MELBOURN, November 28 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - A 30-year-old former graphic designer who hails from Lebanon made history this week when she became the first Victoria Police officer to wear hijab as part of her uniform.

Maha Sukkar graduated from the police academy on Friday, November 26, with 49 recruits in a ceremony attended by Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon and Police Minister Andre Haermeyer, the Herald Sun reported on Saturday, November 27.

“Police designed a headdress -- known as a hijab -- to meet health and safety requirements,” the paper said.

Constable Sukkar, who hails from Lebanon, was involved in the design, including testing several types before settling on one with a Velcro to enable its release should she get caught in a physical scuffle.

The specially designed headwear had to be designed to meet both religious and occupational health and safety standards, the Australian Associated Press reported.

Constable Sukkar said she was very proud to be a police officer and her family had flown all the way from Lebanon for the big day, the Herald added.

“It has been a dream since I came to this country four years ago,” she said. “And now it's here.”

Sukkar said she was not worried about anybody picking on her because of her hijab.

“People can't understand things they don't know about,” she noted.

“But once they know about me and my religion, they accept it totally and there is no problem at all.”

Sukkar said she does not expect the headpiece would attract any unwanted attention, but if it did she would handle it “just like any other police officer.”

Commenting on the move, The Australian newspaper said “Sukkar stood tall despite being the shortest recruit on parade at her police graduation ceremony.”

The former graphic designer was supported by her parents and friends from the Muslim community, The Age, Melbourne’s oldest newspaper, said.

“At first we were worried by how people would respond but we really admired her courage and she has been an inspiration to us,” said her best friend, Aiesha Hussain, at the ceremony.

Chief Commissioner Nixon said Victoria Police wanted to attract more women and more recruits from culturally diverse backgrounds that reflected the community, The Age said.

“I think this is Victoria Police showing that we are very welcoming of people from a whole range of backgrounds and nationalities who want to join us.”

Australian Muslims have grown to represent a significant section of the Victorian population.

Some Muslim organisations estimate as high as 350,000 the number of Muslims in Australia.