Growing up in Northern Ireland, Plain Clothes Constable Stephanie Abbott wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, but she was certain she didn’t want to be a police officer.
It seemed everyone around her had a plan; finish school, go to university and then get a job.
Stephanie decided to follow along with her peers, attending the University of Glasgow studying psychology. While she enjoyed her time at university and got some experience in the field using her degree, she still wasn’t sold that it was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.
Hoping a change in environment would help guide her future path, Stephanie packed her bags and left for Australia.
While in Australia, Stephanie followed her passion and gained employment working in stables with horses. It was in the stables that she had her first interactions with the Queensland Police Service and decided that a career in policing was for her.
“Growing up, I never really had an idea on what I wanted to do,” she said.
“I never really had a ‘calling’, so I just did what my friends were doing and followed along.
“After finishing uni, I went straight into the mental health field and really enjoyed helping people, but I found that the days were a bit repetitive.
“I always loved horses so when I moved to Australia, I got a job in the stables and really liked the work.
“While in the stables I did a bit of work with the QPS Mounted Unit and got talking with a few officers.
“I had no idea that the QPS had a Mounted Unit, so I started asking a few questions and learning a bit more about the organisation. I quickly found out that there was a lot more to being a cop than what I thought.
“All of a sudden, I fell in love with the idea of joining the police; the fact that you could work anywhere in Queensland, that there were career paths, different options and loved the idea that a work day would never be the same.”
Stephanie decided to pursue this interest and joined the QPS in May 2018 and has never looked back.
“While being a police officer is not for everyone, it’s something that I’ve really enjoyed so far,” she said.
“In my time at the QPS, I’ve been through a lot. It’s been challenging at times but at the end of the day I feel really rewarded in my work.
“I’ve just joined the Flying Squad, so the job will take me all across the state. I feel like my career is headed in the right direction and I’m excited to see where I’ll end up.
“For anyone unsure in what they are wanting to do in the future, I’d advise them not to rule anything out – you never know what you’re going to love until you look into it. Thinking about it, I’m still shocked that I’ve become a Police Officer, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
If you’re interested in a career in policing, visit policerecruit.com.au