Victoria has its first female police minister and she's already been backed by the state's powerful police union.
Lisa Neville was named police minister on Monday as Premier Daniel Andrews welcomed her predecessor, Wade Noonan, back into a reshuffled frontbench after he took three months of sick leave to overcome "vicarious trauma".
Ms Neville adds the police portfolio to her existing water responsibilities at a time of rising ice use, family violence and gang crime.
Police Association Victoria secretary Ron Iddles believes she's up to the job.
"It's great to see a female in that role," he told reporters on Monday.
"Just looking at her history, she'll do very well."
Mr Noonan moves into the new industry, employment and resources portfolio.
He took extended sick leave in February citing exposure to "unspeakable crimes" while police minister.
On Monday he revealed the roots of his trauma dated back three years to the state's ambulance crisis when, as opposition health spokesman, he met the families of children who'd died while waiting too long for paramedics.
"I maintain contact with those families even to this day and in some cases they've become treasured friends," he told reporters.
Vicarious trauma was linked to exposure to traumatic events and human suffering, Mr Noonan said.
It mimicked post-traumatic stress and led to anxiety, depression, lack of sleep and irritability.
"For me, quite simply, all of the goodness had drained out of my life," the minister said, adding family, friends and colleagues - as well as professional support - brought him back from the brink.
Mr Iddles hopes Mr Noonan's openness will result in officers being better supported when they too admit to having mental health issues.
At present 28 officers take leave every month due to a psychological injury.
Monday's reshuffle additionally saw Jacinta Allan lose employment but add major projects to her public transport portfolio.
Lily D'Ambrosio takes on the newly created portfolio of energy, environment and climate change as well as suburban development.
Mr Noonan's old corrections portfolio goes to Steve Herbert, who also adds international education to his existing ministerial responsibilities for training and skills.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy on Monday slammed the appointment of Ms Neville to the police role saying she was "universally seen as a hopeless minister for community services".
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