Victoria Police

If you want to learn more about the police training program our officers undertake at the Academy, this week’s event is for you. Held online, the session will cover what to expect each week of training, and an insight into the exams, the facilities, salary, and the support available. You’ll also get the chance to ask your questions. Registration’s essential, details below.

Yesterday we held our police careers expo up in sunny Mildura ☀ We had people join us from across the state to learn about what a career in policing has to offer (especially regional policing). Current officers, as well as recruitment experts, were on site to offer their best advice on the recruitment process and what a typical day as a police officer can look like (with special appearances from our specialist areas too🐶🐾). Regional policing has a lot of benefits, including work-life balance, community connection and opportunities for career development - to name a few! Remember it's your career, your pathway. At Victoria Police, you choose where the job can take you. If you missed the expo, don’t worry! We have plenty more info sessions coming up. Just head to > https://lnkd.in/g743GdC4

It’s been a busy week for the Mounted Branch. For those wondering, our horses have been assessed and are doing well.    Mounted Branch officers have been giving their companions plenty of TLC and, after a bit of downtime, are back out keeping the community safe. 💙

A story to warm your soul this morning. 💙 Our Air Wing recently took a special flight over Castlemaine in honour of retired Inspector Ray Applebee. Ray, now a resident at a local aged care facility, was a former Inspector at the Air Wing and now Water Police and Search and Rescue Squads. His police career spanned over 30 years, where he was instrumental in founding the first Air Wing and Police/Ambulance Helicopter Unit Air 495 in the ‘70s. Outside of policing he received a Churchill Fellowship where he researched small boatmanship, was a navigator in the Sydney to Hobart, and was heavily involved in local community groups including the RSL and Salvation Army. Ray was joined by his family and members of the residential facility, who all thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to acknowledge his incredible career and service to the Victorian community. 📸 1 & 3: Castlemaine Mail #AirWing #Police #PoliceCareers #Churchill

Last month, we welcomed new members to the Blue family!   Meet Zeus and Eliza (Labrador retrievers), Milli (a Samoyed), Ace (Australian shepherd), Jax (staffy), and Gidget (German short-haired pointer).

First Constable Darlene Hatchett doesn't shy away from a career change - or ostriches for that matter! Having moved from Zimbabwe to Australia a few years ago, Darlene knows that nothing is ever certain at the end of each day. But what she does know is that in joining Victoria Police, she has been able to give back to her community, while enjoying both job security and job satisfaction at the same time. You’ll find Darlene stationed out in Robinvale, where she's able to enjoy exactly what she was looking for – a work-life balance. Some of the benefits of country policing that Darlene enjoys are the short walk to work and enjoying the perks of living near the river on her days off - allowing her to paddle, fish and camp whenever she likes! Country policing has a lot to offer, with opportunities for professional development, reduced living costs and flexible rostering (just to name a few). Oh, and sometimes it means you may even run into some of the more feathery members of the public.

An ‘R U OK?’ conversation can change a life. Meet Carlee. Her and her husband, Mark, are both current police officers with over 45 years’ experience between them. They’re also parents to four children, and self-proclaimed outdoor enthusiasts. They are also passionate about R U OK’s ‘Are They Triple OK’ campaign, developed in response to Beyond Blue’s ‘Answering the Call’ study - which found police and emergency services personnel report suicidal thoughts more than twice as often as adults in the general population. Even the most resilient police and emergency services personnel can be affected by stress and trauma related to their work or other life challenges. It's important to have a supportive network to reach out to. Family, friends and co-workers can help when you feel you may be struggling and can make a world of difference during difficult times. If you notice someone you care about is struggling, check in with them and ask, “Are you OK?” - no qualifications needed. Visit Victoria Police’s wellbeing website, Bluespace, for more info and resources on mental health and wellbeing > https://lnkd.in/g53BGPdE R U OK provide resources and tips on how to check in with family and friends who work in emergency services. Read more about Carlee and Mark’s story, including some of the challenges faced by those working in emergency services, how they navigate these as a couple and parents, and how family and friends can check in on emergency service personnel. > https://lnkd.in/eYwZian9

Senior Constable Dani Lowry is a country cop and mum, and she loves being both. Dani grew up in Swan Hill and worked at Mildura Police Station for around seven years after joining Victoria Police in 2017. Earlier this year, she moved an hour down the road to Ouyen Police Station to be closer to home, where she’s married to a local farmer. Dani speaks highly of working in the country and the community benefits that come with regional policing. “Working in Ouyen I literally know everyone, and everyone knows me ... Going to get a coffee down the street takes at least half an hour because the locals all want to stop and chat to you.” Asides from being a police officer, Dani loves being a mum to her two children Hamish and Willow. She’s very grateful for the support from the other members at Ouyen Station, where they “are like a big family.” They have been flexible and supportive in Dani’s return to work, allowing her to pop home to breastfeed Willow or express at work in a safe and comfortable space. On a few occasions Dani has been caught up at work and her boss, Sergeant Peter Mcnair, has picked up Hamish from Kinder. Not without buying some lollies or chocolates on the way back to the station, of course (see photo evidence)! The appreciation extends to Hamish, who invited 'Big Pete' to his fourth birthday party this year. Dani’s advice to mums returning to work: seek advice from other mums and find out what works for them, chat to your boss to organise flexible arrangements, and (perhaps most importantly) put your child on a childcare waitlist at birth! Interested in a career in policing? Well, what are you up to this Sunday, 15 September? We’re hosting our first regional police careers expo in Mildura. Police, both general duties and specialist units, and members from our recruitment team will be there to chat and answer your questions. Dani was asked to help at the expo, but she has her sister’s Hens party – as the Maid of Honour, we’ll forgive her! Click the link for more info on the Mildura Expo > https://lnkd.in/gVr3KyCq #CountryPolicing #Careers #PoliceCareers

Got five? Meet Sergeant Iglay (Iggy) In his nearly 10 years at Victoria Police – first joining as a PSO before transitioning to a police officer in early 2018 – Iggy Dangassat has certainly made an impression. With stints across Reservoir, Craigieburn, Flemington, Fawkner, and now Melbourne West, it’s evident in speaking with Iggy that he’s a community man. “I enjoy serving the members of the public and I try to challenge myself every time I work with the public to leave a positive impact.” As a Sergeant, he's found joy in supervising team members and mentoring junior members, helping guide them to reach their full potential. This passion for people is further reflected in one of Iggy’s greatest personal achievements since joining the organisation: being part of the Victorian Police African Employee Network (VICPOLAEN). VICPOLAEN is a platform for employees of African heritage and allies at Victoria Police to connect, share lived experiences and contribute to policy development on issues relevant to African Australian Victoria Police employees and the African Australian community. For Iggy, it’s also a safe space which contributes to educating members of non-African heritage and help them understand the culture, which is critical to front-line members when responding to jobs involving African Australian community members. His decision to join the force was first inspired while working for Justice Health, where he witnessed some of the challenges faced with the African Australian community and understood he had to do more. “Having visibility of the diversity in our members is significant. Sharing our experiences helps us and those of non-African backgrounds understand the challenges faced by our communities, which in turn allows organisations to implement initiatives that foster better understanding and collaboration.” VICPOLEAN is one of many employee networks within Victoria Police. Learn more about our commitment to growing a diverse workplace: https://lnkd.in/gySjnwVR

Did you know that Mildura is home to around 85% of Australia’s grape exports? Sounds like more than enough reason to go and visit – just like we are! In case you missed it, we’re taking our careers expo regional and heading to Mildura this Sunday. This is your opportunity to speak with local members, as well as staff from our recruitment team, to learn exactly what life is like on the job and get some helpful hints on how to ace your application. We’ll also have officers from specialist units around to give insight into the opportunities available to you after you finish your general duties. Info sessions will also be running throughout the day, where you will hear from current officers on their favourite parts of the job, and their best advice for those thinking of a policing career. There will also be a Q&A session where you can ask them the questions you’ve been holding on to. There are goodie bags for the first 50 people to check-in, so get in quick! Registration’s essential, find all the details > https://lnkd.in/g743GdC4 See you there 👋