General News
7 July, 2022
Isaac Brewster recognised during 2022 NAIDOC Week
Maryborough Police’s First Constable Isaac Brewster has been recognised for his work in community engagement and support as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations. First Constable Brewster received the Aboriginal Employment Award during the Bendigo and...
Maryborough Police’s First Constable Isaac Brewster has been recognised for his work in community engagement and support as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations.
First Constable Brewster received the Aboriginal Employment Award during the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative’s (BDAC) NAIDOC Week awards ceremony last week.
The Police Aboriginal Liaison Officer at the Maryborough Police Station, First Constable Brewster said he was both surprised and humbled by the award.
“My fiancé actually nominated me for the award and I only found out the day before the awards that I’d been nominated, I had no idea,” he said.
“Work knew about it as well, I was the only one who had no idea and even when I attended the ceremony, I expected to just be there as a nominee — when they started talking about me I was very surprised but also honoured and pretty chuffed as well.”
A proud Ngarrindjeri man, First Constable Brewster said his work as Aboriginal Liaison Officer helps him to “bridge the gap” between the community and police and build strong relationships.
“I’ve recently become the Police Aboriginal Liaison Officer here at the Maryborough Police Station which helps me engage with offenders and people who come through the station, but more broadly with the community as well,” he said.
“In my role I’m able to go to local schools and engage with staff and students there, I went to the Maryborough Education Centre a few weeks ago to engage with the kids.
“I really enjoy it, I’ve been to the school a few times now to have meetings with staff to see if there’s any kids they think might need engagement with police and support.
“It’s very humbling work, I really do enjoy that type of engagement work and being Aboriginal myself, I never really had that at school.
“You do have that bias against police sometimes and what I’m enjoying in my role is trying to bridge that gap with the community in general and showing we are just people who joined to support the community.”
First Constable Brewster became a police officer in 2019, fulfilling a childhood dream of joining the force to support his community.
The 31-year-old, who formerly worked as a tradie, said his story should encourage others to take a leap of faith and “have a crack”.
“I’ve always wanted to be a police officer and for me it’s always been about helping people, it’s something that’s always interested me and I think the big drive is helping people who really do need our help,” he said.
“I think almost everyone joins the police force because they do want to make a difference in their local community and my role supports me to do that.
“I think everyone needs to take a leap of faith sometimes and have a crack, don’t be afraid to follow your dreams.”
BDAC CEO Raylene Harradine congratulated First Constable Brewster, along with nine others, on their contributions to the community.
“This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! and this is about encouraging our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to be proud of their traditions and culture and to be active members of the community and get involved,” she said.
“We acknowledge the amazing achievements of our nominees and winners of our awards but also all of our Community for their successful contributions.
“NAIDOC Week is an important week highlighting the importance of community, history tradition and culture that makes Australia great.”
NAIDOC Week is an annual week-long celebration of the cultures, history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and runs from July 3 to 10 this year.