The union representing Victoria's ambulance workers says it was blindsided by a state government announcement that paramedics — not police — will become the primary first responders to mental health crisis call-outs, learning of the significant policy shift through media reports rather than official consultation.

What the Victorian Government's Mental Health Response Plan Involves

The Victorian government has unveiled new protocols designed to shift the state toward a health-led response to mental health emergencies. Under the new arrangements, paramedics will attend mental health-related call-outs as the first point of contact wherever possible, with police and protective services officers stepping back into a support role rather than leading the response.

Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said the changes were about putting patients' wellbeing at the centre of crisis responses.

"When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, they deserve a response that puts their health and wellbeing first while keeping them and the community safe," Ms Stitt said.

"We're making sure our paramedics, mental health workers and police are in step to deliver a health-led response that is patient centred."

The government said the new protocols had been signed off by Ambulance Victoria, Victoria Police and the Department of Health, and were intended to deliver faster, more effective care while freeing police to concentrate on crime-related duties.

Mental health is among the most common call types attended by Ambulance Victoria, with the service responding to more than 65,000 calls per year — either through direct ambulance dispatch or through telehealth support via its Triage Services team involving mental health clinicians.

Ambulance Union Says It Was Left in the Dark

Despite the government stating that key agencies had signed off on the plan, Victorian Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill said the workforce had not been consulted at any stage before the announcement.

"We haven't been consulted, the workforce hasn't been consulted," Mr Hill said. "I found out more about this through the media."

Mr Hill said meetings had been hastily scheduled following the announcement, suggesting the oversight had been recognised internally. "There's a panic on now, I think. They've realised they haven't consulted, and there's a few meetings in the diary, but I know more about this from the media release than I do from them," he said.

While the union secretary said the patient-focused intent of the policy sounded like a step in the right direction, he raised serious concerns about what the changes could mean for paramedic safety on the ground.

"We've always supported a health-led response … but for the vast majority of cases, it does need to be a co-response between ambulance and police," Mr Hill said. "They're really complicated cases to attend and they're often the cases where our members experience harm, aggression and violence, so freeing up police from those cases is going to be pretty alarming to our members."

Safety Concerns and What Happens Next

Ambulance Victoria acknowledged the transition and said it was in the process of developing additional clinical guidelines to support paramedics responding to mental health incidents under the new framework. A spokesperson emphasised that paramedics would still be supported by other agencies based on the specific needs of each patient.

"The agreement puts patient care and welfare first," the spokesperson said.

Victoria Police, meanwhile, said the updated protocols provided clearer guidance on its officers' role in mental health situations. Under the new arrangements, police involvement would be requested only as a last resort, with the preference firmly placed on a health-led approach. Officers would retain responsibility for public safety, maintaining the peace, and responding to immediate risks.

The policy marks a notable shift in how Victoria responds to mental health crises in the community, but the union's exclusion from the process raises questions about whether frontline workers will be adequately prepared and protected when the new protocols take effect.