Graduates from Course 78 step up to the plate

Ranging in age from 19 to 46, eight men and five women bring various experience to policing, including from retail, psychology, fitness and care work, plus as a Police Security Officer.

One Course 78 member was born in New Delhi and speaks Hindi, a fellow graduate’s family comes from Pakistan and speaks Urdu, while another hails from Germany.

Two other members have journeyed from New South Wales and regionally from Port Lincoln.

Rishi worked in retail before becoming a police officer and his ambitions ‘reach for the sky’.

“I hold a commercial pilot’s licence, which I was studying and practicing for before joining SAPOL. I gained the qualities of problem-solving and time management when I was learning to fly, which I believe will help in improving the overall quality of my work and shifts,” he said.

“This experience helped me in learning different customer behaviours and adjusting my way of communication to suit the situation on a day-to-day basis.

“I have always wanted to work for the community and work in the public safety sector as my grandfather served in the army back in India.”

Fellow Course 78 member, Lara, worked as a bar manager and in cat and dog boarding kennels before joining the policing field.

“I believe my experience in hospitality taught me a lot of people skills. I also played a lot of soccer when I was younger and represented Australia in indoor soccer when I was 16,” she said.

“The number of different pathways you can take in SAPOL was something that attracted me to a career in SAPOL, along with the physical aspect of the job and being on the go everyday with new experiences.”

She encouraged people interested in SAPOL to prioritise their fitness in advance and to research the organisation and its numerous career pathways.

Before policing was on the cards for Ethan, he worked various jobs including as a truck driver, personal trainer, and a roulette dealer at the casino.

“These professions lend myself to being a better police officer as I have ample experience in people relations and customer service,” he said.

“The academy has helped me to develop as a person. Working so closely with different people of varying backgrounds has helped me to establish different communication styles that I can change between when engaging with the public.

“Furthermore, everyone at the academy does so much to support cadets. I felt supported throughout the whole training, and my mentors went to great lengths to ensure I had the best learning experience possible.”

Rishi hopes to one day work at POLAIR, and like Lara, in SAPOL’s Security Response Section, while Ethan is eyeing the top job and aspires to one day be the Commissioner of Police.

Course 78 members will be stationed to metropolitan and regional postings, including Port Lincoln, Whyalla and Mount Gambier.

SAPOL is currently recruiting and is keen to hear from people interested in an inspiring career with unmatched experiences and rewards.

If you're looking for job security, career progression pathways and a chance to make a real difference in local communities visit Achievemore - Join Us (police.sa.gov.au)

Rishi, Ethan and Lara were among Course 78 members who graduated today from the South Australia Police Academy.