Two female officers from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) recently took part in a professional training exchange program in Canberra, Australia, as part of ongoing cooperation between the RSIPF and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) through the RSIPF-AFP Policing Partnership Program (RAPPP).
The officers, from the Strategic Planning and Policy Department, joined the AFP’s Strategy, Design, and Evaluation team for a week-long exchange, alongside a police officer from Palau and the RAPPP Program Management Office Team Leader.
The training focused on strengthening skills in planning, program delivery, and evaluation—key areas that help ensure RSIPF continues to deliver on its strategic goals and improve policing outcomes across the Solomon Islands.
The officers also had the opportunity to engage with members of:
- Pacific Policing Initiative
- AFP International Gender Team
- Pacific Community for Law Enforcement Cooperation
These sessions encouraged regional cooperation and knowledge sharing, promoting stronger links between Pacific law enforcement agencies.
This initiative highlights the continued commitment of the RSIPF and AFP to work together, share best practices, and build stronger, more adaptable policing strategies that support safety and security across the Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific region.
Sergeant (Sgt) Gorethy Tekunipwalo said the program was very valuable. This exchange gave us new tools and ideas to improve our planning and evaluation work.
“It also let us share directly with AFP colleagues, which will help ensure our partnership continues to meet the needs of the RSIPF and our communities. We now know we can reach out to our new AFP friends and colleagues whenever we need support as we practice these skills,” said Sgt. Tekunipwalo.
The program not only builds technical expertise but also promotes regional solidarity and women’s leadership in Pacific policing—paving the way for a more inclusive and effective police force. This initiative shows the commitment of both the RSIPF and AFP to work together, adapt to new challenges, and support stronger policing for the future of the Solomon Islands.
