FIGHTING FOR CHANGE

Lisa Little

Homicide Squad

1. How long have you been with WA Police and tell us about your current role?

I have been with WA Police for 15 years. First as a Level 2 public servant, 11 years as a Police Auxiliary Officer (PAO). I have been in my current position at Homicide Squad for the past 6 and a half years.

2. Our PAO members often express their frustrations that they are undervalued and overworked. Our log of claim items includes more consultation with WA Police Force, better representation of our PAO members and mechanisms to address workload issues. Why do you feel this is important?

It’s no secret that when the PAO role was created, the worst conditions of the Police Agreement and the worst conditions of the Public Service Agreement were combined into what is now the PAO industrial agreement. A lot of frustration stems from a lack of awareness from The Executive about what we contribute to WA Police. A previous Commissioner stated that he was unaware of how many PAOs were employed by WA Police, and he was unsure of all the roles that were filled by PAOs. Our log of claims has taken into account many of the member issues that are affecting PAOs on a daily basis. I feel we now have a free flowing and open dialogue between our members, The WA Police Union and the WA Police Force. I feel we are beginning to have a strong voice to be able to keep WA Police accountable for their decisions that affect our members.

3. If you could speak directly to our Premier, Mark McGowan what would you like him to understand about the role that you do?

We sat down with some of our PAO members in Perth to hear what they are fighting for and why. Here’s what they had to say.

I would like the Premier to know that when we are out in public, we are often asked “What is an Auxiliary Officer?” I usually explain that we are Frontline support. We enable Frontline Officers and Detectives to go back on the road quicker by completing the necessary administrative tasks that can be monotonous and time consuming. This usually garners a positive reaction from members of the public, as it creates a perception that police are on the road protecting the community, rather than sitting in an office performing administrative tasks. I would also like him to understand that the PAO cohort is an under-rated and under-used resource within WA Police. In the future I would like to see at least one PAO at every Station, Detectives’ Office and Squad providing Frontline Support to our often overworked and undervalued Police Officers.