Training Command - Queensland Police Service - Queensland ...

Shaping futures with
Northern education
Photo by Senior Constable Peter Abraham, Northern Region Scenes of Crime
In the northern reaches of
Queensland, the Townsville
Police Academy stands as a
fundamental stepping stone
for developing recruits into
finely trained and educated
police officers. Like its
southern counterpart at Oxley,
Brisbane, it facilitates worldclass
policing but takes a
slightly different approach to
recruit training.
The Townsville Academy
operates under an integrated
training program with
facilitators—either Sergeants
or qualified staff members—
guiding recruits through their
training from beginning to
end.
Currently nine facilitators lead
the initial service training,
jumping from theoretical
studies to communications,
tactics, driving skills and
operational skills training. This
differs from the Oxley campus
which has separate facilitators
for each individual training
component.
Acting Inspector Paul Caswell,
usually the intake coordinator
for recruit training, said having
facilitators interacting with
recruits every day had both
immediate and long-term
benefits.
Acting Inspector Paul Caswell says that the Townsville Police Academy offers
both suitable and quality training services to North Queensland’s recruits.
“It’s a compact staff to
oversee the group; everyone
has a role to play and we need
all hands on deck,” Acting
Inspector Caswell said.
“Facilitators get to know the
recruits on a deeper level,
allowing them to identify
strengths and weaknesses
early on, producing a well
trained and prepared police
officer.”
Currently, 42 Townsville
recruits are undertaking 30
weeks of training to earn
their badge. It’s a smaller
figure compared to the Oxley
Academy, but an ideal number
for Townsville’s physical and
human resources.
The Australian Army maintains
a strong presence in the
north, with the light infantry 3 rd
Brigade and the Army Reserve
designated the 11 th Brigade
located in Townsville. As a
result, the academy has a high
proportion of former military
personnel looking to extend
their line of duty, representing
an average of 15-25 percent of
each intake.
With the Oxley Academy
situated within the boundaries
of Queensland’s capital,
Townsville’s academy is
comparatively remote.
However, with most of
the recruits coming from
either Townsville itself or
the surrounding areas, the
academy is physically closer to
their homes and loved ones.
Acting Inspector Caswell said
this continued to be a huge
draw card in recruitment.
“The prospect of living at
home and having only a short
commute during training
is incredibly attractive for
recruits,” he said.
“Having family and friends
within reach no doubt helps
aspiring police officers
persevere and succeed
through the course. Those
who board at the academy
also have the luxury of visiting
family and friends more often,
along with the motel style
accommodation provided.”
While Townsville’s method of
delivery varied from Oxley’s,
Acting Inspector Caswell said
the academy went to great
lengths to ensure consistency
in the training across both
campuses.
“We have the same academic
modules and assessment,
guidelines and principles.
But we find that what we do
differently also works well,”
Inspector Caswell said.
When recruits sign on to be
based in Townsville, they do
so knowing they are expected
to serve in the Northern, Far
Northern or Central regions.
It is a prerequisite that
Acting Inspector Caswell said
provided a great footing for
police officers just starting
their career in community
service and law enforcement.
“Recruits gain firsthand
experience of the vastness
and diversity within the state
and its people working in
areas from Gladstone to
Cairns, Mount Isa and Cape
York.
“It is an opportunity to serve
in the rural and remote areas
of Queensland—areas that
would otherwise be missed if
they were to begin in central
or city locations,” he said.
By Lucy Emlyn-Jones,
Media and Public Affairs Branch
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