Title Here Alumni Profile Abbey Justin
Time spent at St Aloysius College shapes the future pathways for many. Alumni Abbey Justin, had aspired to join the Police Force since she was in Year 10. Since completing her studies she has fulfilled that desire and is currently a Detective Senior Constable at the Footscray Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT). Abbey shares with us some insight to her studies and career since graduating from the College in 2004. What year did you finish at St Aloysius College? I completed VCE in 2004 What study did you undertake after Year 12? After I finished Secondary school I completed a double degree - Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Human Services at LaTrobe University in Bundoora. It was a 4 year degree. Briefly outline your work history; Once I finished my degree I secured a
job as a Child Protection Practitioner at The Department of Human Services in Footscray. I worked there for 3 years in a reunification team. I worked directly with families to implement support programs to enable them to have their children returned to their care or to support families to keep their children with them. In September 2011 I joined Victoria Police. I was in the Police Academy in Glen Waverley for 33 weeks. I lived onsite at the Police Academy throughout my training. Upon graduation from the Police Academy I went to the Altona North Police Station as a uniform Police member. Throughout my time at Altona North I was given the opportunity to work at the Vehicle Crime unit. I investigated theft of motor vehicles and theft from motor vehicles. I did this for 3 months before moving to the Divisional Response Unit. This unit investigated drug matters. I was at this unit for 12 months which also included some time at the Embona Armed Robbery taskforce.
In December 2015 I was given the opportunity to do some temporary duties at the Footscray Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team and in early 2016 I started training to become a Detective. In June 2016 I secured my first Detective position at the Footscray Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team where I am still stationed at the moment. What influenced your choice of career? I wanted to join the Police force in high school although I decided to study and gain some more experience. I’ve always wanted to work in an area that makes a difference and helps people. I like that you can do so many different things within Victoria Police. I actually did my Year 10 work experience at Williamstown Police Station. Outline any voluntary work you have done over the years; I’ve always had a desire to help people, which lead me to engage in various voluntarily work. I was a volunteer for St Johns Ambulance for several years. I was also a volunteer on the Street Surfer Bus which ran every Friday night in the western suburbs. It was a program aimed to engage youth in the area. As part of this program I also got to visit rural Aboriginal communities at Christmas
16 Always Aloysius – Winter Edition, 2018
