A career protecting the vulnerable

University of Southern Queensland alumnus Leonie Fordyce has dedicated her lengthy career in the Queensland Police Service to protecting vulnerable people.

Since being sworn in as a police officer in 1995, her time has been marked by many roles addressing domestic and family violence and harm committed against vulnerable people.

Earlier this year, her contribution to preventing domestic and family violence was recognised when she was awarded the Australian Police Medal in the 2023 Australia Day honours.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their homes and in their relationships,” Inspector Fordyce said.

“Police have an incredibly important role to play in engaging with members of our community and in offering them assistance and support, particularly at times of crisis.”

Her career has included roles training police recruits and working at a high level with Queensland Parliament.

“I have been fortunate to work in a number of different operational, training and corporate roles during my service,” she said.

“I have been a Crime Prevention Officer and Coordinator in the North Brisbane and Oxley Police Districts, a Project Officer at the Domestic and Family Violence Unit, a Senior Facilitator supporting the training of recruits at the Academy, a Principal Strategy Officer with Policy and Performance Division and the Parliamentary Liaison Officer and Manager of Ministerial Services.

“I’ve also had the opportunity to undertake secondments external to the QPS, performing the role of liaison to the Premier’s Special Taskforce for Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland and the recent Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service responses to Domestic and Family Violence.”

Inspector Fordyce is currently the Strategy and Performance Inspector with the Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Command.

“This is a position which reflects the experiences of my service and also my commitment to enhancing police responses for the protection of vulnerable Queenslanders, particularly those experiencing domestic and family violence,” she said.

Inspector Fordyce began studying a Master of Professional Studies at University of Southern Queensland in 2011 and graduated in 2013.

She said the Master of Professional Studies provided the opportunity to continue her important work and complete further tertiary study to inform her role.

“Perhaps the greatest benefit, for the QPS and for me personally, was that the Master study provided me with new skills and knowledge to apply broader analysis and critical thinking to the work-based challenge I was responding to,” she said.

“Certainly, the action research skills, critical thinking and reflective practice skills I developed over the course of my education have shaped my approach to workplace challenges, problem solving and developing innovative practice.”