CONVERSATION WITH CARLENE YORK, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER NSW POLICE
Assistant Commissioner Carlene York is the commander of Human Resources for the NSW Police Force and a police veteran with over 30 years’ experience.
Her career is an exemplar for women who have faced and overcome some of the issues that arise for females working in a male dominated culture. In this week’s podcast, York open’s up to Terry about her career- from working as 1 out of 2 female officers in the 1980’s to becoming the Corporate spokesperson for women in policing. She also shares the details of what it was like to command the man hunt for Malcolm Naden back in 2012.
These days, the health and mental wellbeing of the NSW Police is a major priority for their current Assistant Commissioner Carlene York. Police duties, as she describes, can be dramatic and violent. It is not uncommon for an officer to experience some form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after handling a disturbing case.
In this week’s podcast, York discusses the unforeseen nature of police work, and how society has started to change its perceptions towards mental health. With more than 30 years of police experience, York knows the psychological impact of the job and is currently using her HR role to focus on early intervention and preventative strategies.
With mental illness now affecting 1 in 5 Australians, employee mental health is a trending topic for corporate leaders. Listen to how Carlene York designed a “Workplace improvement program” that not only improved the mental health of participating officers, but also improved their overall performance. Listening to this, business leaders can discover the mutual benefits of providing employees with support for their mental health at work- financial benefits included.
What you can also expect in this podcast, is a discussion between York and Robson on the silent culture surrounding mental illness. Find out why old-world beliefs and masculine stereotypes still pervade the police force and prevent sufferers from getting the help that they really need. York discusses how HR can address these problems by promoting resiliency through education modules and training programs.
No Comments