Training Command - Queensland Police Service - Queensland ...

Creating leaders who make
a difference
Leadership is important to
success and the Queensland
Police Service (QPS) is
dependent on the abilities of
strong, decisive and capable
leaders who provide work
units with a clear vision,
inspire work performance
and provide vital support
to all staff. The Leadership
Development Unit (LDU)
recognises this need and aims
to develop leaders who are
equipped with the right tools
to make a positive impact on
their workplace.
Photo supplied by Melanie Mather, Leadership and Development Unit
The role of the LDU is to
prepare participants for senior
leadership roles within the
QPS. This is achieved through
the Management Studies in
Policing 3, which is one of
the capstone courses that
comprise the Management
Development Program. The
Management Studies in
Policing 3 course is delivered
via a distance education
component and a three week
residential course. The LDU
also co-ordinates executive
level conferences using
prominent and experienced
keynote speakers to highlight
innovative leadership
practices. The next conference
is due to be held in February
2012.
All QPS Senior Sergeants
are eligible to participate
in LDU courses. Course
participants also include QPS
staff members (AO6 and
above), external participants
from the Queensland
Fire and Rescue Service,
Queensland Ambulance
Service, Australian Federal
Police as well as international
delegates from the Hong
Kong Police Force, Maldives
International emergency service delegates keen to progress as leaders draw on each other’s expertise during one of the
courses run by the Leadership Development Unit.
Police Force, Guangdong
Police and the Shanghai
Municipal Public Security
Department. This diversity
of participants provides a
networking opportunity for
participants and promotes the
building of mutually beneficial
partnerships with other
organisations.
The Management Studies in
Policing 3 residential course
is designed to assist middle
managers to make the
transition from operational
level to a strategic level. The
LDU draws on the knowledge
of expert facilitators, senior
police executives, corporate
executives, leading academics
and prominent sporting
identities to explore issues of
strategic management and
leadership within a policing
environment.
The residential course is held
at the Queensland Police
Service Academy and also
uses regional engagement
visits to draw on the expertise
of senior regional police
as well as the expertise of
inspirational business leaders
from the private sector.
During the three week
residential program, the
LDU is assisted through
experienced visiting Fellows,
who play an integral role in
enhancing the experiences
and learning opportunities
of the participants. Visiting
Fellows are role models and
mentors to the students and
provide them with support
as well as provide them
with examples of practical
application of the course
theory. The most recent
visiting Fellow, Inspector Dave
Robertson said the residential
courses were an outstanding
model that engaged students
in a variety of leadership and
management methodologies.
Additionally all of the visiting
fellows involved in the
course noted what a valuable
experience it was for their
own development.
The QPS has developed
partnerships with several
universities and credit
obtained from completing the
Management Development
Program can be used
to articulate into several
university courses. Members
who have completed the
Management Development
Program subjects will be
granted up to 50 percent off
a master’s degree. The LDU
has a wealth of experience in
liaising with those affiliated
universities and assist QPS
staff with enquiries about
entering post graduate
studies.
By Melanie Mather, Leadership
and Development Unit
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