Queensland Police supporting Women of the World Festival
In late July, several female police officers from the Gold Coast District were invited to participate in consultation meetings conducted by the Women of the World (WOW) organisation.
WOW is self-described as ‘a global force supporting women, action and change. WOW celebrates women’s achievements and takes a frank look at the lives of women and girls and the obstacles that prevent them from reaching their full potential’.
In 2018 ‘women from across the Commonwealth will unite ahead of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games for an uplifting festival celebrating the achievements of women and girls’.
The program is supported by the Queensland Government. Premier and Minister for the Arts Annastacia Palaszczuk has noted that “WOW will form part of the broader GC2018 arts and cultural program, ensuring the benefits of the Games extend far beyond the 11 days of sport and continue well into the future”.
The invitation to these officers to contribute to the planning for the WOW festival was extended as recognition of their unique and superior contributions to their local community as officers within the QPS.
Event administrator Ms Tanya Green said that it was an honour that these officers could attend.
Sergeant Doneena Henry said that attending the WOW Think-In was an amazing opportunity to send time with a diverse range of talented Gold Coast women and share ideas to ensure the next WOW festival inspires all women to reach their potential.
Senior Constable Bernadette Dobbyn reflected that attending the WOW event enabled them to bridge the gap between policing and other sectors within the community.
“The forum also allowed us to shed light on the issues faced when seeking to have a voice within the workplace, and how to equalise them,” Senior Constable Dobbyn said.
For Inspector Samantha (Sam) Sanderson of South Eastern Regional Office it was wonderful to hear that the WOW Gold Coast Think-In event organisers had extended an invitation to our officers, in recognition of their efforts.
“These types of events afford us the opportunity to meet with a broad cross section of our community and share time together in a supportive environment,” Inspector Sanderson said.
The QPS is very proud of the calibre and dedication of these officers, and their contribution to this event.
Sergeant Doneena Henry and Senior Constable Bernadette Dobbyn
Source: Gold Coast Crime Alert
