We Chatted With Victoria Water Police’s First-Ever Female Ocean-Going Skipper

Wish you could spend all day navigating waterways and breathing salty sea air? Kate made that her reality and she hasn’t looked back.

 

‘It’s calm on the bar today, we’re lucky’, says Kate Middleton (no, not the Princess) as she steers us through Lakes Entrance near Paynesville, Victoria, like she’s on a casual Sunday cruise. ‘This bit of water is really hazardous. We do a lot of rescues out here.’

But don’t let the chill vibe fool you. Kate’s not just any sailor. She’s Victoria Police’s first female ocean-going skipper. She’s part of an experienced crew that patrols more than 2,500km of coastline, launching into action when boats break down, storms roll in, or lives are on the line.

We jumped aboard to find out what it’s like to turn a childhood spent sailing into a dream job that’s equal parts adrenaline, nature, and salt-soaked freedom.

 

 

Brooke: So, what do you do exactly?

Kate: I’m a Senior Constable at Gippsland Water Police based in Paynesville, and we cover the eastern side of Victoria. We do a lot of safety and compliance checks, but we’re also on call 24/7 for marine search and rescue jobs. That can mean anything from helping stranded boaters to full-scale emergency responses. 

What does a normal patrol day look like?

There’s nothing normal about it! When you cover 2,500km of coastline, your day really can take you anywhere. 

One day we might be doing offshore patrols, like today on VP09 (VicPol’s offshore police boat), the next we might be patrolling inland waterways, or heading up toward the border to some of the more remote boat ramps and lakes.

 

 

But everything can change in a second if we get an emergency call.

What do you love most about the job?

100% the search and rescue side of things. Victorian Water Police receive a couple of thousand jobs a year, and I love that I get to spend my days going out and actually helping people. Then there’s the police investigations which are always interesting. 

What’s the most epic rescue you’ve ever been involved in? 

Last year, we were called out in the middle of the night to help a 20-metre sailing vessel that was disabled in bad weather, and one of the crew members had badly broken his leg. We managed to tow their vessel to sheltered waters and evacuate the injured man.

The remaining people on their vessel tried to make it to a safe harbour, but ran into trouble again the next day, which is when we had to evacuate them all. It was a four-day job in really challenging conditions and circumstances, but we got them all safely back on shore.

That’s what the job is all about – being able to help fellow boaties when they need it the most.

 

 

How much of your time is spent on the water?

I’d say about 80%. With the tech we have on board now, we can take a lot of the work we’d normally be doing in the office out on the water. 

 

 

Do you see a lot of wildlife out here?

Absolutely! Last year, a Humpback whale got tangled in heavy fishing gear. She was heading north and a helicopter spotted her near the oil rigs. We worked with the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA) and Parks Victoria over three days to cut all the gear off and free her. That was a really cool one.

From May to November, we see a lot of Humpback or Southern Right whales. We even had some Orcas around here last year. Then there are pelicans, dolphins, fur seals, and sometimes even sharks in the lake system. 

Have you always loved the water?

My love of the water was definitely handed down in the family. My dad was a big sailor, so we grew up around yacht clubs, and my brother and I used to sail, windsurf, and dive. If we weren’t at school, we were on the water. I even ran the safety boat at my local sailing club.

 

 

How did you end up working in the Water Police?

I always knew I wanted to work on the water, which led me to commercial boating before deciding to join VicPol. 

I started with a general duties regional posting in beautiful, sunny Echuca on the Murray River. Then I did a posting in Melbourne at a specialist response division, where I got some exposure to the Water Police. With my background, it felt like a natural fit.

And now you’re Victoria’s first female ocean skipper?

The rumours are true! We have internal and national qualifications to go through, which I completed about 12 months ago. Being the first female ocean skipper is pretty important to me. It’s a job I’m really passionate about. I love the water and I love the boating environment. I hope I can open a few doors on my way through for other women.

 

 

Do you still get out on the water outside of work?

I probably spend more time on the water than on land. I’m big into sailing – I’ve got a little racing yacht I sail on the Gippsland Lakes, and I race interstate too.  So my days off are basically very similar… just not in uniform. 

Tell me a bit more about Paynesville

Paynesville’s like the gateway to the Gippsland Lakes. There’s a lot of boating and a lot of history tied to the lake system. The Gippsland Lakes themselves are pretty special, with about 420km² of water sitting between 90 Mile Beach and the Great Dividing Range. 

What do you love about working regionally?

Everything is right on your doorstep, especially in Paynesville. I’ve got the lakes out the front and the mountains up the road. I can finish work and go hiking or camping. I do a heap of both as I love being out in nature. 

As well as the water, I love the trails up through the High Country, places like Craigs Hut on Mt Stirling are just incredible.

You also get a real work-life balance out here. You’re part of a community. You walk down the street and people know your name. And the impact of your work is immediate. We might tow someone’s boat one day and run into them at the shops the next. 

 

 

What would you say to someone considering joining Victoria Police — especially those who might not know what’s possible?

When most people think about policing, they don’t picture this. They don’t picture being out on boats, working on the water. But there are so many different opportunities, especially in regional areas. 

My advice is just do it. There’s a huge amount of diversity in the roles, and if you start out in a country posting, you’ll get that job positivity and immediate feedback from the community. 

 

 

What excites you about coming to work every day?

This! Doing a job I love, in a place that is spectacular. No two days are ever the same. I reckon it’s the best job in Victoria Police. 

 

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