Constable Brett Lowien, Queensland SupportLink manager Bruce Graydon and Nanango Officer-in-Charge Sergeant Jason Newton
Fourteen days to go … today’s get-together in Nanango will probably be one of the last major duties in the South Burnett for Superintendent Chris Sang who has been heading up the Gympie Police District for the past two years; he has accepted a redundancy under the State Government’s police restructure program announced in January

May 27, 2013

Back in January, a special milestone was passed in Nanango when a caring police officer referred a woman to the Alcohol and Drug Information Service.

That referral was the 50,000th made in Queensland via SupportLink, a secure web-based referral system which police from all over the State can use to connect clients to more than 250 registered support services.

The milestone was remembered in Nanango on Monday when senior police gathered to present the officer involved, Constable Brett Lowien, with a plaque to mark the occasion.

SupportLink began in the ACT about 15 years ago, linking local police to health and welfare agencies. It has now spread across Australia.

Police can refer clients for a wide range of issues, including domestic violence,  drug and alcohol abuse, elder abuse and neglect, suicide prevention and victim support.

Queensland SupportLink manager Bruce Graydon said the system was launched in Queensland in May 2011.

It passed its 50,000th referral on  January 17 and is now nudging 80,000 referrals.

Police refer clients directly from their computer. All referrals are done with the client’s consent.

“Police like the system because it’s actually getting people help and it’s easy to use,” Mr Graydon said.

“Police also like the fact that they get feedback.”

Nanango Officer-in-Charge Sgt Jason Newton said about 20-30 referrals were being done from his station every week.  Domestic violence and parenting skills issues make up the majority of these referrals.

Although the service has the capacity to change lives, it’s real focus is crime prevention.

“Our focus is on social issues that contribute to criminal activity,” Mr Graydon said.

He said analysis by consultants Deloittes had indicated fewer police calls and a reduction in offenders re-offending since the introduction of SupportLink.

Superintendent Dan Keating, from the Policing Advancement Branch, agreed that SupportLink was helping police to reduce calls for service.

“There is a social benefit but also an economic benefit for police and the government,” he said.

The implementation of the program is the result of a partnership between SupportLink, the Queensland Police Service and XStrata Coal.

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