Victoria Police moved by lived Holocaust story

The room at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum falls silent as Dr Henry Ekert AM begins to speak.

Before him, seventy-five Victoria Police officers lean forward in their chairs, their usual professional composure giving way to something deeper as they listen to the 88-year-old Holocaust survivor recount his childhood in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Henry’s voice is steady but carries the weight of decades as he describes a particular day that remains etched in his memory.

He was playing in the street with his six-year-old friend when they heard the unmistakable sound of boots marching up the cobblestones.

The realisation hit them both simultaneously: Germans were approaching.
Henry ran as fast as his small legs could carry him, his heart pounding as he scrambled to safety.

His playmate wasn’t fast enough. The child was caught and murdered on the spot.

The impact of hearing such testimony from someone who lived through these horrors is palpable throughout the room.

Several officers shift uncomfortably in their seats, others stare intently at Henry, processing the reality that this gentle man before them survived one of history’s darkest chapters.

This moment represents the culmination of a comprehensive day-long cultural awareness program that has become increasingly vital for Victoria Police as they work to protect and serve Melbourne’s Jewish community.

This Jewish cultural awareness training, run in partnership between the Community Security Group (CSG) Victoria  and Victoria Police, has evolved from a modest quarterly program into a highly sought-after monthly initiative that reflects both the growing need for cultural understanding and the police force’s commitment to community engagement.

Since October 7, 2023, the program has experienced unprecedented demand, with attendance up fivefold from the original 10-15 participants to the current 75 officers per session.

Justin Kagan, CEO of CSG Victoria, explains how the partnership has transformed in recent months.

“Following the events of October 7, 2023, there was a noticeable shift in both interest and urgency around Jewish cultural awareness. The need for education, empathy, and dialogue became more pronounced, and CSG has been overwhelmed by the resounding commitment Victoria Police has demonstrated to meeting this need.”

The dramatic growth reflects what Kagan describes as a fundamental change in how police approach community engagement.

“These training days have now grown into a robust and highly sought-after program. Attendance has more than tripled, reflecting a strong desire among officers to engage meaningfully with the community and better understand its history, traditions, and contemporary challenges.”

The program begins at the CSG offices, where officers receive briefings on the organisation’s capabilities, operational partnerships with police, and current threat assessments affecting the Jewish community.

This practical foundation helps officers understand how community security works in practice and establishes the collaborative framework that makes their partnership so effective.

From there, the group moves to the Central Shule, where Victoria Police Chaplain Rabbi Shmuel Karnowsky provides cultural education about Jewish traditions, customs, and sensitivities.

This component helps officers understand the religious and cultural context they need when interacting with community members, particularly during sensitive situations or religious observances.

The Australian Jewish Museum offers the next stop on this educational journey, where officers explore the history of Jewish settlement and contribution to Australian society.

This historical perspective helps officers understand how the Jewish community has become an integral part of Melbourne’s social fabric while maintaining its distinct cultural identity.

The day concludes at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, where the theoretical becomes intensely personal through survivor testimony.
Simon Holloway, manager of community and corporate programs at the museum, emphasises the unique impact of this component.

“Meeting somebody who not only lived through hell, but was able to make meaning out of those experiences and, in some respect, triumph over them” provides officers with what he describes as “vicarious resilience.”

The transformation in police understanding becomes evident through their own reflections on the experience.

Sergeant Pat McGavigan from Moorabbin candidly admitted to the AJN his previous lack of awareness about antisemitism and its contemporary impact.

“We’re on the other side of the world from where all the action is happening, but they’re taking it on. It’s un-Australian,” he observes, highlighting how global events create local vulnerabilities for Australian Jewish communities.

McGavigan’s comparison of CSG to “Neighbourhood Watch on steroids” reflects a growing appreciation among officers for the sophisticated community security model that has developed within the Jewish community.

He notes how the community’s own JEAP app quickly helped identify the perpetrator of the East Melbourne synagogue arson attack, demonstrating the practical value of community-police collaboration.

For Sergeant David Atkinson from the divisional intelligence unit, the training provides crucial context for his analytical work.

“It’s important for us to keep that in mind, particularly how vulnerable the Jewish community feels in the current climate,” he explains.

This sensitivity to community psychology becomes essential when officers are assessing threats, investigating incidents, or simply engaging with community members who may be experiencing heightened anxiety.

The feedback from participating officers has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Kagan.

“Officers repeatedly express how transformative the experience has been, particularly in gaining a more nuanced understanding of Jewish culture, identity, and lived experience. The visit to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, in particular, leaves a profound impact – many officers note that it not only deepens their historical awareness but also sensitises them to the emotional and psychological triggers that may affect members of the Jewish community.”

This enhanced understanding translates into practical improvements in policing effectiveness.

As Kagan explains, “This heightened cultural sensitivity then facilitates more empathetic, insightful, and respectful community engagement, especially in moments of tension or vulnerability.”

The dramatic increase in program participation reflects broader changes in Victoria’s security landscape.

Since October 7, 2023, Victoria Police has made 149 arrests as part of Operation Park, which focuses on prejudice-motivated crimes, with the majority relating to antisemitism.

Police have also conducted more than 7,500 visits to Jewish places of worship, schools, and community hubs across the traditional Jewish heartland of Glen Eira-Bayside, Stonnington, and Port Phillip.

The cultural awareness training has fundamentally changed how police and CSG work together during these challenging times.

“Many police officers have had direct experience working within the Jewish community—whether attending community events or responding to critical incidents such as the East Melbourne synagogue fire,” Kagan notes.

“Thanks to the Jewish awareness training days, officers are now far better equipped to navigate these situations with confidence and sensitivity.”

The partnership between CSG and Victoria Police represents what Kagan describes as “a cornerstone of community safety and cohesion.”

He explains that “CSG brings deep cultural insight and grassroots knowledge, while Victoria Police provides the operational expertise and authority to respond to threats and maintain public order. Together, they form a united front against antisemitism, hate crimes, and broader security concerns.”

The program’s success has created its own challenges, with CSG having to cap attendance on certain days due to overwhelming interest and adding a fifth annual training session to meet demand.

Based on the current interest, they could easily host additional sessions throughout the year, reflecting the genuine enthusiasm among police for this professional development opportunity.

Victoria Police Superintendent Martin Bourke, divisional commander of Glen Eira, Bayside and Kingston, emphasises that the training represents more than just cultural education – it embodies the police force’s commitment to community protection.

“When people feel seen, heard and understood, it affirms their values, identity and humanity,” he explains.

“Understanding Jewish culture, traditions and religious practices helps us interact respectfully and effectively with Jewish individuals and the community.”

The collaborative approach extends beyond training into practical emergency management.

CSG and Victoria Police regularly conduct tabletop exercises to ensure coordinated responses to potential incidents.

This preparation proved valuable during recent security challenges, including the East Melbourne synagogue attack, where the partnership between community security and police enabled rapid identification and apprehension of the perpetrator.

For Holocaust survivors like Henry Ekert, participating in these training sessions represents both a personal mission and a community service.

Born in Przemysl, Poland in 1936, Henry was only four when the Nazis invaded.

His survival story, including six weeks hiding in a cupboard with his father and separation from his parents during the war, provides officers with a direct connection to the historical roots of contemporary Jewish security concerns.

Kagan reflects on the broader significance of this community-police partnership model.

“The relationship between the Community Security Group and Victoria Police demonstrates the value of community-based emergency management. By working hand-in-hand with emergency service providers, such as law enforcement, community organisations help realise a shared mission of safety, continuity, and cohesion.”

The program’s impact extends beyond individual officers to influence broader police culture and community relations.

Word-of-mouth recommendations from participating officers have helped drive the dramatic increase in attendance, suggesting that the training provides genuine value that officers recognise and want to share with colleagues.

As Superintendent Bourke notes, “Education fosters respect and strengthens our relationships with the Jewish community across Melbourne’s south-east.”

In an era of rising antisemitism and global uncertainty, these cultural awareness sessions represent a proactive approach to community policing that acknowledges both historical trauma and contemporary challenges.

The gatherings at the Holocaust Museum, where serving police officers listen to survivors like Henry recount their experiences, create a bridge between past and present that strengthens the foundations of community safety.

Through understanding comes empathy, and through empathy comes the kind of policing that truly serves and protects all members of our diverse society.

CSG Victoria’s annual appeal runs throughout August, supporting initiatives including the Jewish Awareness training days. Donations can be made here.