SAPOL is launching a new partnership with Football SA, which aims to promote engagement with multicultural communities, and assist in SAPOL's current recruitment drive.
South Australia Police has identified this partnership as an excellent opportunity to engage with the South Australian Community, identifying that sport is a place that families, friends and communities gather for similar purposes, and this is a chance where SAPOL can become involved with a large sporting community.
Football SA has had a 15% growth since 2021, and now has just under 100,000 participants involved as players, coaches, referee's and volunteers. They have 305 registered outdoor clubs across South Australia and have a mix of male and female participation as well as players of all ages, from school age right through to masters. Football SA is also heavily involved in diversity and inclusion programs across the state and also is well involved in the school age participation programs.
South Australian Police have been involved over a number of years with Football SA events, engaging with participants and the wider community whilst providing a presence at the event. In 2022 SA Police attended the Africa Nations Cup, which had over 20 teams competing over two weekends and more than 7000 people at attend at the Grand Final. Players and spectators at this event came from over 20 different African nations, which presented a great opportunity for SA Police to engage with the many different communities that reside in South Australia.
This new partnership is a great opportunity to develop and strengthen the relationships it has with the wider South Australian Community.
"With the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup being held in Australia in July 2023, all eyes will be on the world game, and this gives an excellent opportunity for the SA Police to partner with Football SA and engage with the thousands of people that will be coming into SA and visiting from regional areas at this time" SAPOL's Acting Commissioner Linda Williams said.
Football SA Chief Executive Officer Mr Michael Carter said of the new partnership with SAPOL;
"Football SA has been working with SAPOL for many years. Formalising a partnership is a great outcome and provides a strong platform to promote safe and inclusive communities. Football is the sport of choice for thousands of people within the state and promoting career opportunities, road safety messages to all ages and having a presence of SAPOL officers at major events has mutual benefits for both parties."
Minister for Police Joe Szakacs welcomed this outstanding initiative acknowledging SAPOL's introduction of the new partnership with the community based Football SA.
"This partnership will mean thousands more people will have direct engagement with SAPOL which will go leaps and bounds to encouraging soccer players across the state to choose a career in policing."
"Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the state and played by people of all ages and backgrounds. I couldn't think of a more appropriate partnership for SAPOL to attract suitable sworn officers, Police Security Officers and other staff members."
"A major benefit this partnership with Football SA will bring for SAPOL is the exciting opportunity to promote policing to South Australians of culturally diverse backgrounds."
"The State Government has dramatically boosted resources for SAPOL in this year's state budget. We are investing $94 million for 189 additional sworn Police Security Officers and to boost police cadets to 900 across the next three years."
