Just like our Queensland community, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) is made up of members from a range of diverse cultural backgrounds.
To help ensure all members feel included, valued and culturally safe, the QPS recently established the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Consultative Group.
Led by the QPS First Nations and Multicultural Affairs Unit (FNMAU), 15 culturally diverse members from across the state, including Mount Isa, Cairns, Bundaberg, Toowoomba and the south east corner, came together at Police Headquarters to connect with each other and brainstorm priorities for the next 12 months.
With family backgrounds from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and the Pacific Islands, together they represent seven different faiths and speak more than 20 languages.
The group's members work in a variety of roles within the Service and include police officers, Police Liaison Officers, administration officers and a Protective Services Officer.
The QPS already has a Police Ethnic Advisory Group to represent community voices in policing responses, but this is the first time a group has been established to ensure the voices of the Service's ethnically diverse workforce are consulted and engaged in internal decision-making processes.
Inspector Jacqui Honeywood of the FNMAU said the intent of the CALD Consultative Group was to contribute to healthy, safe, positive and inclusive workplaces.
"Each of the 15 members brings a unique perspective to the group and will contribute valuable insight and guidance on matters impacting the Service's multicultural workforce," Inspector Honeywood said.
"These matters could include policies such as appropriate and inclusive uniforms, increasing cultural awareness amongst our managers, providing mentoring for new CALD members and other measures we can take to attract and retain a culturally diverse police service."
Senior Protective Services Officer (SPSO) Satish Gnawali is part of the CALD Consultative Group.
Born in Nepal, SPSO Gnawali was part of the United Nations Protection Force Peacekeeping Mission in the former Yugoslavia before serving his Nepalese community as a police officer for Nepal Police for more than 20 years.
"I found our meeting to be inspiring and insightful, with members from different cultural backgrounds and a sense of 'can-do' attitude towards bringing cultural inclusion and capability to enhance the QPS," SPSO Gnawali said.
"I believe this group decreases the gap between QPS and multicultural communities in regard to developing authentic relations through being open minded, respectful and forming strong bonds for a better society and country."
In his third year as a police officer in the QPS, Senior Constable Steve Omotosho is also a member of the group.
"I am from a tribe called Yoruba, which is one of the three main ethnic groups in Nigeria, alongside Ibo and Hausa," Senior Constable Omotosho said.
"I felt so happy with our first meeting and feel confident there will be positive change around issues being raised by both police officers and staff members from diverse backgrounds working within the QPS."
