ASPIRING police officers received a visit from the NSW Governor in Dubbo on Friday as they embarked on an exciting journey towards their new careers.
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His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and wife Linda joined local police, politicians, recruits and those involved in running the Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) program to help officially launch the 2016 intake.
State IPROWD co-ordinator Peter Gibbs said 31 young indigenous people from across western NSW were taking part in either the 13-week IPROWD program or the two-year TVET student course.
This year's participants had enrolled from Dubbo, Orange, Forbes, Bourke, Peak Hill, Condobolin and Coonabarabran.
"IPROWD is not only an important first step to gaining entry into the NSW Police Academy at Goulburn, it opens the doors to many different and exciting careers," Mr Gibbs said.
Since IPROWD was introduced in 2008, he said, more than 600 students had enrolled, with 76 going on to gain employment as NSW Police probationary constables.
"A further 200 students have secured other types of employment and more than 50 have pursued further education, studying law, teaching, nursing and justice studies," Mr Gibbs said.
Dubbo MP Troy Grant, himself a former police officer, said it was a "real shot in the arm" for the students having the NSW Governor visit, and it would no doubt motivate them to do their best and take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.
"There's no greater thing you can do than to serve others, and to do it in the form of being a NSW Police officer is one of the greatest privileges you could have," he said.
"It's not an easy job, but it's a special job, and they have the opportunity to be part of something special.
"This is a wonderful pathway to help them achieve a lifelong dream and the service they give back will forever be something special, not only to the community they serve but for them as individuals."