FRESH faces will soon be on the beat across Brisbane’s south and bayside suburbs after 79 new officers officially graduated from the Queensland Police Service Academy this week.
Among them is former Gold Coast surf lifesaver Constable Sophie Christie, who will be deployed to the South Brisbane District, which includes Redlands and the Bayside, returning to the area where she grew up to begin her policing career.
The graduating class is the first of more than a dozen cohorts expected to pass through the academy this year, continuing a recruitment push that saw almost 1200 constables sworn in during 2025.
For Brisbane’s south and bayside communities, the intake includes new officers assigned to Carina, Cleveland and Wynnum, strengthening frontline policing in rapidly growing suburban areas.
Constable Christie said moving from the surf to the streets felt like a natural progression.
“I wanted to continue to help people and I wanted my work to have a meaningful impact to Queensland,” she said.
“Policing ticked all of those boxes for me. I just can’t wait to get out there and make a difference in people’s lives.”
Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski congratulated the graduates, saying they were joining more than just a profession.
“Joining the blue family is more than a career choice, it’s a commitment to teamwork and being part of a community,” he said.
The recruits come from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including aviation, childcare and real estate, and will be stationed across the State – from Brisbane’s suburbs to Far North Queensland.
Within the South Brisbane District, new constables will be deployed to stations including Carina, Cleveland, Wynnum, Coorparoo, Inala, Moorooka, Upper Mount Gravatt and Calamvale, reflecting ongoing efforts to boost local policing capacity.
The latest graduating cohort also recognised outstanding service, with Constable Noah Langley receiving the Commissioner’s Executive Award for leadership and commitment to community service.
Constable Langley will be deployed to Tully in Far North Queensland.
“I could see the tangible impact that policing had on vulnerable members of the community,” he said.
“I was also drawn to a diverse career where no two days were the same.”
Queensland Police say further graduations are planned throughout 2026 as part of a sustained recruitment drive.
