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South Australia Police (SAPOL) from Northern Operations Service celebrated Harmony Day with local African Australian women and their pre-school aged children by having a traditional Australian barbeque to help dispel fear of police and authorities.

What are the aims of the project?

The traditional 'Aussie barbie' was held on Harmony Day, 21 March 2009. Members of SAPOL, volunteers from Modbury Uniting Church, and members of the African Women's Day program enjoyed traditional Australian fare and built trust in each other through social interaction.

What was involved?

In 2004, the Modbury Uniting Church started an African Women's Day program to provide practical help and advice on day to day living in Australia to African Australians from refugee backgrounds. Held weekly, the program offers English conversation, sewing, basic computing, cooking and nutrition, learner driving instruction, regular demonstrations, workshops and seminars, and Families SA Modbury provides financial counselling.

In November 2007, the program added visits by SAPOL members to help the African Australian women and their children learn to trust police officers, change their negative perceptions, and increase their confidence when interacting with police in South Australia.

SA police officers provide the women with information on a range of issues including the role of the police, rights and responsibilities, traffic laws, domestic violence and obtaining drivers' licences. An important part of their visit is a friendly 'cuppa' and joining in games with the children to encourage them to trust the police.

The barbeque lunch was sponsored by the Northern Operations Service Coordinator, Chief Superintendent Trueman.

Who participated?

Around 80 African Australian women, their children and volunteers from Modbury Uniting Church joined SAPOL members for the barbeque at the church.

What were the outcomes?

Organisers and police have noticed a real change in the attitudes of African Australian women and their children towards uniformed police.

Many of the women and children had very negative perceptions of police. For example, one woman who initially burst into tears and ran to hide in a nearby room, now mixes freely with the police according to Senior Sergeant Robinson from Holden Hill Local Service Area.

Similarly a child who was so scared of police he previously curled up into a ball and hid when he saw a police car now happily dresses up in old uniforms and interacts with police whenever they visit.

The African Women's Day program benefits from police interaction with the group, marked increase in self-esteem and confidence of participants and the opportunity for a wide range of issues and topics to be addressed.

Where can I get more information?

SAPOL Aboriginal & Multicultural Unit
Telephone: 08 82042878
Website: South Australia Police

Having friends from different ethnic backgrounds from such a young age inspired Senior Constable Vaughan Cubitt to pursue his passion through the police force.

"My very first friend in school was Egyptian. I was the only kid at infants school with blonde hair," Senior Constable Cubitt said.

"I had friends from so many different backgrounds. Most of my high school friends were Muslims."

Senior Constable Cubitt grew up near Parramatta in Sydney, then in Penrith. His grandmother is Italian and has always made the family aware of their heritage.

Before becoming a Multicultural Liaison Officer (MLO) with ACT Policing, Senior Constable Cubitt had many experiences that shaped his future. He worked as a volunteer helping migrants and refugees settle in Australia, and worked at the Refugee Review Tribunal, as an administrative officer.

"That was my first paid job. I went to a lot of hearings and listened to many refugee stories."

Senior Constable Cubitt even tried working as a migration agent before joining Customs at Sydney airport.

"That job led to me joining the Australian Federal Police.

"I then worked as a federal agent in Sydney and was led to Canberra after working on the Bali Bombing investigation for a year."

Senior Constable Cubitt said the most challenging part of his current role as MLO, which he started in February 2009, is the vast diversity.

"It is so much to take in. There are 384 organisations represented in Canberra alone!"

But the challenges are far outweighed by the rewards he gets each day in his role as MLO.

"It gives me a lot of satisfaction to know we’re giving the community information which empowers them. Information they wouldn’t normally have.

"Humanitarian entrants arrive with culture shock, and are bombarded with so much information. We go and talk to them rather than relying on them to look up brochures for information.

"They ask us so many questions about everything from driver’s licences to disciplining children, to general questions about life in Canberra."

Senior Constable Cubitt said he gets a lot of satisfaction out of the information sessions he conducts.

He has given information sessions at a range of venues including universities and colleges in Canberra, primary schools and high schools, community and religious forums and for the local Sudanese community.

"We talk about a range of practical things like what to do in an emergency and personal safety. We encourage communities to invite us out to speak about these issues.

"One of our biggest priorities is to make people feel comfortable with police. This is a major problem because many new arrivals come with a range of emotions including intimidation and fear."

Senior Constable Cubitt said he has had many rewarding opportunities since becoming an MLO.

"I feel like I have travelled the world in the past couple of months. This job has really opened my eyes. I have seen and heard things I never had thought of before.

"You can never know too many people from so many different backgrounds."

See:
AFP Multicultural Liaison Officers' story