30 April 2025
The Joint Military Police Unit (JMPU) marked AUSLAN Day on April 14 by celebrating the headquarters’ diverse staff.
The team at Brindabella Park includes three talented deaf staff members: Jacob Clark, Tamara Hone and MP Central Record Office (MPCRO) team leader Chloe Nash-Shannon.
JMPU supports its team with the assistance of AUSLAN interpreters, who attend the workplace once a week. The interpreters were recognised this year for their support with a plaque of appreciation.
The MPCRO is required to respond to urgent and, at times, life-threatening requests from state and territory police needing the immediate retrieval of information concerning current or former military members.
The predominantly verbal and fast-paced nature of requests – with multiple teams coordinating and responding to events – was changed to a text-based response system to include the deaf members in responding to these events.
The system ensures clarity, eliminates the risk of misheard or overlooked details, and automatically time-stamps every action, for accountability.
The approach has improved communication within JMPU and the MPCRO while increasing the accuracy of the department's emergency response.
MPCRO manages and researches military police records and provides information to various stakeholders, including legal teams and law enforcement.
Weekly visits from interpreters ensure seamless communication between multiple teams and leaders
JMPU staff member Tamara Hone said the best thing about working there was the deaf-friendly environment.
"Everyone is very supportive, getting interpreters in, learning AUSLAN, changing the way they communicate to make sure that we're included."
MPCRO’s four teams process more than 6000 requests each year - digitising every ADF police record since 1955.
