MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:05): Last week I was proud to announce more than $1 million to be awarded by the Regional and Specialist Training Fund to Victoria University’s policing recruitment pathways course. This important investment builds on the extremely successful Victoria Police diversity recruitment program which supports African Australians to commence a career with Victoria Police. The pilot program was a triumph of collaboration and cross-sector support. I was so pleased to meet Constable Birty Weaven-Cahill, who is a graduate of this program, and to hear how her personal experience combined with her professional expertise is really making a difference to Victoria Police and how we engage with our communities. This government is proud to be able to support initiatives that will help Victoria Police reflect the community it serves in a very real way.
Programs such as this require strong partnerships, and I am proud that Victoria Police, Africause, Jesuit Social Services, Victoria University, AMES Australia, Maurice Blackburn and MatchWorks all joined together to ensure the success of the program. The funding will focus on engaging First Nations Australians and culturally and linguistically diverse members of our community to embark on a career with Victoria Police. It will continue across the metropolitan area but will also be delivered in Geelong, Western Victoria, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and the Latrobe Valley. The key to this initiative is engagement and outreach, which are vital to achieving true diversity. This program exemplifies the importance of collaboration across government and agencies that will benefit communities throughout Victoria.
Ms Crozier: On a point of order, President, before I ask my question if I may, yesterday I asked a question to the Minister for Emergency Services regarding ESTA times and I was due to have an answer by midday today. I have not received that answer. I am just wondering if the minister could explain why I have not received the answer to the question that I asked of her yesterday.
Ms Symes: Ms Crozier, I have signed that off and I understand it is lodged.
