2016 Suncorp Police Scholarship announced

Police Minister Bill Byrne, Commissioner Ian Stewart and Suncorp Group’s CEO Insurance Anthony Day today announced the recipient of the 2016 Suncorp Police Scholarship.

The Suncorp Scholarship provides Queensland Police Service leaders and managers the opportunity to undertake leadership development, research and study which will benefit QPS and community as a whole.

Now in its third year, the scholarship focuses on crime prevention, road safety or disaster management preparedness, response and recovery, and can be undertaken in Australia or overseas.

This year’s winner of the Suncorp Scholarship is Capricornia District Disaster Management Support Officer Senior Sergeant Cameron Barwick, who will focus his research on early warning and modelling systems for disaster preparation and preparedness.

Minister Byrne said Queensland’s potential for natural disasters, such as flooding and cyclones, meant the awarding of the scholarship to Senior Sergeant Barwick was a win for the state of Queensland as well.

“Senior Sergeant Barwick hopes to use this scholarship to benefit our state’s police service by ensuring disaster management arrangements provide a greater focus on mitigation strategies prior to an event. This will in turn reduce our response and recovery efforts,” Minister Byrne said.

“I would like to congratulate Senior Sergeant Barwick and acknowledge and thank Suncorp Group for ensuring this important work can be done for Queensland by way of scholarship.”

Commissioner Stewart said Senior Sergeant Barwick would travel to the UK, Germany and Spain to conduct his important research. Senior Sergeant Barwick will also undertake a two week Disaster Management Course at Bournemouth University, England.

“Senior Sergeant Barwick will travel overseas to meet with international experts and learn more about how we can improve our state’s disaster management arrangements, not only for the QPS but for the whole of government,” Commissioner Stewart said.

“With potential increases in disasters, such as more frequent flooding and cyclones, as well as human-caused events, like derailments and fires, there is a need to increase our abilities to effectively model and warn vulnerable communities of pending disasters.” 

Mr Day said it was particularly pleasing to award the Suncorp Scholarship to someone who had put an emphasis on disaster preparedness and resilience.

“Suncorp is an enthusiastic advocate of disaster mitigation as the most effective way of minimising damage to their community, which can be seen in our Protecting the North cyclone mitigation program in northern Queensland,” Mr Day said.

“We’d like to especially commend Senior Sergeant Barwick for recognising the importance of mitigation in his submission.”

Media contacts 

Minister Byrne’s Office:                                                                (07) 3035 8312

Police Media:                                                                                 (07) 3015 2444