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    Media Release

    TAFE NSW Nowra | 30 July 2026

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    Nowra policing students kick-start their journey

    ‘IPROWD is about giving our students the confidence and capability to take the required steps towards a career in policing and make a real difference in their communities’
    Kylie Giusti, IPROWD Project Officer

    A new cohort of 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have started their journey towards careers in policing through the Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) program at TAFE NSW Nowra.

    Established 17 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.

    The IPROWD course begins this week at TAFE NSW Nowra. It will be delivered over 24 weeks using a block release structure, improving accessibility for students from remote and regional areas.

    10 new IPROWD students stand in the TAFE NSW Nowra campus library, marking the beginning of the 2026 IPROWD program. With them are their teachers, Elders and two police representatives in uniform. Students are wearing casual clothing with lanyards around their necks.

    The program includes 6 separate one-week blocks of in-person learning at TAFE NSW Nowra. Students develop their interpersonal skills with peers in a face-to-face setting and build strong connections with local police officers, Elders and communities.

    Between the face-to-face blocks, students will diligently complete online coursework and assessments, while receiving support from their nearest TAFE NSW campus. Campuses include Paxton, Belmont North, Grafton, Mount Austin, Mangrove Mountain, Griffith, Queanbeyan, Ingleburn, Lakewood and Wollongong.

    IPROWD Project Officer Kylie Giusti said the program equips students with practical skills while also helping them grow in resilience and leadership.

    “IPROWD is about giving our students the confidence and capability to take the required steps towards a career in policing and make a real difference in their communities,” she said.

    “By combining practical learning with cultural connection and support, we’re helping students see what’s possible and empowering them to become the future leaders of policing and law enforcement.”

    Ms Giusti said IPROWD had a strong track record of helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students pursue careers in law enforcement, justice, emergency and community services.

    “This is the start of an exciting journey for our IPROWD students, as they open the door to a meaningful career,” she said.

    “The program provides a culturally safe and supportive environment where around 1,200 students to date have learnt, grown and built a future for themselves in careers where they can make a real difference.”

    “We look forward to supporting this new cohort as they progress through the program and work towards creating positive change in their communities.”

    Find out more about the IPROWD program.

    Media contact: Rob Virtue, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 02 7920 5000.

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