Western NSW local health district, NSW Ambulance and NSW Police senior operational commanders and managers will attend a workshop at Dubbo RSL aimed at ensuring best practice when managing people experiencing mental health problems

This will be one of 16 workshops that support the revision of the NSW Health and NSW Police Force Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). 

Minister for Mental Health Tanya Davies said the MOU outlines how health staff, police officers and paramedics work together when responding to and delivering care to people accessing these services.

The MOU includes NSW Ambulance and NSW Police and has been expanded to include not only mental health emergencies but situations involving patients in police custody other than under the Mental health Forensic Provisions Act and the management of public safety issues in health settings.

NSW Minister for Police and Member for Dubbo Troy Grant said police officers frequently deal with people who have a mental illness and needed access to health support, services and care.

“Across the community, our frontline staff work together every day to achieve the best outcomes for vulnerable members of the community who come into contact with our services,” Member for Dubbo Troy Grant said.

“By establishing this meeting the NSW Government is ensuring the changes match the particular challenges and needs of our community, which is why local staff will meet and discuss how the new MOU will work for them specifically.”

“Police are commonly the first on the scene in a crisis situation and the NSW Government is ensuring our men and women on the frontline have the education and awareness required to deal with all kinds of emergencies,” Mr Grant said.

“In NSW, our priority is making sure anyone who seeks our help receives timely and appropriate care, in an environment that’s safe for them and for our staff,” Mrs Davies said.