Townsville Police hosted a contingent of eight police cadets from Papua New Guinea over the last two weeks, with three more groups set to visit in the coming months.
Queensland Police Service (QPS) alongside Australian Federal Police (AFP) have hosted the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) cadets in both Cairns and Townsville as a part of a leadership in policing program.
The program aims to expose the cadets to all aspects of policing including decision making, delegation and supervision, risk management and incident command. The cadets were placed in multiple work environments including local police stations, the Townsville watchhouse, and police prosecutions to experience leadership and supervision from senior operational officers and senior managers.
Senior Sergeant Graeme Paterson said it was the first time Townsville police have been involved in this program.
"We shared our skills and experience with the cadets and helped them gain valuable knowledge to become leaders within their own organisation.
"We also learned so much from the cadets and enjoyed getting to know them.
"This has been a rare and unique experience for both the QPS and the cadets.
"We also showcased Townsville by taking the cadets to a Cowboys training session to meet the players, a Blackhawks game, an events management tour of Country Bank Stadium, and put them through their paces walking up Castle Hill.
"We look forward to welcoming the next three groups of cadets to Townsville and providing them with the same exposure to community policing and senior leadership."
The cadets' visit to Townsville is a part of a three-year officer training program in Port Moresby with RPNGC, the AFP and the Australian institute of Police Management (AIPM). It commenced in September 2023 and will see the cadets graduate as RPNGC Inspectors of Police.
RPNGC Acting Superintendent Elizabeth Tibam said the last 15 days have been a whole new learning experience for the cadets.
"The generosity extended by Townsville police went beyond professional obligation where we have been offered opportunities that have undoubtedly given our cadets a wealth of learnings and memories, enriching their understanding of teamwork and discipline."
AFP Acting Inspector Laurie Trussler said the AFP was proud to deliver this program alongside RPNGC and QPS.
"It has been wonderful to see the first group of cadets embrace this opportunity and develop their skills and perspectives in a diverse operational environment," Acting Inspector Trussler said.
"We are looking forward to continuing to roll out the program and play a role in further developing the future leaders of the RPNGC."
The cadets will next attend the Australian Institute of Police Management in Manly, New South Wales to undergo further training before returning home to Papua New Guinea.
The next group of cadets arrive on the June 23.
