Aurukun Police Liaison Officer Topsy Bowenda’s happy nature and love for her community got her the job with the Queensland Police Service. Photo: Supplied.
Aurukun Police Liaison Officer (PLO) Topsy Bowenda is being highlighted by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) for her exceptional work in bridging the cultural gap between police and her community.
First Nations PLOs play an essential role in fostering positive relationships between the QPS and diverse community groups.
“My role is to try and build a bridge between my community and QPS, and teach police officers about the cultural ways in Aurukun,” PLO Bowenda said.
Now in her third year in the role, the 27-year-old said she had always dreamed of joining the QPS.
“I grew up looking up to police officers; my grandfather was a community police officer, and that sort of led me into becoming a Police Liaison Officer,” she said.
PLO Bowenda said the officers she looked up to were fair, kind, and understanding of the cultures of the communities in which they served.
“One thing I’ve always been amazed by about QPS is that when there’s officers coming in to work in Aurukun, they always look at the cultural and traditional sides first,” she said.
“The locals or Elders of the community will teach the officers how to join in the culture, especially cultural dances, and arts and crafts.”
After joining the service, PLO Bowenda said she was encouraged to step up to the PLO role by former Aurukun officer-in-charge (OIC) Geoffrey Stockall.
“Geoff was my OIC when I first started, and he told me all about the position and that I was good for it, and that I was the right person,” she said.
“It felt very good to hear that, and ever since then, I looked forward to becoming a Police Liaison Officer.
“I just feel happy – happy with the people I work with, and happy with the QPS family I got.”
Senior Sergeant Stockall has since been transferred to a District Crime Manager position in Cairns but still spoke fondly of PLO Bowenda and kept in touch.
“At the time, the Aurukun police station had been without a Police Liaison Officer for some time, and I was looking around knowing that we needed one for greater cultural understanding and cooperation within the community,” he said.
“Topsy came to my attention through activities she’d done at the PCYC, activities she’d done with the council and the school, and just her general happy nature and ease of talking to myself, other officers, and people from her own community.
“I approached her to apply for the role, and also spoke to other people in the community and within the station environment to talk to her and encourage her along that way.”
Senior Sergeant Stockall said he was always proud to see what PLO Bowenda was up to, adding she had continued to perform in the PLO role to a high standard, which he expected.
“I’m very happy to see how she engages with the police and the Aurukun community,” he said.
“I think it’s a way to break down barriers and encourage working relationships with the community.
“She’s strong and able to explain cultural sensitivities to police who haven’t grown up in these areas, and I think that’s a wonderful addition to us working in the community.”
