Tasmania Police’s current recruits have spent two days on an adventure camp with young people aged from eight to 12 years as part of their training and to foster positive community relations.
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The Edmund Rice Camp, based at the Tasmanian Police Academy, was an opportunity for recruits to develop their engagement skills with young people, and for camp participants to have an experience they wouldn’t normally be exposed to.
The children came from across the state and a range of backgrounds. The camp was an opportunity for them to develop self-confidence and be exposed to positive role models.
“The kids gain so much in confidence and I guess just that positive relationship, it’s something that will stay with them and that they can keep after the camp,” Course Co-ordinator Sergeant Rod Stacey said.
The camp is not only transformative for the children, but also for the recruits who have a rewarding experience and connect with a different part of the community.
“It’s an opportunity for them to realise that at the end of the day, they can speak to kids in a lot of different environment and it's not the challenge they thought it was,” Sergeant Stacey said.
The camp began a positive relationship between the campers and the recruits, which breaks down barriers and negative perceptions of police.
“They get to see police in a different light. In some cases they don't always see police in a positive, happy environment and this gives them the opportunity to see that really we’re just people and we like to have fun as well,” Sergeant Stacey said.
“A lot of the kids come away with a completely different view of what it means to be a police officer.”
Trainee Constable Casey Wood said the camp was a wonderful experience.
“The relationships that were built with the children in such a short amount of time was one of the best things to take away from the camp,” she said.
Sergeant Stacey said a key positive outcome of the camp experience for recruits was a chance to understand some of the challenges the children face.
He said the ability to be able to relate to people from all walks of life is essential for policing.
“Being able to communicate at that level, it’s not something we can really teach. We obviously have training around that area but to actually experience that is really important,” Sergeant Stacey said.
The recruits graduate on September 16, and will take what they have learnt during the camp into their new roles. Six of the recruits will be posted to Launceston.
