NSW reforms mental health emergency response, replacing police with paramedics in some cases
Consensus Summary
New South Wales is implementing a reform to send paramedics and mental health nurses instead of police to some mental health emergencies, funded by $270m over ten years. The change follows the July 2023 fatal shooting of 42-year-old Jesse Deacon, whose 82-year-old mother Judy Deacon has been a vocal advocate. The new model, operating 12 hours a day with eight teams, aims to provide better crisis support but will initially exclude nighttime coverage. Police will still respond to safety risks, and both sources highlight the need for further expansion. The reform is seen as a first step, with ongoing debates about funding sufficiency and operational hours.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- $270m allocated over ten years to fund the mental health emergency response reform
- 42-year-old Jesse Deacon was fatally shot by police in July 2023 during a mental health crisis
- Jesse Deacon’s mother, 82-year-old Judy Deacon, advocates for mental health reforms
- The new model will operate 12 hours a day initially, with eight new mental health teams deployed
- Police will remain lead responders in cases involving safety risks (e.g., armed individuals)
- The reform is described as a first step, with potential for statewide expansion
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The reform is modeled after the UK’s ‘right person, right care’ approach
- The initiative includes a hub providing real-time clinical advice to NSW Ambulance first responders
- Police training in mental health is mentioned as occurring in Goulburn now
- A report on mental health system gaps is expected but no timeline given
- The co-response model (Pacer) was criticized for not operating 24/7 and statewide
- The Virtual Mental Health Hub is established within NSW Ambulance
- The reform was recommended by the coronial inquest into the Bondi Junction mass stabbing
- The funding comes from the previous state budget to sustain the project for the next 10 years
- Jesse Deacon was shot dead at his Glebe unit in 2023
- Judy Deacon questioned the 12-hour operational limit, noting most crises occur after hours
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian specifies the $270m is described as 'a first step,' while ABC states it is 'from the previous state budget to sustain it for the next 10 years,' with no explicit mention of it being a first step
- The Guardian mentions the reform is shaped by the UK’s ‘right person, right care’ model, but ABC does not reference this specific model
Source Articles
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