LISTENER NOTE: this episode contains some content that may be confronting and distressing to people – listener discretion is advised.
In this episode of GET REAL we meet DAVID MCGOWAN, a veteran Police officer who is the CEO of POLICE VETERANS VICTORIA, a not-for-profit organisation that supports Victoria Police Veterans and their families.
Police Veterans Victoria has Veteran Peer Support Officers - volunteers who provide support to other police veterans and their families who may be dealing with personal issues, need to talk, or are seeking someone to confide in.
Police Veterans Victoria has big ambitions… and it boils down to building community and purpose for police veterans after they leave the job. But like most not-for-profit organisations, this takes funding – and currently Police Veterans Victoria runs on community, corporate and individual support and contributions and a lot of goodwill, as well as support in a number of ways from Victoria Police. So, David and the team are busy raising awareness, encouraging membership and advocating for financial support from government.
David first joined Police Veterans Victoria as a veteran peer support officer before being asked to step into the CEO Role.
He was compelled to volunteer following a shocking traffic crash in 2020 tragedy when four Victoria Police were killed in the line of duty on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway.
For more info on POLICE VETERANS VICTORIA: https://policeveteransvic.org.au/
Follow Police Veterans Victoria on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/policeveteransvic
LISTEN TO Police Veterans Victoria's podcast THE PLODCAST (available on Anchor, Apple Podcasts & Spotify)
If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:
Produced and hosted by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.
ermha365 provides support for people with complex mental health and disability in Victoria and the Northern Territory.
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FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha365
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We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.