Christine Nixon honoured for role in recruiting army of female cops

When Christine Nixon was appointed the nation’s first female chief commissioner of police, women made up just 16 per cent of Victoria Police. Twenty years on, thanks to her changes, that number has almost doubled

Then Victorian Chief Commissioner of Police Christine Nixon on her last day in the office.

From day one as Australia’s first female top cop, Christine Nixon was determined to seize the chance to drive a gender revolution through Victoria’s male-dominated police force.

Twenty years after her historic appointment as chief commissioner, Ms Nixon says changing the face of Victoria Police remains one of her proudest achievements in a long policing career. “I was always keen for people to understand women could do that job,” she said.

“I gave a speech when I was sworn in and said don’t underestimate women. We can set standards and do the work … just ask any mother.

“There is a lovely line that says ‘If you can’t see it, you can’t be it’. For women to see me in a role like that was important.”

Ms Nixon’s achievements are recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours with the awarding of an AO for “distinguished service to law enforcement, to women in policing, and to tertiary education”.

In 2001, 16 per cent of ­Victorian police officers were women. Today, females account for 29 per cent of the force.

The increase in female police numbers in the space of a single generation can be credited in large part to the leadership of Ms Nixon between 2001 and 2009.

“It was not just about the number, as important as that was,” she said. “It was about flexible employment, making it possible for women to move into senior roles. Victoria now has female deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners and women running regions.”

Ms Nixon recalls that when she joined NSW police in 1972, she was just one of 130 female ­officers in a force of 8000 men.