PNG cadets get a crash course in Townsville policing

A group of eager police cadets from PNG have been getting an up-close look at how the Aussies do it, and they’re leaving Townsville with a whole new perspective.

Alex Nyo'o from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary as the Cadet Placement Program concluded in Townsville on Friday. Picture: Natasha Emeck

A group of eager police cadets from PNG have been getting an up-close look at how the Aussies do it, and they’re leaving Townsville with a whole new perspective.

For the past three months, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) have been hosting PNG cadets as part of a Cadet Placement Program.

This is the first time the three policing agencies have teamed up to deliver training for Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) officer cadets on Aussie soil, and for many of these young recruits, it’s their first trip outside of PNG.

Over four rotations, cadets have spent two weeks at a time in Townsville, learning the ropes from some of the city’s finest.

And as the final group gets ready to head home this Saturday, they’re taking with them a treasure trove of new skills, insights, and a fresh appreciation for just how different policing can be across the Torres Strait.

AFP Inspector David Farmer didn’t mince words about the importance of this program and the nation’s relationship with PNG to work together to tackle transnational crime.

The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Officer Cadet Placement Program concluded in Townsville on Friday. Picture: Natasha Emeck

It comes as the AFP continues to crack down on traffickers’ attempts to bring illicit drugs into Australia through PNG.

“The Pacific region is one of our major focuses at the moment — so initiatives like this are very important,” he said, underlining the vital role of

Cadet Alex Nyo’o, who just wrapped up his stint in Townsville, described the experience as “incredibly eye-opening.”

“The policing up here is very transparent, effective, and very advanced,” he said. “It was a real eye-opener for most of us and something that we’ll take back to our own police force and adapt what we’ve learned here.”

Townsville’s Acting Chief Superintendent, Chris Lawson, echoed this sentiment, highlighting how the program has been a fantastic opportunity for local officers as well.

He said that, along with shadowing senior officers and experiencing diverse operational environments, the cadets also saw how local police deal with internal integrity matters within the force.

“The way that they deal with things in PNG is significantly different to the way we deal with it in Townsville,” he said.

“Being able to impart the community approach that we have in Townsville upon their policing services is a really good opportunity to ensure that the community safety in PNG is improved across the board.”

Originally published as PNG cadets get a crash course in Townsville policing