UniSA's super cops
by Vincent Ciccarello
The
joint UniSA and SA Police (SAPOL) Superintendent Qualification Program,
which combines with a Graduate Certificate in Management, may be in its
fourth year but this year’s program was different in a number of ways.
First, among the 15 graduates were "sworn" (police officers of at least Inspector rank) and "non-sworn" (general staff) members of SAPOL. Second, the cohort included a senior Metropolitan Fire Service officer. And, third, the program was delivered through a combination of online and on campus study.
Lindsay Ryan, Director of UniSA’s Strategic Partnerships in the Division of Business, said the program has continued to evolve since its inception in 2003.
"It’s a reflection of UniSA’s flexibility and our resources, particularly in online education delivery, and is also responsive to SAPOL’s operational requirements," he said. "The program’s intent is to develop the strategic thinking and the capability of senior managers in SAPOL and it also establishes a benchmark for educational standards at the rank of superintendent."
Deputy Commissioner of Police John White was on hand to present the graduates with their certificates.
"There’s been a very strong commitment from our organisation to develop our senior officers and we see this as being a critical and vital part of the ongoing development of our people," he said.
While the qualification allows police officers to apply for the position of superintendent, the prospect of promotion is not the sole aim of graduates.
Chief Inspector Phil Hoff, a 28-year veteran of SAPOL, is considering continuing study to Masters level but intends to take what he has already learnt directly into the workplace.
"It’s been a particularly good program because it’s actually honed some skills that I think I’ve had, and I’ve got a very real application of them in my current workplace, which is strategically engineering the organisation," he said.
For non-sworn employee Cynthia Manners, who works in the areas of business planning, strategic planning and performance reporting, the program had both professional and personal dimensions.
"It helps with building relationships and networking between sworn and non-sworn people and with the general professional standard of the management practice that SAPOL expects and that we like to deliver," she said.
Last month’s graduation brings to 46 the total number of UniSA Superintendent Qualification Program graduates.