Misunderstandings can all too easily arise in cross cultural settings. Aboriginal Police Liaison Officers (APLOs) foster positive relationships between the Police Service and Aboriginal communities.

There are still 30 Aboriginal Police Liaison Officers (APLOs) working in Western Australia, although the Unit has now ceased to operate. Interested applicants, however, are now being strongly encouraged to join the mainstream policing unit. There are still 30 APLOs working in WA but it is hoped they will eventually become mainstream police officers.


Although 90% of these officers are currently male, females are slowly making their presence felt in this occupation.

In June 2001, 10 APLO applicants were accepted into the WA Police Service Academy's induction course and 10 each year after that, until 2005. It has now of course been decided that the Aboriginal Police Liaison scheme in WA will cease.

Two Way Relationship

The key role of the Aboriginal Police Liaison Officers unit was to improve relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) communities and members of the Western Australian Police Service. While assisting the Indigenous communities with police related issues, APLOs are also able to help balance the needs of communities and those of the State's law enforcement providers.

Senior Aboriginal Police Liaison Officer, Shayne Williams, says that he spends most of his working day speaking directly to ATSI communities and attending meetings with interested organisations such as liaison committees, schools and sporting organisations.


One of his key tasks is to promote the WA Police Service's crime prevention strategies within the ATSI community and the community at large, as well as discussing cross cultural matters that need to be understood if crime is to be prevented. Aboriginal Police Liaison Officers may also take this opportunity to assist the ATSI community in their understanding of basic statute laws.


Foreign Concept

For many people, approaching a member of the Police Service for assistance may seem simple enough, but it is something that many in the ATSI community have for a long time been resistant to, or unfamiliar with. A crucial APLO function is to help the ATSI community to understand that the Police Service is there to help them. APLOs also make sure that the needs of the Indigenous community are communicated effectively to the Police Service.


APLOs also support Indigenous people who are outside their community environment. For example, they may visit the local metropolitan hospitals to assist the organisation of travel arrangements back home for any Indigenous people who may have been flown in from country areas.

Shayne, who recently returned to Perth after working as an APLO in Halls Creek for many years, has this to say about APLOs helping to bridge the cultural divide:

''The Aboriginal people living in the Great Eastern Desert treat English as their second language. So my role involved educating or assisting members of the Police Service, who had moved there from Perth, about the differences between how that clan lived compared to the Noongyar people in the metropolitan area.''


The senior APLO, who speaks seven Indigenous dialects, also assists the APLOs relocating to the metropolitan area from Halls Creek. He says being multi-lingual enables him to communicate with various clans, and to explain each of their unique differences to members of the Police Service.

''Different clans have different ways of looking at situations and dealing with them. In Halls Creek, for example, they still believe in tribal punishment, where the offender is punished in front of his community, and they still partake in tribal ceremonies.''

APLOs carry out policing tasks such as driver education to meet the special needs of the Indigenous community. They also assist the police during foot patrols in locations where the APLO's expertise and familiarity will be of benefit to police activities.

When warranted, APLOs can arrest another Aboriginal person but only under the direction of a WA Police Officer.

Is It Working?

''I think it is. The bridge is being built. Today you get Aboriginal people actually going up to the police to ask them for help. If I can help one Aboriginal person in 12 months, that means progress to me. And if I can act as a role model and get just one person to follow my career path then I've also achieved something,'' says Shayne.

To excel in this occupation, you should have good communication and negotiation skills.

According to Sergeant Bill McInerney, formerly of the Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, this is a relatively small workforce that experiences a low turnover. Positions will be advertised as the need in the APLO Scheme arises.


Existing APLOs and people who have wanted to join the WA Police through it's now defunct APLO unit may want to consider becoming mainstream police officers. Please check out the Police Officer profile below for more details or contact the WA Police Service directly.

As a senior APLO, you may expect to earn a salary closer to that of a police constable, approx $50,000.

There have been no specific educational requirements necessary to become an APLO. You did need, however, to be of ATSI descent, at least 19 years old, and to have completed Year 9 with an ability to display competency to Year 10.

Good vision, a current, unconditional manual WA driver's licence or the equivalent, a current Senior First Aid Certificate and an approved medical examination were the prerequisites for entry into this occupation.

	Western Australia Police Service
	The WA Police Academy is the training provider for APLOs.

WA Police Service (Recruiting Branch)
3rd Floor Public Trustee Building 565 Hay Street Perth WA 6000 Phone: (08) 9268 7881 or 13 14 44 URL:www.police.wa.gov.au

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