This week in ‘It’s My Desi Life’ the focus is on a young, vivacious and energetic Kashmir Kaur, who is a Protective Services Officer with the Victoria Police in Melbourne.
Kashmir Kaur hails from the state of Punjab in India.
After her schooling, Kashmir decided that she would like to study abroad and chose Australia as her destination. She landed in Melbourne, Australia in 2009 to pursue advanced diploma in hospitality.
Kashmir finds life in Melbourne to be easy and fun, she says, “I have been lucky that I have never had any problems here… I hardly had any issues, in terms of settling in or mingling in!”
As most of the international students, Kashmir also had her fair share of hard work involved and while studying she also worked in restaurants and cafes to take care of herself.
Kashmir unabashedly admits that it was while pursuing her degree that she found the love of her life and decided to get married, a decision she is much proud of.
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Kashmir confesses that she did not know much about police or ever having the thought of a police job coming across her mind. It was while she was working with Bunnings, that a friend of hers showed the pictures of her brother's Police graduation that prompted her interest in police.
Kashmir explains, “At that time, I didn't know much about Victoria Police or PSO roles... but, I found it to be quite an attractive work and therefore, wanted to know more and see how I can be a part of it. Therefore, I talked about this role with my husband. I was really lucky that my husband said - Give it a go... do it! And he actually searched online about the role and told me about the role... and if you're interested I'll get you to go to Victoria University and do some entrance exam classes”.
Thus, Kashmir’s interest in becoming a part of Victoria Police started taking shape.
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Initially, Kashmir was a bit nervousness thinking it is a job of Police, how will she do it? But then she prepared herself mentally for all the challenges that the role would bring up.
Kashmir found that in her squad almost 80% of the PSO’s were of Indian origin, including three girls.
She admits that it wasn't like she was the first person of Indian origin to be a part of the Victorian Police, but still she feels proud as a woman to be a part of Victorian police, especially coming from India and doing a job of police in Australia has been somewhat challenging, eye-opening and exciting for her.
Kashmir remarks, “Police job in Australia is very well respected... and I give my 100%. Not only me, everyone else in the job, they give their 100%. We have good supervisors and all that...”
Kashmir likes to spend time with her family and loves to travel, she mentions, “if my husband and I have holidays at the same time, then we do go to India or other places... If not, then, I go to my sister's place, or she visits me. My sister-in-law is also here! Her daughter is very dear to me. I also visit their home and sometime babysit my niece.”
Kashmir finds herself as a good mix of Indian and Australian society!
But she also asserts, “since I am born and bred in India... I have those cultural values. I always keep my cultural values in mind, but since I have been here for quite a while now... I understand the culture of Australia now... and I fit in quite well here!
Kashmir further says, “I hardly face any conflict of values as such, in terms of choosing what is right... I always give it a thought in terms of both cultural values... But, yes... on many issues, I give preference to the values of my family, more than anything else.
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