Gunnedah man Darrell Morrison, 20, recently completed the IPROWD (Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery) program out of Tamworth, which means he has ticked one more box on his path to fulfilling his dream.

The IPROWD program was developed by NSW Police and TAFE NSW to provide assistance to students in completing their medical, fitness and psychometric tests as part of recruitment.

Mr Morrison said he was drawn to the force because he thought it would be a challenging career with the reward of giving back to the community.

“Every day there’s going to be something different, and knowing you’re going to have a great career for the rest of your life,” he said.

The IPROWD graduate also called on more Aboriginal men to consider a career with the police.

IPROWD co-ordinator Peter Gibbs presented the cohort with their certificates at the ceremony in Tamworth, and said it was great to see young Aboriginal people putting their hands up to be role models for their communities.

“They’ve got much to look forward to and, as a Aboriginal man, to be able to see 12 young people putting their hands up for a program like IPROWD is an amazing feeling,” Mr Gibbs said.

The program launched in 2008 and Mr Gibbs said there should be no limit to how many Indigenous students could take the pathway.

“We have over 80 people who have joined the NSW Police; over 250 have joined other agencies; over 50 have gone on to study further,” he said.

Oxley Acting Superintendent Jeff Budd said there were more than 500 sworn members of the force who were Indigenous.

“Everyone has their experience with police, good and bad,” he said.

“The majority of our work is good work: helping people and helping community.

“That’s exactly what these kids will be doing in the future.”

The graduates will go to Dubbo to study a certificate of workplace essentials.

Upon completion they will be able to apply for entry into the NSW Police Force Academy.