Thin blue line … Mickaela discovered new experiences with Victoria Police as part of NAIDOC week. 33206 Picture: PAUL JEFFERS
By Charlene Gatt
COULD this be the future of Victoria Police?
Gilmore Girls College student Mickaela Willett-Hanson was one of five indigenous youths that teamed up with police from the West last week to celebrate NAIDOC week.
NAIDOC week is held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The 15-year-old went out in police vans, visited the police academy and the water police and seen how Footscray Police station works.
“It’s good. It’s been better than I thought (it would be). I didn’t think it would be this fun,” she said.
Mickaela said she’s toying with the idea of becoming a police officer when she finishes school.
The other students were paired up with police from Werribee, Caroline Springs, Sunshine and Altona North.
Werribee Inspector Bill Weatherly came up with the initiative as a way to open up communication between indigenous youths and police and to encourage indigenous youths to join the police force.
Meanwhile, police are celebrating after snaring a three-goal victory in a footy match against Indigenous youths at Braybrook’s Pennell Reserve earlier this month.
The match was part of an annual family day to kick off NAIDOC week.
The NAIDOC cup is currently at Footscray Police Station.
