News

August 2000

Across Territory Lines: Northern Territory

Diversity in Policing

"Within the Northern Territory Police you are part of a family. The support is there. This is a very proud police force because it's very clean and honest and provides good quality service. It is very welcoming of diverse cultures and police officers from diverse backgrounds," said Acting Sergeant Mary Ann Stuy, of the Aboriginal and Ethnic Services, at the recent careers night, held on 15th February, organised for the ethnic communities in Darwin.

When Acting Sergeant Mary Ann Stuy joined NT Police, she was the shortest in her squad, hardly swam, spoke English as a second language, and sometimes took "twice as long to finish the obstacle course, but I wouldn't give up".

That was 12 years ago and, despite the stereotypical image of male, Anglo-Saxon policing cultures, she found herself immediately supported and accepted. Last year, the former English and Tagalog teacher from the Philippines was voted Rotary and Community Northern Territory Police Officer of the year.

"The standards are high, but this is because the community have high expectations of police," she told the careers night audience.

The careers night was organised as a result of one of the many valuable suggestions received from the Police Ethnic Advisory Group (PEAG), Working Party on recruitment. The Working Party has been meeting to determine the barriers to recruiting from ethnic communities and to develop an appropriate marketing strategy.

Attendance exceeded expectations, with Superintendent Mick Van Heythuysen opening and closing the careers night, Sergeant Whitford explaining the recruiting process, Superintendent Jock Macpherson outlining training, and a range of Police and Police Auxiliaries from different cultural backgrounds talking about their work experiences.

Senior Constable Richard Martin, whose parents are English and Chinese, grew up in Darwin. He has worked in General Duties, the CIB, Territory Response Group, Forensic and Community Relations, and said his background and growing up in the multicultural atmosphere of Darwin had helped his career.

Sergeant Peter Paolucci is an Australian born Italian with 25 years General Duties experience in all major centres except Katherine, the CIB, BCI and Professional Responsibility Unit.

Acting Sergeant Mark Lyons, is of Indian origin. He has spent 24 years in General Duties, Alice Springs, Yulara, bush stations, Darwin and currently Prosecutions. A highlight of his career has been working with Aboriginal communities.

Senior Auxiliary Vini Jain is from Malaysia and joined the first Auxiliary Squad in 1992. "I particularly enjoy the customer service. We are the first contact people and it is satisfying to bring a smile to someone's face when you are dealing with them at the counter," she said.

"NT Police is an equal opportunity employer, regardless of your race or background. As long as you fit in and work hard, it's a very challenging and rewarding career." she added.

In her six years, Auxiliary I/C Roshini Wilson of Malaysian background has worked on the front counter and Speed Camera Unit. She said she had made many good friends in the NT Police and encouraged others to join.

Sergeant Ruth Whitford explained that prerequisites such as swimming, first aid and typing were important parts of the job these days. Police are a first response agency, often arriving before ambulances, and the public expects they will be able to apply first aid or rescue a drowning child rather than standing by helplessly.

To those concerned at the necessity to have a Bronze Medallion, which became one of the main talking points of the evening, Mary Ann said: "I hardly swam a stroke when I joined. But I learnt it."

Her comments were echoed by Senior Constable Ghulam Abbas, of Pakistani background (who joked about sitting next to an Indian, Acting Sergeant Mark Lyons). Ghulam who is still renowned for his lack of swimming prowess said "But at least now I could get away from crocodiles!"

Ghulam joined a squad ahead of Mary Ann, 12 years ago, and said he was a non-swimmer when he arrived in Australia. "But I knew it was one of the requirements and I tried my best. I had help," he said. "It is within reach if you want to do it."

Police Auxiliaries at work

Yolonda Turner is a Police Auxiliary with a Chinese background who recently completed her eight weeks' training. "I was a shaky swimmer but I managed to get through". She now works on the front counter, does shift work, and "thoroughly enjoys it".

The careers night generated interest to join the Police Auxiliary. The three successful applicants, Rosario Cabunsol (Filipino background), Beena Vaikyl (Indian background) and Sue Wilson (Filipino background), commenced training in April and have successfully graduated as Police Auxiliaries in May this year. They are currently receiving hands on training at the Police Stations Front Counter, which will be their designated area.

"We are very happy and proud to be accepted and be part of the NT Police organisation. Since joining, we have been having interesting and challenging experiences which we are very much enjoying" the three new Auxiliaries conceded.

Considering the careers night, which focused on people from ethnic communities, was the first one ever held, it was well received and supported by members of the ethnic communities. The event was widely promoted within the NT through the media, including broadcast on several ethnic radio programs on Top FM, courtesy of the Multilingual Broadcasting of the NT. There is no doubt that the assistance received from members of PEAG, key organisations and many other people, contributed to its success.

For more information see the comprehensive recruiting pages on the NT Police Internet site at http://www.nt.gov.au/pfes/

The Northern Territory Police Ethnic Advisory Group (PEAG) on the move

It has been year since the Police Ethnic Advisory Group (PEAG) was formally launched at the Parliament House, Darwin, Northern Territory. At that stage not many members of the group knew each other or had worked together as a team.

"What has been achieved by the Police Ethnic Advisory Group (PEAG) since October last year so far, is very promising. So many pertinent issues relating to policing and emergencies were discussed and raised during the PEAG meetings. This year is already showing signs of a busier and challenging year for all members of the ethnic communties, government, non-government organisations and NT Police represented in the PEAG." said the Chairperson, Jey Lamech.

"The group strengthens partnership between Police and ethnic communities and assists in the maintenance of the harmonious cross-cultural and race relations between different ethnic groups in the NT. This is encouraged through PEAG meetings, functions and events. The enthusiasm and energy of everyone so far is remarkable and catchy." he added.

Superintendent Mick Van Heythuysen concurred and said, "The healthy partnership built through PEAG is now apparent and has proven useful during the East Timorese evacuation to Darwin in September last year. I believe the strength of the Partnership in PEAG has been reflected in the harmonious working relationships between Police and members of the ethnic communities, in particular the Darwin Timorese, Chinese, Portuguese communities at the Tent City."

The Bureau receives regular reports from PEAG on its activities. They illustrate quite clearly what can be achieved by people committed to the cause, whose work is driven by team effort and community spirit. There have been many outstanding achievements by the group since its inception in 1999. The highlights include a series of information sessions on such important topics as cyclone and emergency procedures, domestic violence, Neighbourhood Watch and crime prevention, the establishment of a Working Party on Recruitment from Ethnic Communities and, of course, the well documented active participation at Tent City following the East Timorese evacuation last September. The group also provided valuable input into the development of a special 'Dealing with Racist Violence' training package for NT Police, currently being undertaken by Liz de Rome and Associates on behalf of the NPEAB, using the Commonwealth grant under the "Living in Harmony" campaign.

Membership of the group has increased to 36 and all members are keen to leave a permanent and positive mark on police and ethnic relations at the Top End.

Darwin's Ethnic Communities play Major Role at Tent City

The members of the East Timorese and Portuguese communities on the Police Ethnic Advisory Group (PEAG) together with the Kalymnian Brotherhood and the Greek Cypriot community, played a major role during the critical times of evacuation of some 2000 East Timorese refugees during the height of conflict in East Timor.

When the Northern Territory Government needed to urgently set up a 'safe haven' for East Timorese evacuees, Darwin's ethnic communities responded promptly by providing much needed assistance. The Kalymnian Brotherhood made available their hall and sporting field and the Kalymnian Club was utilised as the Reception Centre. The Portuguese/Timorese Club next to the Kalymnian Club offered their premises which were quickly converted to provide quarantine, customs and immigration facilities. The scene was aptly described by NT Police Media Director Jane Munday: "The army arrived on a humid Darwin afternoon and left a perfectly patterned green canvas city which swallowed up everything except the Greek Orthodox Church in middle," she said.

The Greek Cypriot Community came to the rescue when more evacuees from East Timor were expected and better administrative facilities were required to cope with the additional influx. The Greek Cypriot Community generously donated their club which was used as an administration centre for the remaining period of the operation.

Superintendent Mick Van Heythuysen, with the assistance of Sergeant Mary Ann Skelton of the NT Police Ethnic Services Unit, held an emergency meeting with the Timorese/Portuguese community representatives on PEAG. Seven members from the Timorese/Portuguese were nominated to assist with the day-to-day management of the reception centre. Each person played a critical role by accepting specific areas of responsibility in relation to the running of the Centre. The members and their areas of responsibility included:

Co-manager: Oscar Nunes
Accommodation: Fernando Oliveira
Health: Aurora Chilton & Jo Fernandez
Meals: Maria Ingles
Interpreters: Paula Chung
Logistics: Alvaro Ingles
Recreation/Sports: George Remedios
Superintendent Mick Van Heythuysen, the coordinator of the Reception Centre, was most impressed with the overall community spirit which marked the success of the operation.

"The community spirit displayed by members of Darwin's ethnic communities involved in the operation, their generosity and capacity to work hard in very difficult circumstances, contributed a great deal towards the success of the operation. Above all, though, they helped to lessen the trauma experienced by the evacuees" he said.

Executive Director of the Bureau Ivan Kolarik and a member of the Bureau's Advisory Panel Hass Dellal visited Darwin and had a rare opportunity to see the tent city and the operation of the Reception Centre.

"The experience highlights the importance of consultative committees such as PEAG where police and community leaders work together for a common cause" Mr. Dellal said.

Mr. Kolarik described the involvement of ethnic communities as the "pinnacle of partnership" and a "humbling experience".

Superintendent Van Heythuysen gave a presentation on the East Timorese Evacuation Operation and the role played by the ethnic communities at a workshop on 'Policing in a Multicultural Australia' at Bramshill Staff College, UK.

Tent City's "Father Miguel" receives Top Award

Father Miguel

The NT Police representative on the Bureau's Advisory Panel, Superintendent Mick Van Heythuysen, whose long and colourful police career has most recently included winning the hearts of East Timorese evacuees at Darwin's Tent City, was named this year's Rotary and Community NT Police Officer of the Year. He is the second member of the Aboriginal and Ethnic Services of NT Police to receive this prestigious award. Last year's recipient was Acting Sergeant Mary Ann Skelton from the same Unit whose excellent work with Northern Territory's diverse communities was acknowledged through the award.

Supt Mick Van Heythuysen, Officer of the Year

Members of the public who nominated Superintendent Van Heythuysen were impressed with his role as head of the police team working at Tent City following the East Timorese evacuation last September, and also applauded his ongoing commitment to other community activities, namely his involvement with Aboriginal and ethnic communities.

Superintendent Van Heythuysen, who is in charge of the Aboriginal and Ethnic Services Unit of NT Police, became affectionately known to the Tent City children as "Father Miguel", and was asked by a young East Timorese mother to be the godfather of her newborn son whom she named Mick in his honour.

It is police officers such as Mick who, through their compassion, commitment, dedication and hard work with the community, allow people to see the human face behind the uniform. Something many immigrants and refugees coming to our shores are unaccustomed to seeing.

The words of two Tent City workers who nominated Mick for the award summed up the sentiments felt for the special role played by this popular police officer:

"To the traumatised East Timorese evacuees, the police could feasibly have represented a threat and invoked further fear, Mick Van Heythuysen and his staff dispelled that fear and helped in no small way to restore some semblance of trust and dignity to a people who had lost everything."

The Bureau congratulates Mick on his well deserved award.