Power-house recruit and mother of two, Deb McLachlan lives
her long-time dream of becoming a police officer, entering
training at the QPS Academy in the PROVE program.
Dragging a 75kg mannequin
40 metres from one end of a
gymnasium to the other, sprinting
80 metres and then dragging it
back to its original position is
some feat for a 52kg officer. How
does Recruit Deb McLachlan do
it?
“You squat down so your back is
supported. You roll your shoulders
back and keep your head up.
You stay physically and mentally
strong. Above all, you don’t give
up,” she said.
That mannequin could be you or
I, unconscious in a burning car,
and the ‘dummy drag’ is just one
of the drills police recruits practice
to perfection.
Photo by Emilee Woolcock, Media and Public Affairs Branch
All recruits undertake the
intensive 30-week Police Recruit
Operational Vocational Education
(PROVE) program, which is
offered at both the Oxley and the
Townsville police academies.
PROVEing
ability
10 PoliceBulletin363
Recruit
McLachlan
is 15 weeks
into her
program,
but
becoming a
police officer
has always been in the back of her
mind.
“I first wanted to become a police
officer when I was 18 and living in
Adelaide. I tried to join the South
Australia Police, but I was too
short. They wanted 5’6”, and
I’m only 5’4”, she said.
complete life change, but
my family is very proud of
me.”
“Then when I moved to
Brisbane in 1991, I met my
The PROVE program gives
participants the foundations
to become
a police
officer. The
program
is full
time, with
students
expected to
study and
complete
assignments
in their
own time.
Participants
complete
modules
on topics
Recruits in the PROVE program
prepare for a diverse role as a police
officer learning the right skills through
physical fitness training, practical role
play and theory-based study.
Photos by Sergeant Clint Hanson, Police Photographic Section
husband who had
just graduated
from the police
academy. I got
busy working as
a personal trainer
and coach, running
fitness programs
for kids, and raising
two children.
such as community safety,
legislation, property, traffic
and juveniles, followed by an
exam and then practical work
based on scenarios and role
play.
“Now he is a Sergeant with
the South Brisbane Traffic
Branch, our kids are 12 and
14 years old, and I’m ready to
take up the next challenge.
It’s a big commitment and a
to the academy.
By the end of
week 15 we are
supposed to
have completed
our ‘triple’—
that’s the
dummy drag,
obstacle course
and ‘beep’
test. If you get
the triple done
early, then you
can concentrate
on your studies without the
added pressure of trying
to get your fitness up to
standard. I did mine in week
five.”
To be eligible for PROVE,
applicants need to possess
a tertiary qualification, life
experience and a high level of
fitness.
At 44, Recruit McLachlan said
she was the oldest female in
her group, which comprised
21 men and women of varying
ages.
“I already had a Certificate
III and IV in Fitness plus lots
of life experience, which I
think played a big role in
my application,” Recruit
McLachlan said.
“Despite the age differences,
there’s a great camaraderie
between us, not just within
our group, but with other
groups at the academy.
There’s a good support
network too; we have
Human Services Officers and
Learning Support Officers.
“Physically, it helps if you are
already fit before you come
Our facilitators, Sergeant
Miley and Sergeant Cooper,
are terrific. If ever you’ve got
problems you’ve got someone
to talk to.”
In the future, Recruit
McLachlan said she hoped
to combine her passion for
policing with her love of
working with young people.
“I’d love to work with youth,
and can see myself at a station
that is linked to a PCYC,
or even as a school-based
police officer or adopt-acop. A position in the Child
Protection Investigation Unit is
another option,” she said.
“In hindsight I’m glad I
didn’t do this at 18; I was not
mentally or emotionally ready.
You have to be prepared
and your family has to be
supportive. It will be hard,
there will be challenges along
the way, but it’s a fantastic
thing to do and everybody
I’ve dealt with has been
terrific.”
By Paula Hedemann,
Media and Public Affairs Branch
PoliceBulletin363
11