Nadia Hammoud New Police Recruit
The Age
Saturday January 26, 2008
NADIA Hammoud expected she would have a different cultural background to most of her class at the Victorian Police Academy. She was, nonetheless, shocked when one classmate confessed he had never met a Muslim before."
For him to meet me was good. I said to him, 'I'm happy I'm the first one you meet'."The 23-year-old graduates from the academy next week after a 20-week training course. Recruits are given the option of staying at the Glen Waverley campus or commuting each day; Ms Hammoud made the daily journey from the Coburg home of her parents, Lebanese immigrants who at first struggled with their daughter's choice of profession but are now bursting with parental pride."I always wanted to join the police force," says Ms Hammoud, "but I always had people telling me, 'no, I don't think it's for you. You're female, you're Lebanese, you're Muslim.' From a traditional point of view there were a few strikes against it."It wasn't enough to outweigh the attraction, however. Policing, to Ms Hammoud, is not only a community-minded job; her involvement will help the evolution of Australian society. "I want to challenge stereotypes, not just about Muslims but about women in general. I don't think it's all Australians, but I think there is a perception that we're a disadvantaged group. There are stereotypes from the Lebanese community as well about women being constrained to the home."Another young Muslim woman of Lebanese background, Maha Sukkar, made Victoria Police history in 2004 by becoming the force's first officer to wear the traditional headscarf. Ms Hammoud doesn't wear the hijab but prays five times daily."In my first few days at the academy I told all my instructors I'm required to pray and they're fine with it. I'm happy to work around it as well, so if I do need to be in a class then I'm happy to do it another time. The Victoria Police are becoming extremely aware that it's important to have different groups in society seeing they have members in the force."Today Ms Hammoud will join her family in celebrating, as they do every year, the dual occasions of Australia Day and her brother's birthday."We have family over, have a barbecue. Australia Day is important day for me, because I am one." -- LARISSA DUBECKI
© 2008 The Age