Aboriginal Police Officer Bettina Danganbarr bridging the divide between Yolngu and Balanda

The acting Police Commissioner has committed to more than doubling the number of First Nations cops in the Territory, setting a target to 30 per cent representation.

Bettina Danganbarr has acted as a bridge between Yolngu people and the balanda (non-Indigenous) justice system for the past 16 years. Picture: Zizi Averill

Bettina Danganbarr is a woman who walks between two worlds, acting as a peacemaker, emerging leader and a translator between her Yolngu home and the “alien” customs of the NT police force.

The Yolngu woman from Galiwin’ku is one of 242 Indigenous cops serving in the Northern Territory and she has a vision to entice more to join the force.

Ms Danganbarr said through her “two-way approach” to policing she has acted as a bridge between Yolngu people and the balanda (non-Indigenous) justice system for the past 16 years.

“We don’t have a lot of people in the position that I am,” the Senior Aboriginal Community Police Officer said.

“I know my language and culture, so with that knowledge I can share and bring a lot of ideas to help my fellow police officers.”

Yolngu woman and NT Aboriginal Community Police Officer Bettina Danganbarr at the 2023 Garma Festival. Picture: Zizi Averill

With 94 per cent of the Nhulunbuy region speaking an Aboriginal language at home, Ms Danganbarr said using Yolngu matha meant critical information was not lost in translation.

“That’s when we have clashes, it’s when we don’t understand each other,” she said.

Ms Danganbarr was one of the first officers stationed permanently on the island, more than 15 years after police shot a mentally ill Yolngu man on the beach in 1990.

She said the only police presence were visits from Nhulunbuy every month or two, until she was “humbugged” by her community to join the force.

“And I haven’t looked back,” Ms Danganbarr said.

“(But) I can’t go on forever”.

Ms Danganbarr was part of a recruitment campaign by NT Police at this year’s Garma Festival seeking to encourage Aboriginal Territorians to sign up.

Aboriginal Community Police Officer Bettina Danganbarr says she ‘can’t go on forever’. Picture: Zizi Averill

“We’re getting more people from different cultural backgrounds to make this a better police force,” she said.

But Ms Danganbarr said the police — even Aboriginal officers from different nations — were seen as “aliens” to Yolngu people.

“Not all the Indigenous people have the same cultural practices, we are all different.

“Central mob have different cultural practices to us in east Arnhem Land.

“So it can be very challenging.”

The latest Productivity Commission data showed the Territory had the highest rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cops in Australia, making up 12 per cent of NT Police staff.

However, with a third of the Territory identifying as Indigenous, acting Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said the current rates were half what was needed to bridge that gap.

“The police when they look at themselves, it’s reflective of the community,” Mr Murphy said.

“So it’s a target we need to try and reach.”

Acting NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said NT Police was ‘reflective of the community’. Picture: Zizi Averill

Mr Murphy said transition courses were helping Aboriginal Liaison Officers become Aboriginal Community Police Officers, and then onto constable pathways.

And as Ms Danganbarr said: “Who knows, maybe one day they can become Police Commissioner”.

Aboriginal Community Police Officer Whitney Koops. Picture: Zizi Averill

Whitney Koops said watching Ms Danganbarr operating on her own Country was inspiring to the 22-year-old Aboriginal Community Police Officer based in Nhulunbuy.

“As soon as they see her … they know that they’re family and they’re just so happy,” she said.

Fellow officer Tyrus Wunungmurra said he was continuing his father’s policing legacy by working in the specialist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander development and recruitment unit.

Aboriginal Community Police Officer Tyrus Wunungmurra is following in his father’s footsteps. Picture: Zizi Averill

Mr Wunungmurra said he was lucky enough to start his career on his father’s Jawoyn Country, at Maranboy east of Katherine, before joining the Darwin-based Community Engagement and Resilience Command

“I wanted to do the old man proud and follow in his footsteps,” Mr Wunungmurra said.

“And I ended up making my own.”

Mr Wunungmurra said creating a more diverse force would not only strengthen the police but improve their relationship with the community.

“They can teach them the barriers between whitefella law and blackfella lore,” he said.

“You put them all together and you get better knowledge of the area.”

Originally published as Aboriginal Police Officer Bettina Danganbarr bridging the divide between Yolngu and Balanda