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BEHIND THE BADGE
JEREMY OLIVER Rank: First Constable Age: 38 Graduated: 2018 Station: Southern Metro Region LGBTIQ Liaison Officer
Why did you join Victoria Police? To interact with all different communities and people, to help people navigate through challenging situations, knowing I could make a very small difference. To provide a high level of customer service, work outdoors and across different locations, to work in large teams and experience different roles across the organisation over time. Most importantly, I researched Victoria Police's welfare and support for LGBTIQ employees and the opportunities they have in place were very encouraging such as the LGBTIQ Academy student network, LGBTIQ Liaison Officer (LLO) program, VP Pride Network, silver Australian Workplace Equality Index accreditation, LGBTIQ Inclusion Strategy, Proud, Visible, Safe report, marching in Pride March, and much more. Tell us about your current role? I am Victoria Police’s second full-time LLO and I work within the Southern Metro Region Community Engagement Team. I currently sit within the Prahran Police Station. Externally, I have a strong focus on establishing trust and developing the relationship between police and the LGBTIQ community through engagement with LGBTIQ organisations, community groups, businesses, networks, sports teams and more. I act as a contact point for the newly-opened Victorian Pride Centre in St Kilda and I will represent Victoria Police at LGBTIQ events and when recognising days of significance.
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POLICE LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2021-22
Internally, I will be providing training, education, and resources to the LLOs, provide operational support and advice to frontline members and specialist units, support employees who identify as LGBTIQ with welfare, and support the organisation with LGBTIQ programs of work. Prior to this, I was at Collingwood Police Station and was a LLO, a Peer Support Officer and a council member of the Victoria Police Pride Network. Tell us about why you wanted to take on this role? I saw that this role combines my knowledge and understanding of police services, my passion for community engagement and customer service and my advocacy for my own community. Being a new role, it would give me the opportunity to expand on the great work that is already being done and, having worked in Collingwood, it meant I would change regions and I could learn a lot more. Victoria Police really works hard to build its relationship with the LGBTIQ community, and I wanted to be part of this work and be mentored by the champions doing this work. Can you name a highlight of your time with Victoria Police? I have had so many great moments over the past few years, particularly my squad at the Academy, being part of the LGBTIQ student network, being a LLO at Collingwood, doing the Peer Support training course, marching in Pride Marches, secondments, working at the border, night shifts and more.
But my highlight would be my three years working at Collingwood Station and the invaluable mentoring and guidance I received from senior sergeants, sergeants and senior constables. They helped shape the police officer I am today and encouraged me the entire time. The people I have worked with have really been a highlight of the job. What do you hope to do in your role as a fulltime LLO? I hope to provide safe and supportive avenues for LGBTIQ people to come forward and report prejudice-motivated crime and family violence to police. To break down barriers for them to reach out and ask for advice and to positively engage with us out on the street. To provide quality referrals to LGBTIQ people and to celebrate LGBTIQ events and days of significance. I hope to boost the awareness of our LLOs and our allies and the important role they play in amplifying LGBTIQ voices and stories, helping stamp out discriminatory behaviours, and having conversations with peers about LGBTIQ issues. I hope to improve on LGBTIQ education and awareness for frontline members and specialist units. And lastly, I hope that if you are questioning or struggling with your gender identity or sexuality, that you please speak to someone trusted, welfare services or myself, because you are not alone.
