The Hume Police District's LGBTQIA officer Inspector Alison Brennan has been awarded the 2021 Outstanding GLLO Award for the Southern Region.
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Inspector Brennan, who has been with The Hume Police for five years, said she was honoured to receive the award.
"It's nice," she said.
"There's a lot of people in the Southern Region doing great work to add to their duties and take on the role of a GLLO officer. They don't get paid to do it."
As a GLLO officer, Inspector Brennan said it wasn't about treating the LGBTQIA community differently, but rather it was about treating them equally.
"It's about affording them respect," she said.
"It can be a lot easier to come to an LGBTQIA officer in terms of understanding.
"There are gaps and by having these roles, we can be better at closing those gaps."
NSW Police Force Corporate Sponsor for Sexuality, Gender Diversity and Intersex, Assistant Commissioner Gelina Talbot presented Inspector Brennan the award at the front of the Goulburn Police Station.
"Inspector Brennan has done outstanding work for the LGBTQIA community and young people," Assistant Commissioner Talbot said.
GLLOs (originally called Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers) are contact officers for the broader sexuality, gender diverse and intersex communities.
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Their training includes specific information on the history of the relationship between police and LGBTIQ communities, challenges and sensitivities experienced by some community members to engage with police, and effective responses to people who become victims of crime.
They also assist other police to respond to homophobic and transphobic incidents and work with the Engagement and Hate Crime Unit and other specialist areas.
Another aspect of their role is to champion LGBTQIA inclusion at work and provide support to LGBTQIA staff.
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