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Media release
TAFE NSW Eora | 19 June 2025
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students celebrate policing pathway progress point
“Joining the police isn’t just about a job. It’s about assisting and supporting people, being that bridge, and creating change from within.”
Jackson Cooper
Sixteen proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students celebrated a major milestone this week, graduating from the IPROWD (Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery) program at TAFE NSW Eora in Chippendale – a key step towards potential careers in law enforcement.
Established 16 years ago, IPROWD is a culturally tailored course that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in building the skills, confidence, and knowledge to apply for roles in the justice system. Career opportunities in the NSW Police Force and the Australian Federal Police are a particular focus.
Among the graduating cohort was Jackson Cooper, a proud Dunghutti - Dharug man from Ourimbah who is continuing a strong family tradition in policing. Jackson’s father, now a senior constable in the Hunter region, completed the IPROWD program more than a decade ago. His grandfather was also a police officer, for more than 40 years in New South Wales, and had a significant influence on his life too.
“Dad’s always been a big inspiration in my life,” he said. “I’ve grown up hearing his stories from the job and having deep conversations about whether I’d be able to handle the good and the bad. Being part of IPROWD has helped me feel more confident in my culture, and more prepared for what’s next.”
Jackson said studying at TAFE NSW Eora provided a culturally safe and empowering environment.
“Before this course, I was timid about expressing my Aboriginality because I’d been bullied a lot growing up. But here, it’s been different,” he said. “I’ve become more confident in myself. The course didn’t just prepare me for a job – it helped me grow as a person.”
“I've become more confident in my own skin. I used to get angry at racist comments, but this course has helped me learn better ways to communicate and deal with people. Being in a space where I could hear other students’ experiences really opened my eyes. For the first time, people were asking me about my culture – which I’d never really had.”
IPROWD Project Officer Kylie Giusti said the program offered students far more than academic preparation.
“IPROWD is about identity, empowerment and representation,” she said. “It gives our students the tools and cultural strength to step into spaces where they can be changemakers. Students like Jackson are not only building on family legacies – they’re shaping a new generation of Aboriginal leadership in law enforcement.”
Now graduated, Jackson plans to apply for the NSW Police Force later this year and is working to prepare mentally and physically for the next stage of his career journey. His long-term goal is to join the Tactical Operations Unit or Police Rescue.
“The IPROWD course helps you see the police aren’t there to be the enemy – they’re there to help; and if you join the force, you can be that help. It’s been a rewarding experience for me, and I’d encourage others to take that step,” he said.
“I’ve always wanted to be the person who brings hope in the worst moments,” he said. “Joining the police isn’t just about a job. It’s about assisting and supporting people, being that bridge, and creating change from within.”
Find out more about the IPROWD program at tafensw.edu.au.
Media contact: Rob Virtue, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 02 7920 5000.
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