It has been a while since our last Dispatch. In the last few weeks, I have been travelling around Australia to conduct member musters with the support of AFPA Industrial and Membership staff.The musters proved very fruitful and constructive. I was especially pleased with the high attendance of members and prospective members, notably at some of the more remote AFP locations.These musters would not have been possible without the support of the AFPA’s network of Workplace Delegates and Convenors; I would like to thank them all for their tireless assistance, both with these musters and the ongoing support they provide [...]

Hello everyone, First, it is with a heavy heart that I acknowledge the death of WAPOL member Constable Anthony Woods. On behalf of myself and the Board, I offer my condolences to Anthony’s family, colleagues and friends. If any AFPA members knew Anthony and are struggling with recent events, please ensure that you reach out for support.Following some meetings with members, we have compiled a short survey about AFP uniforms and any issues members are experiencing with them. We highly encourage all members to participate and share their thoughts. The survey link is here. Responses can remain anonymous if you [...]

Hello everyone, Firstly, I hope you are all safe and healthy. I would like to remind everyone that the Delegate and Zone Convenor elections will be taking place at a later stage in the next financial year. Nominations though will be called for shortly; if you are interested in being a Delegate, please look out for the email from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and follow the instructions. If you would like to know more about the positions, please contact the AFPA office, and we can provide further information. The pay period ending May 24th will see the last [...]

The last month has seen much preparatory work for National Council take place as we make the final plans for the agenda and presentations taking place over the two-day conference. We’ve also just entered into an exciting agreement with Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW), allowing AFPA members the opportunity to adopt an ex-racing greyhound for free! The benefits to mental health afforded by pet ownership are well documented, and we are delighted to be able to make this offer available to the membership. The upcoming issue of Blue Star will carry a joint press release from the [...]

Happy New Year to all members! I hope most of you were able to enjoy at least some time off over the Christmas period; for those unable to, I hope that it won’t be too long before you are able to enjoy a well-deserved break. I must start by acknowledging the recent deaths of the two young Queensland Police Service members. Following on from my all-member email on 13 December, the AFPA attended the memorial service on 21 December in Brisbane. The AFPA laid a wreath honouring Rachel and Matthew and joined with other attendees in commemorating the lives of [...]

Christmas is a time for togetherness, and I hope that colleagues across the AFP are preparing for precious time with family, friends and loved ones. It’s a time for us to be thankful for family, community, health, and happiness, but it can also be a poignant time of reflection, as we remember those who are no longer with us. For some, Christmas is a difficult time, and in policing we are privileged to see many great acts of generosity within communities, as people reach out to help those who may need support or companionship over the Christmas period. For [...]