新南威尔士州政府推出虚拟心理健康中心项目，由医疗卫生工作者而非警察响应部分精神卫生紧急情况。[1][2]该项目获得2.7亿澳元资金支持，用于十年期建设。[1][2]改革涉及在NSW救护车内建立虚拟团队，向000紧急服务部门提供建议，判断是否应派遣心理健康临床医生而非警察出警。[1]全州将建立8支心理健康应急队伍，每天运作12小时。[1][2]在安全风险情况下，警察仍将被派遣出警。[1]
这一改革源自多起警察处理心理健康危机导致死亡的事件。[2]2023年7月，患有精神分裂症的42岁患者Jesse Deacon被警察射杀。[2]其82岁的母亲Judy Deacon一直推动改革。[2]心理健康部长Rose Jackson表示，"在很多情况下，他们不需要警车警报声的警察反应，他们需要卫生反应。"[1]警察和反恐部长Yasmin Catley表示，"警察欢迎新的卫生主导应对。"[1]Judy Deacon称，"如果这项措施更早到位，我的儿子和许多其他人仍然活着。"[1]
New South Wales has announced a major reform to its emergency response system, committing A$270 million over a decade to send healthcare clinicians rather than police officers to certain mental health crises [1][2]. The Virtual Mental Health Centre initiative will establish eight clinical teams across the state, operating for 12 hours daily, to assess emergency calls and determine whether a health-led response is appropriate [1][2]. A 24-hour expert team stationed within NSW ambulance services will advise the triple-zero emergency system on whether to dispatch mental health clinicians or police, with officers still responding when safety risks are identified [1][2].
The reform addresses repeated incidents in which police involvement in mental health situations has resulted in deaths, most notably the July 2023 shooting of Jesse Deacon, a 42-year-old man with schizophrenia who was shot by officers responding to a report of self-harm [2]. Judy Deacon, Jesse's mother, has championed the changes, stating that "if this measure had been in place earlier, my son and many others would still be alive" [1]. Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged the limitations of the new system, saying "we're committing 270 million dollars as a first step. But I recognise that mental health crises don't happen within neat 12-hour windows" [2]. Police and Counter-Terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley stated that "police welcome the new health-led response" [1]. The initiative is modelled on the British "right person, right care" approach [2] and responds to recommendations following a coronial inquiry into a major stabbing incident at Bondi Junction [1].