Women make up 53 per cent of senior officers and equivalents in the Queensland public sector after the government’s Queensland Women’s Strategy Progress Report for 2016-18 and the 2018 Gender Equality Report Cards show ongoing improvements.
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In the last two years the Queensland Police Service Academy has met their intake of 50/50 gender target with 370 women recruited.
Mount Isa District Crime Prevention Coordinator Whitney Lacey said the majority of their vacancies were taken by first year constables and second year constables.
“These officers have been subject to the QPS 50/50 intake strategy. We have 42 per cent females in general duties at Mount Isa station, leaving 58 percent male,” Sergeant Lacey said.
“This doesn’t include specialist areas within the station, nor does it include the rest of the district.”
Over the past month, eight new officers have commenced duty in Mount Isa with a ninth due to start in March.
Constable Naomi Baxter completed her First Year Constable (FYC) program at Brisbane City station. Originally from NSW, she worked in retail whilst studying a Bachelor of Policing at Western Sydney University.
Constable Baxter said she chose Mount Isa because she felt she needed to challenge herself by getting out of her comfort zone.
Constable Alexa Grodzicki completed her FYC program at the Fortitude Valley and Brisbane stations however, prior to policing was a parole officer for Queensland Corrective Service (QCS) in Brisbane.
Upon completing her first year, Constable Grodzicki said her Officer in Charge encouraged her to transfer to Mount Isa for the opportunity to experience a different kind of policing.
The two government reports show continued steady improvements for women and girls in Queensland while also highlighting scope for more advances.
Queensland's Minister for Women, Di Farmer said they don’t just talk about gender equality – they set goals and work to achieve them.
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“In July 2015, the number of women on Queensland government bodies sat at 31 percent – less than a third.
“We set a goal to reach 50 percent by 2020, and I’m pleased to report we’re already almost there. The number of women has increased to 47 percent as at 30 September 2018.
“We also appointed the state’s first woman Chief Entrepreneur, Leanne Kemp, in October.
“Importantly, more than 5,500 women have been employed under our Back to Work - Regional Employment Package, and Advance Queensland has awarded 375 small business grants to Queensland women,” Ms Farmer said.
Ms Farmer said partner organisations across Queensland were also making an important contribution.
“More than 1,000 girls in Years 7-12 at 16 schools have taken part in Indigenous Advancement Programs run by the Stars Foundation, Brisbane Broncos, Netball Queensland and Role Models Leaders Australia, in partnership with Education Queensland,” she said.
“These programs encourage girls to actively engage in education until completion of Year 12.
Ms Farmer said both reports looked at the status of Queensland women and girls aligned to the Strategy’s four priority areas, participation and leadership, economic security, safety and health and wellbeing.
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