Twelve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are one step closer to their dream careers in the Police Force, having graduated from the award-winning TAFE NSW Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery Program (IPROWD) on Wednesday.

The graduates of the 17-week Redfern-based program join more than 800 students across NSW that have completed IPROWD over the last 13 years.

IPROWD is a partnership between TAFE NSW, the NSW Police Force, Charles Sturt University, and the Australian Government that is designed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who want to join the NSW Police Force and other justice and emergency services agencies.

IPROWD Project Coordinator, Rob Brown, said the ground-breaking program is a prime example of how TAFE NSW works with Aboriginal communities and employers to improve educational and job outcomes for students.

“This federally-funded program has proven to be a great success over the past 13 years. It’s great to see IPROWD equipping Aboriginal students with the confidence and skills they need to pursue a challenging and rewarding career path, and make a real difference in their local community,” Mr Brown said.

“These graduates have gained vital communication, writing, presentation, and IT skills, and have been supported to reach the fitness levels required to join the NSW Police Force. Students experienced a virtual tour of the NSW Police Force Academy in Goulburn and also received assistance with their university and job applications so they can continue their journeys.”

“Many of our graduates over the years have gained employment at the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Defence Force, and Corrective Services NSW. Others have gone on to pursue further education in law, teaching, and nursing. I have no doubt these latest graduates will go on to reach their individual goals and share similar success stories.”

NSW Police Force Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources, Gavin Wood said he is proud of the partnership between TAFE NSW and the commencement of IPROWD in 2008. 

“Since 2008, over 160 Aboriginal students have become sworn officers, with one of the original students now being promoted to the rank of Leading Senior Constable. Other students have gone into non-sworn roles such as Special Constables, General Administrative Support Officers and Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers,” Mr Wood said.

“The NSW Police Force continues to work hard to improve our relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples by encouraging them to join the NSW Police Force. The IPROWD program plays a very important role in developing those relationships.”

Established in 2008, IPROWD provides targeted training and personalised support to prepare Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students for the University Certificate in Workforce Essentials and Associate Degree in Policing Practice offered by Charles Sturt University at the NSW Police Academy, or various other vocational pathways. 

For more details on IPROWD, visit www.tafensw.edu.au/IPROWD.  

Media contact: Emma Woodward, Communications Specialist, 0409 618 291, emma.woodward15@tafenswedu.au