Senior Constable Brodie Anderson – 2021 Northern Territory Police Officer of the Year

Senior Constable Brodie Anderson, is a highly regarded Police Officer who joined the Northern Territory Police in 2008 and has worked primarily in Alice Springs since graduation including several relief stints at remote stations across Southern Command. In 2016 she transferred into the newly created role of Welfare Officer for Southern Command. Her span of responsibility included supporting police, fire and NTES employees from Tennant Creek to Alice Springs and the surrounding remote stations.

In 2021 Brodie Anderson, in her role as Welfare Officer, has unbiasedly and continually offered herself for all members of the Southern and Barkly Region Police, Fire and Emergency Services. With great upheavals in the NT PFES many people have seemingly unobtainable problems that cause them to turn to Brodie and from her care and concern, wealth of knowledge and can-do attitude, finds answers that make the problems obtainable.

There were many quality individual nominations this year specifically for Senior Constable Brodie Anderson, for Police Officer of the Year and this is because she has made such a strong impact with those with whom she works most closely – the members of the Southern and Barkly Region Police, Fire and Emergency Services. 

It is in the Welfare Officer Role she has not just excelled but provided a level of care, compassion and support that is unparalleled across the organisation. For Brodie, it is evident this is much more than a role but an opportunity to daily provide timely support and care for all NTPFES employees going through periods of hardship, grief, family breakdown or when injured whilst on duty.

She has a rare ability to effectively engage and adjust her communication style to suit the audience to allow our staff to feel valued, listened to and supported.

A vivid example was during the extended COVID-19 response where she worked tirelessly to support officers deployed on remote Border Control Points and their families remaining in Alice Springs to minimise the impact of ongoing extended absences. Religiously each year, at her own expense she co-ordinates a Christmas celebration lunch which extends into dinner for the numerous officers who have no or limited family to celebrate this special occasion.

This exemplary dedication and desire to provide welfare support has elevated the performance of Senior Constable Brodie Anderson, and allowed her to stand out from a very strong field of other nominations this year. It is her extraordinary compassion and drive in this most difficult area of endeavour supporting the welfare needs that has attracted significant comment.

Clearly, Senior Constable Brodie Anderson, determined passion for providing welfare support to members in difficult periods of their service is clearly why we chose her for this prestigious award.