A PANEL of guest speakers including Victoria Police’s only trio of mother and two daughters in the industry came together at Seymour Police Station to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Organisers Senior Sergeant Jaymee Cutler invited guest speakers from speciality areas across Victoria Police, as well as her sister, Major Collision Investigation Unit Detective Rikilea Mitchell, and mother, Goldfields Police Service Area Inspector Donna Mitchell.
Sgt Cutler said she wanted to highlight the growth of gender inclusion in the police force, and how barriers were overcome.
“I wanted to do something for all the female members and whichever males wanted to attend as well from Kilmore through to Euroa, and we had about 30 people here for a private event, which ended up going for three hours,” she said.
“There had been a time where women weren’t treated as equally [at Victoria Police], but over the last five to 10 years, things have been so much better, and those barriers and that old style thinking has gone away, like ‘they’re only part-time’ or ‘they have children, so they need to be at home.’
“That’s what we were celebrating – that there are a lot of female and male mentors who have rose up despite whatever circumstances they have been through, and it’s a much more inclusive environment now.
“Some people were talking about early struggles, and some were talking about now and the position they are lucky enough to now be in.”
Sgt Cutler said the day was full of good energy and positivity, and she hoped International Women’s Day events continued to be celebrated in regional and rural areas.
“I thought… having my mum and sister here as well was such a positive story in line with International Women’s Day… there is no other mother and two daughters in Victoria Police,” she said.
“International Women’s Day is pretty big in Melbourne, and it’s making its way this way too. It’s up to all of us to keep celebrating it and embracing women in our industries.”
