Women in the AFP
“The AFP today is a vibrant organisation that will welcome you into the fold. Women can perform any role they want in the AFP from investigator to firearms instructor to forensic specialist.”
Karen Newett, Federal Agent
The AFP recognises that diversity creates a stronger and more effective organisation. In particular, we are keen to recruit more women to provide greater breadth of experience and approaches, introduce fresh perspectives, and more closely reflect our society.
Women in the AFP take on roles right across the organisation—in positions as diverse as forensics, search and rescue, training, security, community patrols, counter terrorism, national and transnational investigations, international liaison and overseas peacekeeping missions.
The AFP aims to be an employer of choice, and as such offers a wide range of career options and promotes work/life balance.
Profiles
Meet some of the women in today’s AFP:
- Jo Lee, Team Leader, Biology, Forensics
- Kate Mokrij, Multicultural Liaison Officer, ACT Policing
- Kylie Ford, Counter Terrorism, Jakarta
- Leanne Close, Deputy Chief Police Officer, ACT Policing
- Marissa Chapman, Prosecutions and Judicial Support, Legal
- Rachael Kennedy, Fingerprint Examiner, Forensics
- Sheena Greig , Traffic operations, ACT Policing
The Women’s Network
The Women's Network Canberra is an inclusive network, open to all Canberra-based AFP employees and volunteers. Its aims are to support, encourage and network—benefiting members and the organisation.
The group provides support and leadership to other women in the organisation. It develops and implements strategies to meet a wide range of interests and needs. The group works to influence decision-making forums to achieve outcomes that are important to women in the organisation. For example, recent activities include canvassing strategies for attracting more female recruits, providing input to the Collective Agreement negotiations and discussions on flexible working hours and adoption leave, use of force training, in particular firearms training, and awards to recognise women in policing.
Commissioner's Australasian Women in Policing Advisory Committee
The Commissioners' Australasian Women in Policing Advisory Committee (CAWIPAC) was borne out of recommendations from the ground-breaking Australasian Policewomen's Conference in 1996. CAWIPAC was established as a peak advisory group to provide advice and develop strategies to assist Police Commissioners to maximise the contribution of women within policing organisations. The group has representatives from Australian Federal Police and New Zealand Police and every State and Territory Police service in Australia.
CAWIPAC has reported on its achievements through the 2003-2006 Business Plan and has now developed a new Strategic Plan focussed on the direction for women in policing through to 2009. This direction is emphasised by the CAWIPAC vision statement driving better futures now.
- CAWIPAC Business Plan 2006-2009 (PDF, 2Mb)
- CAWIPAC Strategic Plan 2006-2009 (PDF, 1.2Mb)
- CAWIPAC Contacts October 2007 (PDF, 32kb)
- CAWIPAC Terms of Reference (PDF, 622kb)
- CAWIPAC Annual Report 2006 (PDF, 37kb)
- International Association of Women Police
- British Association for Women in Policing: Gender Agenda 2, women making their full contribution to policing (PDF, 1.45Mb)
CAWIPAC Conference 2007
Official closing of CAWIPAC as a committee.
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Group photo of CAWIPAC members at the CAWIPAC Conference held in Wellington, New Zealand on 17-18 October 2007.