Queensland Police Referrals provides greater outcomes to at risk and vulnerable people – ‘clients’ – through frontline staff connecting at risk clients to approved external support service providers – in many cases before a major crisis or issue emerges.
Established in December 2015 yet implemented over a decade ago via earlier iterations, the program reflects a fundamental rethink of police-public relations and state-wide coordination with a diverse range of Service Providers.
Integral to the Police Referrals program is police taking a pro-active and caring interest in homeless, at risk youth and other vulnerable people. By police developing personal one-on-one relationships with ‘clients’, officers have been able to understand more about each person’s circumstances, family and what help they might need in order to lead more productive, safer and lawful lives.
Through its effectiveness, trust and support of over 525* Service Provider (*at 2021) organisations across Queensland, Police Referrals has become recognised through various achievements and awards.
Service Value Recognised
In 2016 the Service received the following awards:
- The 2016 QPS Awards for Excellence: Gold Award for Customer Focus, which acknowledges outstanding initiatives, teams and individuals that have made a positive and significant impact on the delivery of policing services.
- The 2016 Queensland iAward for Public Sector and Government, which recognises ICT innovations that have a positive impact on the community, in our case, using technology to support and connect vulnerable people.
Multiple Benefits to all parties
All parties involved – police, clients and Service Providers – gain numerous benefits from this helpful referral program, including reduced calls to police, reduced recidivism and victimisation.
Empathy and practical help are at the heart of this policing service along with a community minded spirit that seeks to prevent crime.
Police Referrals today
Today, the Queensland Police Service and Service Providers have developed a strong network supporting clients across 23 categories that fall within 10 themes.
- Community support
- Domestic violence
- Family and youth support
- Health and wellbeing
- Homelessness
- Identity theft & fraud Legal
- Mental health
- Seniors
- Victim support
Police can also track an individual’s referral history to understand what sort of help a person has been offered and accepted in the past.
Ultimately the focus is on these vulnerable people successfully maintaining connections with Service Providers and working in partnership with them to improve their circumstances.
The Police Referrals Program continues to work on this goal and reporting related outcomes.