Acting Sergeant Erin Barkway joined the Castlemaine unit earlier this year. While she has been welcomed by the members, there are only a handful of women and she would love to see more join the force.
“Women in policing – let’s get on board,” she said.
“There are only a handful of women at Castlemaine, but the men here are supportive of us and it’s a good culture all around.
“While I don’t think our role should be defined by gender, rather what the person offers, we do need to get the balance right, because some people feel more comfortable with a male, some people a female,” Erin said.
Entering the force in her mid-30s, Erin had previously worked at the Bendigo Bank in the Wallan and Kilmore areas for 16 years, while also raising a young family.
Brought up in a policing family, and married to a police officer, her long-held dream to join the force became a reality later than most.
“I remember my husband saying to me when I was thinking about doing it, ‘Just do it, now is the time’.
“So, my advice to anyone – if you’re thinking about it, start the application,” Erin said.
Before moving to the Castlemaine station, Erin was working as a detective for the Central Goldfields Criminal Investigation Unit.
“I’d always wanted to be a detective, and I love the role, but I feel like now I want to progress and expand and try to become a sergeant,” she said.
“I think it’s the next step for me. I like to challenge myself, and I love the community work. Whether I’m walking down the street to get a coffee or attending a job, I like to have a chat with people.”
Bringing a wealth of experience from her work as a detective and a temporary role in the sexual offences unit in Bendigo, and a stint at the Bendigo Response Unit, Erin is keen to share her knowledge and learn from the members at the station.
“I love the community side of the job,” Erin said.
“My dad was a policeman for over 40 years in a small community like this, so I know that relationship building is important. I love talking to people and for them to have a familiar face so they feel comfortable coming up and having a conversation.”
Erin is also taking over the community engagement portfolio, which will include engaging with schools and various community groups to increase knowledge and awareness on a range of topics.
Erin’s message to the community is clear: “Don’t be afraid to come up and say hi, talk to us. I love being able to walk down the street and say ‘hey’.”
If you’re interested in finding out more about applying to become a police officer, visit: www.police.vic.gov.au/careers