I am advised:
(1) All Police employees and staff experiencing PTSD and psychological injuries have access to a range of supports, including support services, treatment and training.
PULSE Program initiatives include more support for mental health, physical health and fitness, as well as providing more support for injured and ill officers. These support services are available to police officers at each stage of their employment, irrespective of duties or location, and after separation. Initiatives include access to free and confidential psychological counselling through the Early Access to Treatment Initiative; Wellcheck/eWellcheck wellbeing assessment, Employee Assistance Program, Family Support Services, Peer Support Officers, Fitness Passport, Chaplaincy, and Incident Support. Further, mental health clinicians have been embedded in the field, covering 35 Police Area Commands/Police Districts and Region teams across the state.
A new NSW Police Force Treatment and Recovery Unit is currently recruiting psychologists, with roles anticipated to be filled by 30 June 2024. The Unit will support employees with treatment and recovery. The Unit will also participate in research projects focused on improving the management of PTSD/psychological injury for police officers.
There is also a focus on psycho-education and training for NSW Police Force employees to improve wellbeing awareness, personal insight and action. This includes the mandatory 'Psychological First Aid' training for all staff and specific tools, programs and leadership courses with an element of psychological awareness and supporting employees with a psychological injury.
(2)
(a) As of 29 February 2024:
- 1,261 NSW Police Force employees are on long term sick with reportable psychological workers compensation claims.
- This includes 536 employees who have PTSD as the nature of injury for their workers compensation claim.
(b) Annual statistics for medical discharge with psychological workers compensation claims are:
- 2019: 220 officers
- 2020: 315 officers
- 2021: 443 officers
- 2022: 468 officers
- 2023: 611 officers
- 2024: 103 officers
(3)
(a)-(b) In addition to the support services outlined in Question 1, a newly established Career Transition team has been established to ensure the best support and outcomes for injured workers who are permanently unable to return to their pre-injury role or an alternative suitable role within the NSW Police Force.
The team provides resources to support injured workers with a dignified exit and transition to civilian life.
The PULSE Program is the single most significant investment in the health, safety, and wellbeing of the NSW Police Force. There is no current plan to establish another service for medically discharged or retired police.
(4)
(a)-(b) Any Budget adjustment will not impact mental health support services for NSW Police Force employees. The full $105.1 million has been allocated towards the Recruitment and Retention Fund and the PULSE Program to enhance the current suite of health and wellbeing programs a·vailable to NSW Police Force employees.
(5) PULSE funding commenced on 1 July 2023.
As at 15 March 2024:
- 335 employees have accessed the Early Access Treatment Initiative;
- 68 employees have completed an eWellCheck; and
- Mental Health Clinicians have had 3,617 interactions with employees.
Since January 2024, 87 referrals have been made for support from the Family Support Coordinator. More than 354 employees have accessed psychologists under the RE CON program between 2019 and November 2023; and 1,123 injured workers have engaged the services of the Career Transition Team between October 2023 and February 2024.
An evaluation over five years of the program will inform policy and program developmen mgvin forward.
