The Police First Nations Advisory Group (PFNAG) has been reestablished to assist the Queensland Police Service (QPS) to achieve a diverse and far-reaching representation of First Nations peoples and their perspectives in building relationships and improving policing outcomes.
The renewed group, made up of 10 members from First Nations communities across Queensland, held the inaugural meeting this week, with a focus on improving safe service outcomes for First Nations peoples and communities.
The PFNAG represents a renewed commitment by QPS to engage meaningfully with First Nations communities and create culturally safe policing practices that align with reconciliation goals and community expectations.
The members bring together varied experiences working in their communities, including from Seisia in the Torres Strait, Cape York, North Queensland, North-West Queensland, Gulf of Carpentaria and South-East Queensland.
Commissioner of Police, Steve Gollschewski APM, took part in the first meeting of the group, stressing the importance of the function in helping the QPS to further a cultural shift that centres on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' perspectives, experiences, and paradigms.
"The QPS has made significant efforts to recruit members from a diverse cross-section of urban, rural and remote First Nations communities, ensuring there are voices from a wide range of cultural, geographic and social contexts across Queensland," Commissioner Gollschewski said.
"I am confident that the First Nations Advisory Group will help us improve safe outcomes for First Nations peoples and communities.
"I look forward to working with the group to ensure the best possible service delivery to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."
The PFNAG was initially established in 2022 as an advisory body to the QPS designed to make recommendations intended to strengthen relationships and ensure safe key policing activities, responses and practices which impact First Nations peoples and communities across Queensland.
Following an internal assessment of the establishment in 2024, it was identified that the group would benefit from a broader representation of the diverse experiences and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Membership now incorporates elders, youth, and community advisors and includes members representative of the LGBTQIA+ community and people with disability.
The PFNAG has a clearly defined role as an advisory body providing cultural guidance to QPS leadership and decision-makers by providing diverse First Nations' perspectives to improve how the QPS engages with and responds to First Nations people and communities within Queensland.
The PFNAG emphasises shared leadership, with a co-chairing model involving both a senior QPS representative and a PFNAG member (on a rotational basis so all members can co-chair), ensuring equitable collaboration.
Executive Director of QPS First Nations Division and PFNAG Committee Co-Chair, Alan Dewis, is confident the group is ready to reinitiate critical work that will improve relationships between First Nations communities and police leading to better outcomes.
"I am extremely pleased that we're beginning the year with a reset group of diverse and dedicated community representatives, to help advise the QPS in eliminating racism and improving services for and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," Mr Dewis said.
"The QPS is committed to reframing relationships, which respect and recognise the need for diverse voices of Queensland's First Nations communities to build stronger and sustaining partnerships that can make a difference to peoples.
"We received 49 expressions of interest from First Nations peoples across Queensland wanting to take part in this work and contribute to positive changes and relationships between the QPS and First Nations communities.
"At the first official meeting of 2025, the group discussed the Terms of Reference and their annual work plan, looking to set a clear direction for the year ahead.
"I am confident we've achieved that and look forward to the important work that this group does."
The PFNAG will meet quarterly over the next two-year term, with the next meeting planned for May 2025.
Contact with the PFNAG can be made via the Secretariat: [email protected]
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