Paramedics Concerned Over Safety as Victoria Shifts to Health-Led Mental Health Responses

The Victorian Ambulance Union (VAU) says it was left in the dark over a major government initiative that will see paramedics take the primary lead in mental health crisis call-outs, raising key concerns over front-line worker safety.

Under newly announced state protocols, emergency responses to mental health incidents will transition to a health-focused model. Paramedics will serve as primary responders where safe and feasible, while Victoria Police and protective services officers transition into secondary support roles—a move intended to allow police to focus on crime while offering more care-focused help to individuals in crisis.

Health Minister Ingrid Stitt defended the framework, stating that people experiencing mental health distress “deserve a response that puts their health and wellbeing first while keeping them and the community safe.”

Although the state government confirmed that the Department of Health, Victoria Police, and Ambulance Victoria signed off on the agreement, union leadership expressed serious reservations about how the policy was rolled out.

VAU General Secretary Danny Hill revealed he only learned of the framework through news reports, noting that neither union representatives nor front-line paramedics were consulted beforehand.

While Hill acknowledged that a health-centered approach can lead to better outcomes for patients, he highlighted concerns over the potential risks faced by paramedics on the ground. He emphasized that paramedic teams and police frequently need to respond side-by-side due to the risk of violence, aggression, and unpredictable conditions during complex mental health calls.