10 December 2024
Media release
Strengthening the Service: Queensland Human Rights Commission releases review of workplace equality in the QPS
- An independent review from the Queensland Human Rights Commission has delivered a roadmap for widespread workplace culture reform of the Queensland Police Service.
- It found systemic discrimination against women, First Nations and culturally diverse officers continues to be driven by outdated processes and attitudes.
- The review makes 36 recommendations to make QPS a more diverse and equal workplace.
A landmark, independent review of the Queensland Police Service has delivered a roadmap for systemic and cultural change, to ensure QPS can be a modern, inclusive workplace that harnesses the valuable and diverse expertise of all its officers to better serve Queensland.
The independent review by the Queensland Human Rights Commission, Strengthening the Service, examined the causes of longstanding and deeply-entrenched discrimination within QPS against women, First Nations and culturally diverse officers that harms its workforce, impacts policing outcomes and corrodes community trust.
The 16-month review found attitudes embedded within longstanding practices and procedures continue to discriminate against diverse police, contributing to police leaving QPS, and falling short of modern community standards.
Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall paid tribute to the more than 2,800 current and former QPS staff who provided their time, insight and perspectives on how to make the workplace safer for all officers, retain staff and improve policing responses for the community.
“Policing is an incredibly challenging job. We all rely on the dedication and service of those who wear the uniform and it is important we work to create a safer, more equitable workplace for all QPS officers,”
“Unfortunately, this is not a case of simply rooting out a few bad apples. QPS’s workplace culture and systems have allowed discrimination to thrive and systemic discrimination needs systemic solutions.”
Mr McDougall said part of the challenge was how merit was understood and measured within QPS, with physical skills and attributes traditionally held by police officers through history - and more often held by white men without primary caring responsibilities - still favoured.
“The nature of policing has changed considerably in recent decades. Policing is becoming more complex and police need a range of skills to successfully serve our diverse, multifaceted community. Police from diverse backgrounds bring unique skills and experiences to the job that QPS should value and recognise.
“For example, police recruits are required to swim 100m before they can join QPS – despite rarely, if ever, needing to swim while on duty. It means the ability to swim is valued higher than other valuable skills like the ability to speak other languages, or use emerging technologies that are increasingly critical to policing.”
Mr McDougall said if QPS wants to attract and retain the best talent, grow its workforce and have the skills needed to keep Queenslanders safe, it must build a more equitable, diverse and contemporary working environment.
Strengthening the Service contains 36 recommendations for QPS, including:
- A review of their minimum diversity targets and how they’re reported to ensure they are effective;
- An external expert review of QPS recruitment standards to ensure they reflect genuine occupational requirements and don’t unlawfully discriminate;
- Consideration of ways its performance management system can be improved, including better equipping leaders to have difficult conversations;
- Key performance indicators for leaders and managers to hold them to account for helping improve workplace equality;
- Increasing QPS’s capacity to prevent discrimination before it occurs and making sure those who experience discrimination can safely report issues and seek support;
- An audit of policies and procedures, including promotion and job selection criteria to ensure they are equitable and not discriminatory; and
- A trial of different forms of flexible work in different operational environments.
The review was a recommendation of the 2022 Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service responses to domestic and family violence, which found discrimination was impacting the entire culture of QPS and leading to poor workplace and policing outcomes.
The review is an ongoing project and the Commission will evaluate QPS’s work in implementing these recommendations and their impacts during an evaluation phase in 2027.
- ENDS
Download the report
The report is available in full as well as in a short read version from the Queensland Human Rights Commission website.
Media Contacts
QHRC Media
Email: comms@qhrc.qld.gov.au
Phone: 0407 657 411