In the Alternative First Responder position paper we share the data and research behind the issues and harms caused by status quo policing and the impacts that can have on individuals and whole communities. These patterns of police violence and discrimination speak to a deeper structural and cultural mismatch that clearly show, police are not the right response to community, social and health needs.
The data helps to fill in the bigger picture about why it’s so important to advocate for alternative to policing. However, beyond the numbers and statistics, there are stories. These stories are calling for change, and point to a need that is not being met. People need alternative first responses rooted in care, compassion and dignity, because this will make communities truly safe. Alternative first responders save lives.
CALL TO ACTION
As part of World Storytelling Day on the 20th of March 2026, we invite you to share a story with us about ‘Why Alternative First Responders Matter’ and pledge your support.
Alongside community organisations and advocates, the Alternative First Responders Campaign are calling on government to respond with action. We want courageous policy and long-term funding for community-led responses so that alternatives to police can be embedded in an ecosystem of care.
As a campaign we have been entrusted with stories from people who have been courageous in sharing them with us. In doing so, we move forward, share, and demand for governments to listen and act. Stories strengthen the campaign for alternative first responders and is why your story matters.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
We have received hundreds of pledges in support of the Alternative First Responders campaign, with numbers growing daily. These pledges reflect a collective voice calling for care, justice, dignity, and compassion across mental health, First Nations justice, domestic & family violence, young people and disability. The stories shared are not isolated nor are they one-offs.
Your stories underscore the core issues of current first response models. They also point to how communities are showing up for each other. Communities are actively co-creating models of care and support that address the real needs of people. Your stories consistently show us that community expertise are central to the design of alternative responses and must be heard.
PLEDGES FROM THE PUBLIC
“This matters to me because I’ve seen firsthand what happens when people in psychological distress are met with force instead of understanding. Too often, the current system escalates situations that need compassion, lived-experience insight, and calm, not authority and threat. The idea of alternative first responders resonates because the right response should be led by the right people, those trained to de-escalate, listen, and support rather than control. When community, diversity, and mental-health expertise are at the centre of first response, people are treated as humans first, not problems to manage. Care should always come before force. Systems that work with people, not against them, save lives, reduce trauma, and create safer outcomes for everyone involved including families, responders, and the wider community. That’s why this is important to me.” – AFR Supporter
“My ex was abusive. When I called the police, the policewoman I spoke to told me they could best help me when the abuse was actually happening. She told me to wait until then to call. Also, [my] son is neurodivergent and sometimes his meltdowns become violent. The police do their best when they arrive but they respond as though the main issue is criminal, when really it’s about mental health. Taking my son to court to answer to the police charges broke my heart. Yes he was violent, but he is not a criminal.” – AFR Supporter
“I’ve had incredibly traumatic experiences with police during mental health event (both my own and my peers) and feel that we desperately need better systems that help and not harm vulnerable individuals. We also need to build systems for First Nations’ people to receive safe, culturally appropriate care that structurally addresses the racism built into our current emergency services, especially police.” – AFR Supporter
When one person shares a story, it encourages others to share too, strengthening our shared ask and drive to advocate for alternative first responders to police. If you would like to share your story with us, make a pledge on World Story Telling Day!
