Millicent Spencer
Applications for the Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program are now open, and members of multicultural communities in the North are encouraged to apply for the May intake.
The program is now in its sixth year and has seen over 130 people engage in the free 15-week course which aims to break down barriers for participants from diverse backgrounds who want to apply to join the force.
Constable Souleymane Bakayoko is a recent graduate of the Victoria Police Diversity Program and is stationed in Melbourne’s north-west.
Constable Bakayoko said he was always interested in a career in policing but found the application process too complex so he gave up and worked in customer service instead.
Now a qualified police officer Constable Bakayoko said the program has changed his life and he has found happiness in his new job in the force.
“I get to do a bit of everything… it’s challenging, rewarding and makes you think,” he said.
“I’ve been to places [I never thought I would go], and [policing] makes you feel you have purpose.“
Constable Bakayoko said he migrated from Africa ten years ago and since joining the force he has found a new community of friends in Australia.
“You join this job and you get to meet new people… my colleagues are like my second family,” he said.
“When you join the program you get a mentor near where you live… they take you to the station, prepare you for the interview, [and] take you out for a meal and coffee.
“The program has given me the opportunity to develop my swimming skills, master English, and improve my computer skills.”
Since being out of the beat Constable Bakayoko said he has seen first hand the experience of bridging the gap between people from diverse communities and Victoria Police.
“[I’ve] bonded with a few members of the community,” he said.
“Some people talk to us [and] open up [because] they feel more comfortable speaking to [me].”
Constable Bakayoko is one of 27 officers who have completed the program and gone on to graduate from the academy, meaning he is a qualified police officer.
Jesuit Social Services chief executive Julie Edwards said since the program was established in 2018, 66 participants had gone on to pass the police entrance exam and 27 graduates had been offered entry positions to the academy.
“Each of these success stories has a ripple effect across participants’ families and communities,” she said.
“We have seen participants being able to swim with their family on holiday after improving their skills during the recruitment process, or helping their children with maths homework due to upskilling for their entrance exam.
“The success of the program has allowed us to expand program eligibility to applicants from all culturally diverse backgrounds, including dedicated Rounds to support regional applicants and applicants who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
Round five of the program starts in May 2023 and is designed to support applicants from the metro south east. To apply visit www.victoriapolicediversity.org.au
