Arabic version: مسعفو فيكتوريا يقودون الاستجابات لبلاغات الصحة النفسية

According to ABC News, the Victorian government has announced protocols that would make paramedics the first responders to mental health call-outs whenever possible, while police and protective services officers take a support role.

The government said the health-led approach was intended to deliver faster and more effective care for people in crisis and allow police to focus on crime. Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said people experiencing a mental health crisis deserved a response that put their health and wellbeing first while keeping them and the community safe.

Victorian Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill said the union and workforce had not been consulted, and that he learned about the directive through media coverage. He said a health-led response could improve patient outcomes, but raised concerns about risks to paramedics in complex incidents involving aggression or violence.

Ambulance Victoria said it was developing additional clinical guidelines and that paramedics would continue to receive support from other agencies according to each patient’s needs. It said mental health was among its most frequent call types, with teams responding to more than 65,000 calls each year through ambulance dispatch or telehealth support with a mental health clinician.

Victoria Police said officers would be requested only as a last resort under the new procedures, while retaining responsibility for public safety and immediate risks. The arrangements reflect recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.