THE Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) program celebrated 10 years of success in training Indigenous students for entry into the police academy.
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Over 700 students have enrolled in the program since 2008 and more than 100 have gained employment in the NSW Police Force.
“It’s a great opportunity to open your eyes and learn more about everything, its an amazing program,” current student Jaynaya King said.
Another student, Patrick Lowe said the program helped with reading and writing as well while Corey King said it gives you a kick-start.
“Friends have gone through the program and recommended I do it, it gives you a kick-start of what you’re going to do at the academy,” Mr King said.
Former Iprowd coordinator Peter Gibbs said he developed the program after his sister’s death in police custody in 1997.
“Given there had been the Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody in 1990 ... that should’ve meant that not one single person should die in custody, but in 1997 we lost her. I thought long and hard about how we can make significant change.
“Police had the recruitment process, but didn't have training and development that would lead Aboriginal people up to the recruitment gate.
“I worked on a process with our community which was very difficult, not many people saw the positive in this, … because it was working against the grain. Now after all those years, people did see a positive in this, after ten years in operation, we’ve trained and developed lots of Aboriginal people who are now in the police force.
“We’ve developed a stronger relationship between our community and the NSW police.
“For the next generation if you want to be a police officer, no matter where you come from, irrespective of race, there is a process, this program had something to do with it.
“You can go to almost any community in NSW, you may see an officer that’s come from this program, and that for me is where we need to be.
“I don’t think there’s an end point, i think other police jurisdictions can look at this program ... it changes the dynamic of Aboriginal and police relationships,” Mr Gibbs said.
Minister for Emergency Services and Member for Dubbo Troy Grant said the program was now essentially TAFE owned with NSW Police a partner.
“Its a wonderful thing. When we started the program, Aboriginal employment in the police force was at two per cent, now its well over four, if not higher, we’ve more than doubled Aboriginal employment in the police force.”
