News briefs

TOP SHOW PRIZE FOR POLICE

Marking a successful return to the Royal Melbourne Show for Victoria Police, the organisation's display was named best in show.

Victoria Police picked up the Best Overall Exhibitor award for the 378 square metre interactive activation space, beating more than 250 exhibitors including long-standing show partners Woolworths and RACV.

This year saw Victoria Police return as an exhibitor to the show for the first time in seven years and Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said it proved to be a rewarding experience for Victoria Police.

“Through the display, we were able to connect face-to-face with thousands of community members, with more than 400,000 people having visited the Royal Melbourne Show,” CCP Ashton said.

“It was a great opportunity for the community to engage with police, learn more about what it’s like to be an officer and to show the public what a modern Victoria Police looks like.”

CCP Ashton also thanked the community for visiting the display and said it was fantastic to see so many people excited by what Victoria Police had to offer.

EMPOWERED BY WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

After returning from the International Association of Women Police’s (IAWP) 2019 conference, Inspector Megan Dobbs has been inspired to help female officers at Victoria Police and across the globe.

Insp Dobbs (pictured above, far right) attended the conference in Alaska in September after being named as the first ever Australian winner of IAWP’s International Scholarship and Recognition Award.

Insp Dobbs joined 700 female police from 43 nations in sharing their career achievements and focused on the importance of mentoring, networking and the progression of women in policing.

“A key takeaway from the conference for me is that while we at Victoria Police still have areas to improve, we are among the leaders when it comes to gender equality, mentoring and advancement of women,” Insp Dobbs said.

Insp Dobbs said she was encouraged and empowered by the work IAWP does to unite and inspire police women.

“I’m really excited to pay it forward, including sponsoring a police woman from Papua New Guinea to become a member of IAWP,” she said.

VETERANS CARD BRINGS BENEFITS

A new benefit card will help to improve the welfare of Victoria Police officers and Protective Services Officers after they have handed in their badge.

The Veteran Benefit Card, an Australian policing first, provides mental health and wellbeing support to police veterans through a range of discounts and benefits for physical fitness, health, lifestyle and family-related products and activities.

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the initiative is a way for the community to acknowledge the service of veterans, while bridging a gap in mental health support for retired and resigned police.

“Our veterans are still part of the Victoria Police family, and we have a duty to help improve their quality of life once out of the job,” CCP Ashton said.

“This card aims to increase their community involvement, retain the policing connection, and provide discounted access to a range of state-wide health and wellbeing services for better self-care.”

More than 2,000 police veterans have already applied for the card. All police veterans, regardless of age and duration of employment, can apply for the card at the Police Veterans Support Victoria website pvsv.org.au