Finding her calling

Editorial: Cassandra Stanghi

Photography: Jesse Wray-McCann

As a teaching graduate, Inspector Amanda Bowden never imagined she would eventually find herself delivering training to a room full of police officers.

Teaching classrooms of teenagers, including a few who had no interest in the English and Indonesian classes she was running, was nearly enough to make the then-21-year-old swear off the profession for good.

“I was academic in school and got a high score at the end of Year 12, but I just didn’t know what to do with it,” Insp Bowden said.

“Teaching was my fall-back and after six months of doing it full-time, I quickly realised it wasn’t for me.”

The decision to change her career path wasn’t an easy one for Insp Bowden.

“When I left teaching, I thought I’d made a mistake — I felt I'd just wasted the last four years of my life and earned two degrees for nothing,” she said.

Insp Bowden then channelled her interest in fitness and helping others into a career as a personal trainer.

Among her many clients was a police officer who, along with two other gym members in the job, inspired Insp Bowden to think about a career in policing.

“These three women were all so intelligent and inspiring. I just thought, ‘I want to be like them,’” she said.

At age 24, Insp Bowden graduated from the Victoria Police Academy, with the three mentors who put her on the path proudly watching on.

She went on to enjoy the first couple of years of her career in general duties at regional police stations, including her native Bendigo, Sunbury, Kyneton and Maryborough before being asked by an inspector if she had considered a role in the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT).

“I hadn’t really thought outside of regional policing, but I ended up spending a day with CIRT and thought I’d give it a shot.”

In her three years at CIRT, Insp Bowden particularly enjoyed the challenge of working as a negotiator and in close personal protection for local and foreign dignitaries.

“It’s a lot of responsibility but also an amazing experience seeing the behind-the-scenes of major events and being directly responsible for someone’s safety,” she said.

From CIRT, Insp Bowden moved on to the highly specialised Chemical, Biological and Radiological and Disaster Victim Identification Unit.

“Whether it’s safely managing suspicious powders, pulling apart a meth lab or training other members on how to deal with hazardous materials, the work is so varied,” she said.

Insp Bowden’s philosophy of giving everything a go then saw her take on stints in Transit and Public Safety Command and Road Policing Command, as well as frontline management roles at stations in the North West Metro Region.

Upon landing in her current role as North West Metro Region’s training inspector, the coincidence was not lost on Insp Bowden.

“I’ve come full circle from teaching to now coordinating training for more than 3400 police officers in our region,” she said.

“I have a real passion for member development, so I think it’s a really good fit for me.”

As for what has kept Insp Bowden in policing for the past 15 years, variety is the key.

“Policing is effectively 100 different jobs in one, and for someone like me who enjoys new challenges, the best part about this job is that every two years you get to reinvent yourself,” she said.

“There are just so many opportunities.”

Are you made for more?

Are you looking for a career where you can reach your potential and make a difference?

Ever get the feeling you could be made for more?

Victoria Police is recruiting now for an additional 502 police officers to meet the growing needs of the community.

A career with Victoria Police is made for ambitious people looking for more challenges, more purpose and more possibilities.

The majority of Victoria Police members work as general duties police officers, who are first to respond when community needs arise, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

You could be part of the team that makes a difference to the Victorian community every day.

If you’re made for more, apply now. Visit the Victoria Police website.