In this interview, we sit down with Senior Constable Chris Mulyadi, ACT Policing’s Multicultural and LGBTQIA+ Liaison Officer. Chris shares his unique perspective on building trust, fostering inclusion, and supporting Canberra’s LGBTQIA+ community. From practical support to honest reflections on policing’s past and present, Chris offers valuable insights into his role and the positive changes taking place in ACT Policing’s approach to community engagement.
For those unfamiliar, can you explain the ACT Policing LGBTQIA+ Liaison Officer (LLO) role and your main responsibilities within the community?
My main responsibility within the LLO role is to be a trusted point of contact between ACT Policing and the LGBTQIA+ community. My aim is to provide an avenue for the LGBTQIA+ community to voice community concerns, encourage reporting and facilitate clarity in Police processes in a trauma-informed approach.
Is the LLO position part of a dedicated team, and if so, how do you and your colleagues work together to support Canberra’s LGBTIQ+ community?
The LLO sits within the ACT Police’s Community Engagement Team and we have liaisons who service different vulnerable groups, including youth, multicultural, seniors, disability, and First Nations. We often collaborate, as there are often people within multiple cross-sections of these demographics.
In practical terms, what kind of support or assistance can an LLO provide to members of the ACT’s LGBTIQ+ community who may be facing challenges or need help?
For members of the community who are thinking of entering the justice system and report an incident to Police, or for those already in the system, I can act as a point of contact to talk through the Policing and Court process and ensure that appropriate supports are available through our internal systems and external contacts that the community may not already know about. I am not an investigator, so my role is to make sure the person is heard and give clarity to the options available to the person.
Why did you personally choose to become an LGBTIQ+ Liaison Officer, and what does this role mean to you?
I have had a very particular lived experience being a gay male who is Australian-born, of Indonesian descent, and Islamic faith and now a Police officer for eight years. Sometimes, these circles overlap well, and sometimes they don’t. I believe that they should – and I think that starts in a place of respect and curiosity to understand what is underneath these labels.
I had the good fortune of landing in the Multicultural Liaison Officer role first, which I enjoyed and felt I made an impact on interactions with multicultural communities. This LGBTQIA+ space is an extension of the work I already enjoyed doing.
Can you share any positive changes or specific examples of improved relationships between ACT Policing and the LGBTQIA+ community since LLOs were introduced?
Since I have been in the space, I have received various referrals from patrols where I have been able to provide support and clarity to both Police and the victim. In some instances, I provided contact for victims who were struggling to receive appropriate support physically and emotionally, along with alleviating pressure on patrols who continue to respond to other incidents.
I have also began building relationships with both government and non-government organisations to provide advice on legislation from current investigations, engaged in LGBTQIA+ youth groups for positive engagement, and assisted in a sponsorship grant to run Sport Your Pride, which will be a great event.
How does ACT Policing respond to concerns from community members who are wary or critical of police involvement in Pride events or queer spaces?
ACT Policing understand that parts of the community are very conscious of the history between Police and LGBTQIA+. Fundamentally, our job is to service the ACT community in its entirety, and the LGBTQIA+ community are a part of that. We will always look to create a safe space for when the community need Police — but we are conscious that the community coming to police is a privilege, not an entitlement, so it is now my job to pave that way forward for ACT Policing.
I am confident the way ACT Policing respond to matters for the LGBTQIA+ community is very different now to how it was 20 or so years ago.
What training or ongoing education do LLOs receive to ensure they’re equipped to understand and support the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ people?
Police officers who apply for a role within the Community Engagement Team have several years of experience in Patrol and develop skills to engage with vulnerable persons and community groups.
Along with the AFP’s mandatory training that covers diversity and discrimination, an internal AFP LLO program is available to educate on LGBTQIA+ history, which is presented with support from Meridian ACT.
I think that outside of this training, remaining curious about the stories of people within this community will be pivotal, as many walk unique lives of intersectionality and subsequently have unique interactions in the justice system.
What would you say to someone who feels uncomfortable or unsafe engaging with police, even though an LLO?
In general duties policing, I regularly encountered people who did not trust police, sometimes because of their own experiences and sometimes because of things they had seen or heard happening elsewhere in Australia or overseas. I understand that history and the media can shape how people feel when they interact with us. My approach is simple: today does not have to look like yesterday.
I would encourage people to have a conversation with me, even if that conversation begins with navigating feelings of uncertainty, discomfort, or fear. The question I often ask is: “How do we do this together?”
People are often concerned that reporting to police will immediately set a process in motion that they cannot control. Where there is no immediate danger, I believe safety includes giving people information, choices, and a clear understanding of what happens next so they can make informed decisions about their own situation.
How can members of the LGBTQIA+ community reach out to an LLO outside of events like ‘Latte with an LLO,’ and what should they expect from that interaction?
The best place is the email inbox This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This email is where the referrals and requests come through, and is monitored by the Community Engagement Team. Alternatively, if you see me walking around with a rainbow Police patch on my vest, please just say hello!
Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you’re excited about that aim to further strengthen the relationship between ACT Policing and the queer community?
I am very excited to have the opportunity to meet people at ‘Latte with an LLO’ which I will continue to run to give opportunities to chat and get to know me. Sport Your Pride will be a great event as well and we will have a stall there to chat with us, while also giving AFP members (and me) an opportunity to join in for some sport. For me, any engagement is an opportunity for me to hear what is both good and bad. Being cognisant of both is the only way to continue moving forward positively.
How can the LGBTQIA+ community help shape or support the work of LLOs in Canberra moving forward?
Please share that the ACT Policing LLO can help for those in the LGBTQIA+ community who may need assistance and feel apprehensive about coming to Police. Feel free to reach out for advice, even if it may be for someone else you may want to help.
SENIOR CONSTABLE CHRIS MULYADI
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM
MULTICULTURAL AND LGBTQIA+ LIAISON
ACT POLICING
Tel: 02 51267381 Ext: 267381
Latte with an LLO
Do you have some questions, suggestions or something you want to say? Meet an ACT Policing LLO for coffee and a chat at The Bearded Bean Cafe in Canberra on Saturday 28 November from 10:00am-12:00pm.
- Saturday 28 November
10am-12pm - The Bearded Bean
2/21 Genge Street, Canberra - Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
