A total of 98 Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) prosecutors from around the country recently graduated with Certificates and Diplomas after successfully completing a course in Police Prosecuting.
The Prosecutions Qualifying Program (PQP) was designed by the Papua New Guinea – Australia Policing Partnership (PNG – APP) Prosecutions Advisor in 2020 in line with PNG National Qualifications Framework and was the catalyst for the Bomana National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) - RPNGC’s training college, in obtaining registration as a recognised Private Training Provider.
“This graduation is a significant milestone for the RPNGC and the PNG-APP and the realisation of a key mission design outcome, delivering training that translates to improved outcomes for the RPNGC and the community,” said PNG-APP Mission Commander Jamie Strauss.
The PQP is aimed at providing prosecutors with the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively perform their role and requires intense commitment from the participants where they complete a combination of face to face learning and distance education modules.
This is no easy task as the Prosecutors must balance their work, home and study commitments. The students face an immeasurable number of challenges within the PNG environment including many living in remote areas of the country, internet, and power connectivity difficulties.
Commander Strauss presented the Dux award to Inspector Hessie Dabema for his academic achievement and the Partnership Award to Chief Inspector Boas, who in his role as Officer in Charge and acting Director Prosecutions Training, fully supported the implementation of the PQP.
Commander Strauss acknowledged that without the officer’s support the program would never have commenced noting the Australian Federal Police (AFP) does not work in isolation of the Constabulary; it is a true Partnership, and the Prosecutors Qualifying Program is an example of that.
Training is one of three key pillars through which the AFP delivers partnership support to the RPNGC, alongside Operations and Corporate Reform.
The program has received attention across the pacific with PNG formally undertaking to assist the Solomon Islands with their prosecutions training.
Advisors at the NCoE are working with their RPNGC counterparts to implement a Detective Qualifying Program (DQP) to formalise the current Detective Training Program .
The graduation ceremony was hosted by RPNGC Assistant Commissioner Training John Kolopen, and Commander Jamie Strauss and attended by Deputy Australian High Commissioner, Joanne Loundes, Secretary for Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) Dr Hualupmoni and others.
Ends.
Graduands at the 2023 Graduation Ceremony.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100