The impact of COVID-19 can be felt across all of Jesuit Social Services’ programs, including the Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program.
The program, established in 2018, seeks to reflect the cultural diversity of the Victorian community as its workforce undergoes significant expansion.
It is designed to assist and provide support to applicants, including by providing mentoring, support and guidance alongside a 15-week training course to build the skills and capabilities of participants throughout the Victoria Police recruitment process.
Jesuit Social Services joins Victoria Police, the African Australian Multicultural Employment and Youth Services (AAMEYS), Victoria University Polytechnic, AMES Australia, MatchWorks, and Maurice Blackburn Lawyers as partners in the program.
COVID-19 has meant that the current round of over 60 participants are engaging in one-on-one and group meetings via Zoom, and that Victoria Police has adapted its recruitment processes to account for safety measures and social distancing.
The success of the program is reflected by two participants from a previous round having joined the Victoria Police Academy in April – one in a police officer role and one in a police custody officer role.
A total of 31 participants across the three completed program rounds have passed the Victoria Police entrance exam and are at various stages of the recruitment process.
Due to COVID-19, the fourth and fifth rounds of the program have been postponed to June and early 2021 respectively. We look forward to sharing future successes of the program with you.
