4 minute read
Half a century of history
Editorial: Danielle Ford
Photography: Steph Pitts-Clark and supplied
Today it’s known as the spiritual home of Victoria Police, but in 1973 the Victoria Police Academy was a new addition to the organisation’s physical footprint.
After purchasing the Glen Waverley site from Corpus Christi College, Victoria Police moved all its foundation training from the old St Kilda Road Depot to the Academy in April of that year.
In the five decades since the first recruits took up residence, more than 30,000 police officers, protective services officers (PSOs) and police custody officers (PCOs) have started their Victoria Police journeys at the Academy.
In addition to foundation training, the Academy also houses most of Victoria Police’s specialist and advanced training courses.
As the head of People Development Command (PDC), Assistant Commissioner Kevin Casey was the custodian of the Academy for the past 10 years, prior to his retirement in August 2023. He likens it to a family home – borrowing some words from the classic Australian film The Castle.
“In the words of Darryl Kerrigan, ‘It’s not a house, it’s a home’,” said AC Casey, who undertook his own recruit training at the Academy 46 years ago.
“It’s more than just a group of buildings. You don’t know where in the state you will end up throughout your career, but the Academy is that one place where every police officer, PSO and PCO will spend time.
“It is also the place where we gather for our proudest, happiest and saddest occasions from awards ceremonies and graduations to funerals. It’s a place we come back to for many occasions throughout our careers.”
As the Academy itself has developed over the years from a single building to more than 10, so has the type of training offered at the complex.
In 1973, recruits undertook 20 weeks of foundation training solely at the Academy. Now, recruits complete a 31-week course which includes multiple stints at police stations and work units.
The Academy also houses specialised training centres including the Centre for Law and Operational Development; Centre for Operational Safety; Centre for Road Policing Investigation; Centre for Incident and Emergency Management; the Promotional Programs Unit, Centre for Professional Policing; Detective Training School and the centre for Family Violence — to equip members with the skills needed to work in today’s modern policing environment.
To reflect on 50 years of the Academy, Police Life and the Victoria Police Library Service have put together this tribute, which marks significant moments in the complex’s history.
1 April 1973
About 200 staff and recruits moved into the Glen Waverley site, marking the beginning of Victoria Police’s foundation training at the Academy.
7 December 1973
The Premier and Governor of Victoria attended a graduation at the Academy to officially open the site.
October 1979
An Olympic-sized swimming pool was built, allowing police recruits to increase their water fitness during training.
1 September 1986
The newly-built C Block was opened, marking the first major expansion of the Academy’s buildings.
March 1988
The first squad of protective services officers (PSOs) commenced training. The squad of 20 formed the Protective Services Unit.
March 2003
An updated Operational Safety and Tactics Training facility opened, housing a shooting range and a purpose-built training village that replicates a suburban area.
November 2011
Following the creation of the Transit PSO role, the first squad began a 12week training course.
May 2013
A mock train platform was built to better enable police and Transit PSOs to hone their operational skills in a real-world setting.
December 2015
The first squad of police custody officers commenced training, with the new role established to support police with custody duties at stations state-wide.
26 April 2019
The specialised Family Violence Training Centre, where police take part in scenario-based training simulating real-life situations, was opened.
