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Question: You are new recruits I understand, so when did you start?
Answer: We started at the academy on 3rd October 2020, having completed the online course for six months.
Question: What made you decide to go for the police force? Was it something you have always wanted to do, or did you go for a few different courses and were accepted into the police force?
Mathew: For me it was something I’ve wanted to do since I was very young. I’ve got family and friends in the police force. Most of my in-laws are AFP.
Question: They must have given you some good feedback for you to have always wanted to join.
Mathew: Yes. There are rough days on the job obviously, but it’s a very rewarding career. You can really help people.
Question: And what about you Cameron, what was your reason for joining?
Cameron: Prior to joining the police I was a firey in fire rescue but I wanted to do something full time with emergency services and make a difference, and the police was something I could get into to do that.
Question: You need to live on site. How do you find that?
Cameron: We are with our own tutorial group and you make good friends and I’ve found it really enjoyable.
Mathew: Yes, it’s really good.
Question: Have you thought about the specialist areas you would like to go into or are you leaving it open at the moment?
Cameron: Long term I want to get into police rescue – road crash rescue, animal rescue, those types of things.
Mathew: I want to do something similar.
Question: Will you stay in Goulburn or where do you think you’ll go?
Mathew: My family is in Canberra so I was really stoked to get Goulburn as my placement.
Question: Are you able to catch up with your family regularly?
Mathew: Yes, I get weekend leave.
Cameron: I’m just from the Southern Highlands, so I’m stoked as well to get Goulburn.
Question: Do you think you will stay local when you finish or go somewhere else?
Mathew: For myself I want to stay here for a while and then go to the city, somewhere busy, a fast-paced environment, and see all aspects policing.
Question: What is the best thing about policing, what fires you up?
Cameron: Making a difference in someone’s life - you turn up and make them feel better.
Question: What is the most challenging thing?
Mathew: We will see some things we won’t want to see, but the benefits and positivity of reaching out into the community will outweigh that.
Cameron: Yes, similar with me. Obviously we do the jobs that no one else wants to do, but that’s what we signed up for and we understand that.
Question: Is there anything you would tell prospective applicants to the academy?
Cameron: I would say just do it, just get in early. It’s a fairly lengthy process, so the sooner you get it started the sooner you can be here in Goulburn getting trained.
Mathew: Yes, I’m 29 now and it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid and I wish I’d done it before now. I was a public servant in Canberra before this.
Question: Any final statements to the public?
Answer: We’re both looking forward to getting out there in Goulburn and engaging with the community.
