First Nations Community Protective Services Officers graduate from five week program at Townsville Police Academy

Completing a five-week training program at the Townsville Police Academy, new First Nations Community Protective Service Officers have joined the Queensland Police Service.

Queensland’s newest First Nations Community Protective Services Officers (PSOs) have joined the Queensland Police Service.

Completing a five-week training program at the Townsville Police Academy, eight new First Nations Community Protective Service Officers have joined the Queensland Police Service.

The new officers will now return to their communities, one on Palm Island, four in Bamaga and three at Woorabinda, wher they will work with local police to protect their communities.

Since launching in 2020 on Palm Island, the program has trained 57 recruits who have gained the skills and knowledge to serve their communities with dedication while ensuring safety with cultural understanding.

The QPS said the core of the program was the belief to provide security ‘by community, for community’.

The new recruits were congratulated by QPS Assistant Commissioner Charysse Pond who highlighted the importance of cultural understanding and community connections in establishing stronger relationships between the QPS and First Nations communities.

“Queensland Police PSO’s are not just part of a broader policing strategy, they are trusted members of their own communities, deeply connected to the culture and values that define them,” she said.

“PSO’s also play a critical role on the frontline, contributing to the security of state government buildings and assisting with emergency response efforts.”

She said the recruits training in intelligence, incident management and emergency response was vital for their work across Queensland.

Originally published as First Nations Community Protective Services Officers graduate from five week program at Townsville Police Academy