Inspector Rowena Hardiker

After graduating from high school in 1998, Rowena commenced a Bachelor of Applied Science before completing a Bachelor of Justice, graduating in 2002. Rowena joined the Queensland Police Service in 2002, commencing her career in general duties policing both across the Gold Coast and Redcliffe Districts, before embarking in an intelligence role in the Brisbane region. 

Rowena’s passion for investigating domestic and family violence was developed whilst working as a District Domestic and Family Violence Coordinator (DFVC) in Mount Isa as well as a general duties officer and DVLO in Normanton, an Aboriginal community in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Rowena is passionate about improving the sharing of information between all services responding to Domestic and Family Violence and has developed a strong passion for educating police and community members about Domestic and Family Violence particularly on the risks associated with Sexual Violence, Strangulation and Coercive Control.

Rowena is married to a fellow officer and has two sports mad sons, and two spoilt Cavoodles.  Rowena and Simon relocated their family to Brisbane in 2019 to be closer to family support and it was at this time, Rowena commenced working in the State Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Unit. 

Rowena is highly regarded across the Queensland Police Service and external to the QPS and is renowned for her expertise and knowledge of domestic and family violence matters and her friendly disposition. Rowena has recently been promoted to Inspector, Advocacy and Coordination, in the Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Command where she hopes to help bridge the gap between our service sector and Police. Rowena recently lead the QPS DFV&VP Command Training Unit after supporting the QPS response to the Commission of Inquiry where she reinvigorated her personal commitment to doing more to protect vulnerable persons in our community.