South Brisbane District Police are strengthening connections with Brisbane’s Chinese-speaking community, with the inaugural South Brisbane Chinese Community Police Reference Group meeting held at the Upper Mount Gravatt Police Station.
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The meeting took place on August 18 and brought together Queensland Police Service members and 13 community representatives from Chinese-speaking communities across Brisbane.
Those attending represented communities with backgrounds and connections to Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. The gathering provided an opportunity for community representatives to share their perspectives and raise issues involving community safety, policing, family and youth education, and future collaboration.
The meeting was chaired by Senior Sergeant Chris Hebblethwaite, with support from Acting Inspector Matthew Thompson, Sergeant Michael Yau, Senior Police Liaison Officer Ken Rong, Weng-Mun Sum, Police Liaison Officer Chia-Ying (Alex) Shen from South Brisbane District and Acting PLO Coordinator Darwin Huang from the Multicultural Affairs Unit.
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The discussion covered a range of community concerns, giving police an opportunity to better understand the needs and priorities of Brisbane’s diverse Chinese-speaking communities.
Senior Sergeant Hebblethwaite said open communication and mutual understanding were important to building trust between police and the communities they serve. He described reference groups as an opportunity for police to listen to community representatives, learn about their concerns and work together on issues affecting local families and community leaders.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of providing Chinese families with practical and culturally appropriate information and support. Areas discussed included family education, child and youth safety, mental wellbeing and online safety.
The reference group is intended to provide a regular platform for open dialogue, information sharing and collaborative problem-solving. This gives community representatives an ongoing avenue to raise concerns and discuss issues with police.
Feedback from community representatives following the inaugural meeting was overwhelmingly positive, according to South Brisbane District Police. The response reflected the value placed on direct and ongoing communication between police and the Chinese community.
South Brisbane District Police described the establishment of the reference group as an important step in strengthening police-community partnerships with Chinese community leaders and organisations.
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The meeting was held at Upper Mount Gravatt Police Station, providing a local setting for the inaugural gathering. Police said they would continue the conversations with Chinese community leaders and organisations following the meeting.
South Brisbane District Police said they looked forward to continuing to work alongside Chinese community leaders and organisations to build trust, enhance community safety and support a safer, stronger and more connected community.
Published 26-August-2026
