IPROWD to be a Policewoman

Jodie Reynolds was a thirty-year-old single mum from Western Sydney who had worked in retail most of her life when she decided to join the Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) program.

IPROWD is a special training program that assists Aboriginal people to gain the skills and confidence to join the NSW Police Force.

“Growing up in a small town in Western Sydney I always admired police officers and the way they worked hand in hand with the local community,” Jodie said.

“Seeing them in uniform growing up, my eyes would light up when I would see them on the streets.”

Jodie completed the 18-week course in Redfern, Sydney before going on to the NSW Police Force Academy in Goulburn to finish her training.

Now she is a general duties constable working at Maroubra Police Station, Sydney.

Doing the program was at times difficult, but Jodie is so pleased that she stuck with it.

“Trying to juggle the mum role and getting someone to look after my son as well as the study and fitness was probably the biggest hurdle and also travelling from the suburbs to Redfern every day.”

With all the time Jodie had to spend away from home, she knew that she could rely on family to support her.

“When I graduated my dad said it was one of the proudest days of his life. You couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. I am the first person in my family to do something like this,” Jodie said.

“My son tells all his friends that I am a policewoman and he gets embarrassed, but you can tell that he is so proud. When I go to his school they all ask me ‘are you really a policewoman’?”

“I would love for my son to follow in my footsteps when he gets older and become a policeman himself.”