Operation WATCH OVER ME
A harm prevention pilot for police-led mental health emergencies
What the pilot is
Operation WATCH OVER ME is a prevention pilot to reduce death, serious injury and trauma during police-led mental health emergencies, including welfare checks and Triple Zero call-outs. It strengthens existing police and health responses by setting mandatory standards and providing real-time clinical support, supervision and independent oversight at the point of highest risk.
The problem it addresses
Police are often the first responders to mental health crises because the law requires police to attend where there is a perceived risk to the safety of the person, responding workers or the public. These encounters involve extreme distress, time pressure and the use of coercive powers. Coronial findings across Australia consistently identify the same failures
- delayed or absent clinical input
- high-risk decisions made in isolation
- inconsistent supervision, training and resourcing
- oversight only after harm has occurred
These risks are heightened in regional and remote areas with limited access to specialist support.
What WATCH OVER ME does
The pilot establishes a consistent statewide standard for police-led mental health responses.
When police attend a mental health emergency
- body-worn cameras are mandatory, with live-stream capability activated as a priority, followed by the recording of pre-contact risk assessments
- the same live feed supports
- operational supervision, training and resourcing
- authorised clinical support
- authorised independent monitoring
- promotes officer development and well-being
- promotes Right to Life
This ensures decision-making is supported as events unfold, not reviewed after the fact.
Guaranteed access, anywhere
Operation WATCH OVER ME delivers 24 hour, 7 day access to emergency hospital-level clinical support and independent monitoring across metropolitan, regional and remote locations. Its effectiveness depends on activation by the attending police officer in accordance with mandatory operational standards.
Why this matters
Most serious harm occurs in the first minutes of contact. Real-time support improves decision-making, reduces escalation and protects both the person in crisis and attending police. The pilot strengthens officer wellbeing, accountability and public confidence.
What it is not
WATCH OVER ME is not disciplinary, does not expand surveillance, and does not require new technology. It uses existing, lawful systems to improve governance and safety.
Policy alignment
The pilot gives practical effect to harm prevention duties, work health and safety obligations to “other persons”, mental health policy objectives and National Preventive Mechanism principles. It shifts the system from reactive investigation to proactive prevention.
Why a pilot
A pilot allows controlled implementation, independent evaluation by police external research units, and evidence to guide broader rollout.
The outcome
Operation WATCH OVER ME creates a shared safety net at the moment it matters most. It ensures consistent standards, real-time support and independent monitoring to prevent harm before it occurs, while also providing ongoing professional development opportunities across policing, health and oversight sectors.