What Makes Leah, Leah?
I live in Central Victoria with my husband, our two beautiful daughters, and our Golden Retriever dog. I have lived in Central Victoria most of my life, however I did spend a few years away for work. During these years away, I lived and worked in both East Gippsland, and in the north-western suburbs of Melbourne. Working in various locations has helped me gain valuable experience.
Growing up, I was lucky to be raised by my amazing parents, who I am still very close to now. My father is also a police officer and has been for around 35 years. I spent a lot of my childhood around police and police stations, and knew very early on that it was the path I wanted to take and that I wanted to follow in my dad's footsteps.
I love sport. I love both spectating and playing. Netball is my favourite, which I have been playing since I was about 5 years old. I've also recently fallen in love with running (which I never thought would happen!) I love the feeling when the run is finished, and I find that it's a great way to keep fit, clear my mind and appreciate my surroundings.
I barrack for Collingwood in the AFL, and also love watching the Australian Cricket Team over the summer, especially on Boxing Day.
I also enjoy drawing. I like to draw mandala-style art.
Outside of these things, you will most likely find me drinking coffee and shopping with my mum, or hanging out with friends.
What Does A Detective Actually Do?
One of my main roles as a Detective is to keep kids safe, and this is something I'm very passionate about. We often visit schools, daycares and kindergartens, where we meet lots and lots of wonderful children, just like yourself!
No two days are ever the same, which keeps things interesting! Some days I'm out in the field gathering information or meeting with people, and other days I'm working with my team to review evidence or come up with a plan to solve a case.
It's a job that's challenging but also incredibly rewarding because every day is an opportunity to make a real difference in someone's life.
How Did Leah End Up A Detective?
I joined Victoria Police in 2014 after completing a nine-month course at the Victoria Police Academy. The training was tough but really rewarding. After I graduated, I worked in general duties for about four years.
During that time, I became really interested in becoming a Detective. In 2018, I applied for a Detective position, did an interview, and completed five weeks of special Detective training. Since then, I've loved every minute of being a Detective!
To join Victoria Police, you need to finish Year 12 or something equivalent. I did my Year 12 at SEDA College, which stands for Sports Education Development Australia. I loved SEDA because it combined my passion for sport with the chance to finish the schooling I needed to follow my dream of becoming a police officer.
What Is Leah Most Proud Of?
What I am most proud about with work, is currently dedicating my career to keeping children safe alongside my colleagues, and to supporting both child and adult victims through various matters that are reported to us. In my personal life, I am most proud of my family, and my ongoing commitment to netball and staying active.
Got questions?
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A bit, but probably less than you think. Most of being a detective is listening carefully, asking good questions, and working things out with your team. Leah talks about being out in the field gathering information, meeting with people, and reviewing evidence with her colleagues. Being kind matters as much as being brave, because a lot of the kids and adults she helps are having a really hard day when they meet her.
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Leah joined Victoria Police in 2014, after a nine-month course at the Victoria Police Academy. She worked in general duties for about four years before applying for a Detective position in 2018, and then did five more weeks of training to become a Detective. So all up, around four years between joining the police and becoming a detective. Most jobs that take a lot of training look like that. Lots of small steps, one after the other.
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Yes. Leah says the biggest thing kids can do is say hi when they see a police officer out in the community. It helps police get to know the kids in their area, and it helps kids feel like the police are people they can talk to if something goes wrong. If you ever feel unsafe or worried about something, telling a trusted adult is the first thing to do, and they can help you decide what comes next.
