Justice graduate - protective service officer-PSO Kangan

Alana Olivieri commenced her studies at Kangan Institute in 2009. She graduated from the Certificate IV in Justice before upgrading her qualification to the Advanced Diploma of Justice.

When Alana first came to us she was unsure of how she would go with studying at TAFE. She had disliked high school and felt she had done poorly academically. She dreamed of becoming a police officer but felt she was too young to join immediately and was a little daunted by the entrance exam requirements.

We showed her how different learning in an adult learning environment like TAFE is. Carla Martins, one of Alana's justice teachers, said Alana quickly adapted to this different way of learning and interacting with her teachers and was always focused on her end goal of joining the police force and pursued this with her choices of units and studies.

"Alana quickly became one of the most motivated students in her class," she said. "She commenced her preparation for the police entrance exam but eventually chose to go down the PSO route as a first step in that direction."

Alana herself says that the Advanced Diploma of Justice has definitely assisted in her new role. "In my third week at the police academy, my law instructor said 'now this is where the tricky stuff starts in law, 458 and 459 indictable and summary offenses', and I just sat back with a smile because I knew it all very well already thanks to the course," she said. "Also my communication and empathy skills were already up to standard because of the course and I use those skills every single day of my life on and off duty."

Alana had a bad experience in high school and feels blessed to have come to Kangan Institute to study, calling it a "life changer". "I really do owe my career and the way I conduct myself to my teachers Carla, Shannon, Barbara and Gabe," she said. "If most of our teachers in this state were as dedicated and hardworking, we wouldn't have half the problems we do now. They went beyond their call of duty emotionally and physically."

We wish Alana all the very best with her future career and are proud to have played such a pivotal role in helping her take the necessary steps toward her dream career.