Creating community and connection when The Job ends with Police Veterans Victoria CEO David McGowan

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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:

Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

Produced and hosted by Emily Webb, ermha365

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline 13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

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.