The National Justice Project is leading an Australian campaign to advocate for appropriate first responders instead of police attending to people in a health or social crisis and has released a position paper diagnosing the problems present in Australia’s current police-focused models.
Campaign lead Chloe Fragos said the newly published paper highlights the extent of the harm caused by current ad hoc police first responses, and explores the urgent need for new approaches.
“We are working with a wide range of community stakeholders on a campaign to change the current reliance on police to respond to and address social and health needs,” Ms Fragos said.
It has become normalised that police are the default frontline response to a range of situations for which they are neither suited for nor trained and this is causing significant harm.
“This position paper details how the reliance on police-led responses is the result of a longstanding failures of local, state and federal governments.
“Our research explores best practice models, both in Australia and internationally, that show the most effective alternatives are community-based models.
“These models offer first responders who are experienced and skilled in communicating and engaging with individuals in a way that minimises harm and recognises the importance of individual agency,” she said.
The National Justice Project has outlined five key policy recommendations:
- Challenge the status quo and re-evaluate the need for police intervention
- Prioritise community strength and resilience
- Adopt a justice reinvestment strategy
- Greater government support, expansion of existing models and funding best practice models
- Long term success – invest in sustainability, impact and equity
Together with more appropriate resourcing, training and accountability, the guiding principles for reform includes alternative first responder models that involve trauma-aware care, community codesign, culturally informed practices, and harm minimisation and de-escalation.
The National Justice Project’s Alternative First Responders Position Paper has been endorsed by Change the Record, Justice Reform Initiative, Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Health and Research, Sane Australia, Youth Advocacy Centre (QLD), Western Australian Justice Association (WAJA), Justice Equity Centre, Redfern Legal Centre, First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence (FNAAFV), Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC), National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition (NIYEC).
Read the position paper here
Media enquires to media@justice.org.au
