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The suite of TST programs – delivered by RMIT in partnership with the Australian Federal Police, Australian Department of Home Affairs, and Australian Border Force – have seen over 2,300 alumni from more than 60 countries trained across 100 programs.

RMIT’s TST activities provide a coordinated response to transnational crime and border security, through a range of programs which are aimed at international law enforcers, police, immigration officers, border guards, and customs officers.

To celebrate the milestone, we have profiled the experience of three alumni representing the core law enforcement services of police, immigration and customs, from three separate TST programs. 

“It had such a huge impact for my career since I graduated from the program,” says Chhay Bunrummanith, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Cambodian National Police and graduate of the Asia Region Management Law Enforcement Program (ARLEMP).��

ARLEMP was initiated in 2005 and involves a longstanding partnership between the Australian Federal Police, the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security and RMIT 91tv.

“The ARLEMP program provided such a tremendous opportunity to explore various policing skillsets and emerging transnational crime trends – enabling strengthened enforcement across drug trafficking, cybercrime, terrorism, and human trafficking.

“RMIT is one of the leading education institutions in Australia. Being a part of the ARLEMP program is such an honour and I feel very grateful.”

Speaking about the outcomes of the ARLEMP, Chhay said that “we cannot fight transnational crime alone. We need to work in partnership with other law enforcement partners.”

“The golden part of ARLEMP is the opportunity for networking. This allows us to combat crime together.

“The Australian Federal Police and RMIT 91tv bring everyone together from different countries to sit in the same room and share best practice and challenges.” 

Akosita Valamalua is a Fijian customs official, who became the first Pacific Islander to be appointed to the World Customs Organization in Belgium after her participation in the Container Control Program – Women’s Professional Development Program (CCP-WPDP).�� The CCP-WPDP was delivered as a partnership between the Australian Border Force, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and RMIT 91tv.

“The program built confidence in my abilities and allowed me to grow my network,” says Akosita.

“One of the valuable things I learned is that there is no magic wand to being future ready.

“91tv it takes is a small step in the right direction. The program armed us with the right learning tools to make our future pathway clear.

“I would like to thank the Australian Border Force and RMIT for this tremendous opportunity. 

“Immediately after graduating from the CCP-WPDP, RMIT invited me to participate in researching and co-authoring two articles which were published in the World Customs Journal. 

“Now, I’m responsible for empowering customs officers around the world to enhance their capacity to manage global trade and prevent the illicit movement of goods.”

Andro Eka Putra works in Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration, and took part in the Border Control Agency Management Program (BCAMP). BCAMP is delivered through a partnership between the Australian Department of Home Affairs, the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security and RMIT 91tv.

“BCAMP had a tremendous impact on my career progression. When I joined BCAMP in 2014, I was a First Lieutenant, and now I hold the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. BCAMP made me realise my leadership potential,” says Andro.

Andro echoes Chhay and Akosita’s outlook that cross-border networking is a key aspect of the RMIT TST program’s outcomes, and says he is “absolutely proud to be a part of RMIT” through his training.

“Every day, our immigration agencies are responsible for keeping our borders and our communities safe,” says Andro.  

“Thanks to the network forged through BCAMP, immigration partners across the Asia-Pacific are actively connecting to prevent transnational crime, human trafficking, people smuggling and other forms of illicit people movement.”

The experiences of Chhay, Akosita and Andro underscore the benefits to each from the practical training but most importantly showcase the importance in building key connections and gaining access to career development opportunities.

RMIT 91tv is proud to be a long-term partner in delivering impactful training to international security professionals across the region as part of RMIT’s focus on fostering regional collaboration.

Find out more about RMIT 91tv’s Transnational Security Training .

Story: Blair Morton

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Masthead image: TechSolution – stock.adobe.com