1 March 2019

Today six students graduated from the Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery Program (IPROWD) in a ceremony held at TAFE NSW Kurri Kurri.

Attendees included NSW Police Force Superintendents, representatives from Prime Minister and Cabinet, the TAFE NSW Deputy Regional General Manager and families of graduates.

The TAFE NSW program has been running since 2008, providing its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants with a 12-week stretch of learning opportunities that assist in their journey towards joining the NSW Police Force or other Justice and Emergency Services Agencies.

Held on the land of the Wonnarua and Awakabal people, the celebration also featured a special guest in former IPROWD student, Constable Darby Baker, who is stationed at Muswellbrook Police Station. Guests also enjoyed a traditional smoking ceremony.

TAFE NSW Senior Aboriginal Engagement Manager, Sharon Taylor, said IPROWD has assisted more than 700 enrolled students in the decade it has been running.

“TAFE NSW is proud to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in preparing for a career in the NSW Police Force,” she said.

“Plenty of students over the years have gone on to gain employment as sworn and unsworn police officers or secured work in other government agencies. Many credit their time in the IPROWD program to securing employment with these roles. Through our program we help students build their occupational confidence, take control of their career path and be job-ready with real-world skills and practical experience.

“I am impressed by the efforts of all our students who graduated today and wish them well in their careers.”

Hunter Valley Police District Commander, Superintendent Chad Gillies, said, "Today is a significant and proud day for the six IPROWD graduates. On behalf of Hunter Valley Police District, I acknowledge the sacrifices these proud indigenous students have made to get to this point. I have personally enjoyed watching their journey and I sincerely hope all six will be joining the NSW Police Force family soon."

The IPROWD program runs statewide and is designed to prepare students for the University Certificate in Workforce Essentials (UCWE), the Associate Degree in Policing Practice (ADPP) offered by Charles Sturt University (CSU) at the NSW Police Academy, or other vocational and study pathways. Course areas include:

• Communication
• Information Technology
• Writing and Presenting Information
• Ethics and Workplace Responsibilities
• Aboriginal Studies
• An excursion to the NSW Police Academy, Goulburn, NSW
• Support to reach the fitness levels required to meet the NSW Police Force Recruitment standards

For more details on IPROWD visit www.tafensw.edu.au/IPROWD. For further information TAFE NSW courses, face-to-face or online, visit www.tafensw.com.au or call 131 601.

Media contact: Kristy Sheppard, TAFE NSW Media & Communications Business Partner, 4923 7784 or 0407 450 860.