Jasmine James and her mum, Peta Dahlstrom, found a new and noisy family at a ceremony at TAFE NSW Dubbo on Wednesday.
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They are among 20 students enrolled in the 2019 Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) program at the Myall Street campus.
The students were welcomed into the popular and free program before enjoying a delicious morning tea and sharing their stories like a big and happy family.
The expectations of 18-year-old Ms James of the first get-together of her new family were well and truly met.
"They are really good to talk to and are such amazing people," she said.
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Ms James, who works in the kitchen at Maranatha House in Wellington, inspired her mother to be part of the "IPROWD family".
Ms Dahlstrom, 42, who works for the Joss Group as a cleaner at Wellington Correctional Centre, saw an opportunity.
"I thought the kids are all grown up and starting to leave home and it was about time I did something for myself," the mother of three said.
Ms Dahlstrom hasn't yet pinpointed her future career unlike her daughter who desperately wants to work in the NSW Police Dog Unit.
The 12-week and statewide IPROWD program is designed to prepare students for the University Certificate in Workforce Essentials, the Associate Degree in Policing Practice offered by Charles Sturt University at the NSW Police Academy, and other vocational and study pathways.
On Wednesday IPROWD project coordinator in NSW Rob Brown told of the many careers undertaken by the more than 800 students to have completed the program since its launch in 2008.
"The actual completion of the course is very high, up around 90 per cent," Mr Brown said.
"We've had 140-plus students join the police academy out of the program."
He said IPROWD staff had also helped graduates find jobs with a range of government departments and agencies including the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and Corrective Services NSW.
Currently, there are a total of 53 IPROWD students at Dubbo, Redfern and Nowra TAFE NSW campuses.