His appointment was announced last Sunday by UWS vice chancellor Professor Janice Reid, during the annual Open Day held at the Parramatta campus.

“UWS is pleased to be making a real difference in the lives of our communities, training future police officers, criminologists and forensic specialists as well as providing lifelong education opportunities to bolster the professional workforce,” Professor Reid said.

Mr Scipione’s roles as adjunct professor are to give lectures, provide advice to UWS on developing its policing and criminology curriculum and assist in researches.

Aspiring police officers, criminologists and forensic experts had the chance to get first-hand career advice from Mr Scipione during his appearance at the UWS Open Day.

About 500 students are currently studying for their forensic science degree, which is only taught at UWS’s campus in the Hawkesbury. Since 2002, more than 500 students have graduated from UWS in policing, criminology and forensic science and joined the police force and other law enforcement agencies.

The unique forensic science training facility at the campus, Crime Scene House, allows students to practise skills in detecting and analysing footprints, fingerprinting, blood splatter, hairs and fibres, glass and other crime scene evidence.