A group of elders from Burma were given an insight into the work of police last week.
On Friday, the men – who are members of a Wyndham Community and Education Centre cultural group – were given a tour of the Werribee Police station and had lunch with local officers.
Settlement service co-ordinator Richard Dove said most of the elders had lived in Australia for five years or less. “I think for nearly all of them, it would have been their first time to visit a police station,” he said.
He said for some of the men, who had spent up to 20 years living in refugee camps, it was normal to fear people in authority.
But he said it was important for the elders to know that there was no reason to fear police in Australia.
“This is an important part of resettlement – to know you can call police, contact police and if you have contact with police, it’s not going to end your life,” he said.
Inspector Marty Allison said he was pleased to welcome the elders to the station.
“It’s a way of police increasing awareness and understanding of the communities in Wyndham,” he said.
The Wyndham Community and Education Centre’s settlement service co-ordinators help resettle refugees in the area.
Visit wyndhamcec.org.au for details.
