Cunnamulla police pitch regional Queensland posting in recruitment video

Queensland Police has released a recruitment video in which officers stationed at Cunnamulla describe what it is like to work and live in the south-west Queensland town.

The officers, who are not named in the material, say policing in a small town is closely tied to the community. They describe dealing with the same people at work, in the shops and around town, and seeing the flow-on effects of their work. One says they are sometimes thanked in the street. They also describe a respectful attitude towards police, with locals willing to listen and work through issues.

Career development is a central theme. The officers say access to training courses and relieving opportunities in specialist units is shared among a smaller group than at larger stations. One officer says the Rural Locality Incentive Payment (RLIP), worth a couple of thousand dollars extra each year, was an initial drawcard. They say the bigger benefit turned out to be the chance to build a résumé.

That officer says they have run traffic operations and relieved in the Criminal Investigation Branch, where they have worked on serious jobs they believe a larger station would not have offered. They began by enjoying traffic work but developed a preference for longer investigations after relieving in the branch.

The officers also point to a low cost of living, which they say has allowed them to save money, and to a short commute. One says living in town means not having to travel an hour to get home to a young family.

On lifestyle, one officer says their daughter is thriving and that the town has offered a steady run of community events, including race meetings and the Festival of Lights. Colleagues describe a tight-knit station, catching up outside work for barbecues and camping trips, and say they rely on each other on shift.

One officer, who relocated with their husband, says the move was a big change but a positive one and that they have no plans to return to where they came from. The video is promotional and reflects the views of the officers featured.