International Women’s Day marks the launch of celebrations for an exciting centenary for Tasmania Police.

In October, it is the 100 year anniversary of Tasmania’s first female police officer. It is an important milestone for us. It represents the start of our journey towards gender equality and the start of our collective awakening to the strengths of a diverse workforce.

When Kate Campbell joined Hobart Station in 1917 her duties included monitoring truancy, dealing with youth offending and ‘wayward’ women.

While her remit was narrow, the employment theory was sound: she brought a different perspective, life experience and approach. And that is exactly why a diverse workforce is so important.

No longer do female officers have to resign when they marry, be over the age of 25, or be divorced, widowed or single. And they no longer have to wear skirts and carry handbags.

One hundred years on, we have 400 female police officers and they are employed in most specialist units.

A number of celebratory events are planned throughout the year in all three police districts.

The celebrations are designed to be inclusive of everyone and will help tell the story of the challenges and achievements along the road to the Tasmania Police of today.

The first of these celebrations is a family Fun Day at Camp Clayton, near Ulverstone, on April 1.

A workforce with a mix of perspectives, life experiences and approaches that reflects the diversity of the community we police is not just desirable, it’s essential.

A diverse workforce allows us to better understand our community and helps them to trust that we are working with them and for them.

Without trust our community does not call when they need us, does not provide information when we ask for it and works against us rather than with us. Only with our community’s understanding and trust can we deliver an effective policing service.

So, this year we will be celebrating 100 years since that momentous first step towards a gender inclusive workforce.

Many advances in policies, practices and attitudes have been made since that time to help make our service more inclusive of women. Of course there are still improvements to be made.

This year is a year to celebrate how far we’ve come and to look ahead to how far we can go. Our aim is to become a workforce that truly values all forms of diversity – gender, gender identity, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and age – and embraces the strengths that they bring.

I hope you will join with me this year in celebrating this important milestone.

- Darren Hine

Tasmania Police

Commissioner/Secretary