wanted to be a police officer.

The 19-year-old was pleased to say his fitness was "excellent" prior to testing early next year and he too hoped to be accepted into the May intake of the police academy.

"At the moment I have an idea that I would like to become a highway patrol officer or a detective, and I'm hoping to come back and work around Dubbo," he said.

angela.clutterbuck@ruralpress.com