Queensland Police Union Journal

Women’s Advisory Committee Overview
Women’s Advisory
Committee Overview
Presented by Sergeant Kerrie Haines at the QPU Conference
I am sure you must be thinking, ‘Why do we need another Women’s
Committee when the Service has the Women’s Network?’ Well, let
me tell you that this committee is different. This committee is here
to actually provide another perspective to the QPU Executive.
It is my firm belief that the Women’s
Advisory Committee brings enormous
value to the Union and that increased
participation of Queensland police
women within the Union will not only
bring personal benefit, but a greater
benefit to their team, their station,
their District, their Region, and to all of
the Service.
I have been asked by the Committee
to provide you with a brief overview of
the Women’s Advisory Committee and
our role.
Over many years, the Queensland
Police Union has actively participated
in the Police Federation of Australia’s
Women’s Advisory Committee
by selecting and sending female
Queensland Police Union members
to attend. In 2010, under General
President Ian Leavers, the Queensland
Police Union established its own
Women’s Advisory Committee.
The primary goals of this committee
are to provide a balanced perspective
on issues that cross the board
of general membership, and to
encourage female members of the
QPU to actively participate in Union
activities with an aim to increasing
female involvement in an elected
environment.
Under the Chair of Des Hansson, this
committee continued its association
with the Police Federation of Australia
and established and maintained
a positive relationship with the
“The primary goals of this committee are to
provide a balanced perspective on issues that
cross the board of general membership and
to encourage female members of the QPU to
actively participate in Union activities with an
aim to increasing female involvement in an
elected environment.”
Queensland Police Service Women’s
Network.
In addition, the Queensland Police
Union’s Women’s Advisory Committee
participated in its very first Women
In Male Dominated Occupations and
Industries (WIMDOI) conference, and
broke the barrier by bringing a male
delegate to this forum’s dialogue.
Participation in this forum brought a
new focus to this committee in that
QPU female members realised that
compared to their female counterparts
in other male-dominated industries,
our QPU female members were much
better placed industrially.
For this we need to say thank you
to the Queensland Police Union for
ensuring that all members, both
male and female, have been well
represented during previous industrial
relations bargaining.
Through a number of industrial
relations Agreements, our members
have seen their interests looked after
through the establishment of such
committees as TAC, Sick Leave Bank,
the CAFI committee, and the Part Time
committee.
The appointment of Industrial Officer
Aasha Venning is indicative of the
Union’s commitment to its members,
and she has regularly demonstrated
her ability to assist our members by
negotiating part time agreements.
She is more than willing to pursue a
successful outcome to any level, and
we are grateful that she is part of the
Women’s Advisory Committee.
In 2012, the Committee said goodbye
to Des Hansson as our Chair and
welcomed Bob Smithson of the South
Eastern Region as the new Chair. I’d
70 Queensland Police Union Journal June 2013