Senior Sgt Sarah Carmichael,
VicPol Leaders Mentoring Program, Rotary Mentor Marjorie.
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Sarah is on the 2017-18 Leadership Mentoring Program, coached by Marjorie Gerlinger. She is stationed with the Road Policing Command Strategy Unit.She has a family tradition of service, with grandfathers, father (Viet Major) and brother (two tours, Afghanistan) all with armed forces service. Her husband Nick was with VicPol and now is a financial planner. They have three boys under 12.
Sarah as a teen competed for four years in national athletics and state swimming. Later, she was also accepted from among 8000 as a contestant on the second series of Master Chef in 2010. She pulled out half-way because her absence was hurting her boys. She’s now training for the Melbourne Marathon this year.
She worked four years as Detective with the Dandenong Sexual Offence and Child Abuse Unit. “It exposed me to both the best and worst of those in our community, exposed me to some horrific crimes committed against children, exposed me to trauma and abuse which no one should have to endure,” she said.
“It taught me resilience and determination – reinforcing why I became a VicPol member. I learnt the unfairness of our justice system at times and also the importance of supporting victims – some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
Her present role includes VicPol strategies on driverless vehicles (which could make big gains to road safety), digital drivers’ licences, hoon driving offences, low-level speeding and safety education.
Her community initiative involves helping disadvantaged people in Greater Dandenong on child restraints and safety in vehicles.
Sarah’s presentation was well received by all present.