A new $41 million Regional Education Training Centre (RETC) – aimed at bolstering training capabilities in regional NSW – will officially open in Dubbo this morning (Thursday 3 October 2024).
NSW Police and Counter-terrorism Minister, the Honourable Yasmin Catley MP will join NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb APM to officially unveil the new purpose-built training facility.
The 1.736-hecatre site includes the largest state-of-the-art 50-metre indoor live shooting range in NSW, purpose built Active Armed Offender training facilities, multiple simulation training rooms, classrooms and lecture rooms with digital learning platforms.
This key project aligns with the NSW Police Force Infrastructure Strategy that focuses on essential infrastructure especially those related to education and training, which are crucial for effective policing. The new facility also aligns with the NSW Police Force commitment enabling officers to be recruited in the country, trained in the country, and retained in the country.
The Dubbo Regional Education and Training Centre will provide a safe, sustainable facility that enables capability development for police officers within Western Region along with officers located within western areas of Northern and Southern Regions, reducing the time away from frontline policing duties for officers.
NSW Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said the Regional Education Training Centre is a huge boost to the capability of the NSW Police Force and the state -of-the art facilities are among the best in the world.
"This Centre means police officers can be recruited, trained and retrained in the country, spending more time on frontline duties and keeping the community safe.
"We back our police 100 percent. On top of providing world-class training facilities, we're paying recruits to train and providing a pathway to work in their hometown."
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb APM said cutting edge technology and modern facilities like the Active Armed Offender training venue and the live indoor firing range are essential in keeping NSW Police officers up to date with their mandatory training.
"This new facility shows our commitment to providing our officers with the best possible resources and training to ensure they are well-prepared to protect and serve the people of NSW."
"The RETC will also play a key role in helping us attract and train the best and brightest recruits and will ensure that officers spend less time travelling and more time performing frontline policing duties."
The Dubbo Regional Education and Training Centre will utilise the Rural Fire Service (RFS) facilities with a service level agreement for NSWPF to use accommodation, catering and meeting room facilities at the adjacent RFS Academy building.
A room at the training centre will be dedicated to Senior Sergeant Peter Spradbrow who was the Western Region Training Co-ordinator and was instrumental in the development of the original proposal. Senior Sergeant Spradbrow passed away before seeing the facility completed.
