A message from the Acting Deputy Commissioner Operations
Last night, the Australasian Council of Women and Policing Conference (ACWAP) held the 21st ACWAP Excellence in Policing Awards in Canberra.
The Excellence in Policing Awards provide an opportunity to publicly acknowledge and reward the achievements of women and men who are contributing to improving policing and law enforcement and ensuring policing services are enhanced for women.
These Awards acknowledge the work being undertaken in Australasia to ensure that women’s concerns and needs are taken into account by policing and law enforcement.
The Northern Territory Police Force (NTPF) was represented by five finalists across multiple categories.
It gives me great pleasure to announce the Northern Territory winners, Senior Constable First Class Debra Blackwell and Sergeant Renae McGarvie APM.
Senior Constable First Class Debra Blackwell was the recipient of the AFP Audrey Fagan Memorial Award. The recipient of this Award is acknowledged for their exceptional qualities as a mentor, being viewed as a role model in the law enforcement community, contributing to the recognition and enhancement of women in the workplace, and showing commitment and support to the profession.
Sergeant Renae McGarvie APM was the recipient of the Griffith University Women in Policing Scholarship. This scholarship provides support to a serving female police officer in Australia, New Zealand or the Pacific Nation to assist them in achieving their professional development goals. It is designed, through support of further study, to benefit a female police officer in their profession and to enhance their career progression in policing.
Congratulations to you both.
I would also like to acknowledge the other NTPF finalists; Senior Constable First Class Elisha Kennon, Senior Constable First Class Gillian Donnithorne and Senior Constable First Class Ivana Young, for being shortlisted in the ACWAP Excellence in Policing Awards. Your nomination in your respective categories is a reflection of your outstanding female leadership, and I am proud of each and every one of you.
Next year, the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services will host the 2020 ACWAP Conference in Uluru. Further details of this event will be released in the coming weeks.
Narelle Beer
Acting Deputy Commissioner Operations
