Indigenous policing advocate Mechelle Turvey hopes others step up to make change in South West

Those wanting to make a difference in their community should step up and help be the change they wish to see. That’s the advice of the Mechelle Turvey — the WA Police Force’s assistant director of the community liaison unit and the mother of 15-year-old Cassius Turvey who was brutally bashed and allegedly murdered in October 2022. It comes as no surprise Ms Turvey, an Aboriginal woman who admits she first lashed out at police after losing her teenage son, has had a difficult relationship with police throughout her life. But, in the almost two years since her tragic loss, Ms Turvey told the Times she had found purpose in advocating for better relationships between her community and their servicing officers. It is something she hopes other Indigenous people across the State can now be part of as the force expands its community liaison unit with new positions — now open for applications — set to double in WA stations. Community liaison officers aren’t new to the force, with positions for Indigenous officers already stationed in other regional areas including Geraldton, Broome, Derby and South Hedland. The new positions will include postings in the South West and Ms Turvey is hopeful keen advocates apply. “It’s really important that Aboriginal people work with and work for Aboriginal people, because we basically live it,” she said. “It’s an amazing tool that the WA Police Force have where we can have these Aboriginal community liaison officers building the bridge and gaps between Aboriginal communities, people and also the WA Police. “They pretty much do whatever comes their way — it’s whatever the community actually needs. They’re there to also build trust within the WA Police Force and also to create some relationships that hopefully strengthen in the way that if there is an issue around community safety, family violence, whatever it may be, because there’s those trusting relationships that they can approach the police or approach the liaison officers with ease.” Difficult relationships between the police and Indigenous communities isn’t an issue Ms Turvey shies away from, but is one she believes Indigenous people need to be part of to help fix. “As an Aboriginal person, I quite often hear all the gripes about government departments — they’re not doing nothing for me, they won’t listen to Aboriginal people and all these kinds of things,” she said. “I don’t like to generalise, and I like to make a difference, so I decided to join the police force, because I believe if you want change, you have to be a part of it. You’ve got to contribute, so that’s why I’ve ended up here. “I’ve had some negative experiences with the police for sure — I don’t hide from that. “But, you get to a point in your life ... where you’ve got to stop whingeing and generalising that this whole department is against you ... and get out there and be a voice for your mob and do some really meaningful stuff for Aboriginal people.” Helping to lead the unit, Ms Turvey said the current officers had been successful in getting better outcomes for all West Australians. “One of the things that we find is, particular in family violence, is Aboriginal (and) multicultural people won’t approach the police for various reasons — repercussions and so forth — but they feel more comfortable talking to their own mob,” she said. “I think that’s definitely something that we can further expand on by expanding the different areas that we’re going to be putting the liaison officers in.” Applications for the community liaison officer positions close on August 16 and can be found at the Jobs WA website.