As the Police Association prepares for its annual conference in October, where member wellbeing will be a central focus, a new scheme in Queensland is attracting attention on both sides of the Tasman.

The Queensland Police Union (QPU) has launched Cop Care, an independent wellbeing organisation designed specifically for serving and retired police officers. Backed by A$5.5 million (NZ$6.6m) in Queensland Government funding, the initiative aims to tackle the barriers that prevent officers from seeking help, particularly concerns around confidentiality, stigma and career impacts. 

The model reflects many of the same challenges faced by police in New Zealand. Operational trauma is a reality of policing, but researchers and wellbeing experts are increasingly highlighting another source of harm: organisational stress.

Cop Care chief executive Dr Jacqueline Drew, a police psychologist and wellbeing researcher, told Policing Insight in August that while agencies have become more aware of mental health issues, many officers remain reluctant to access internal services.

“We know stigma about seeking help for mental health is alive and well,” she told Policing Insight. “Agencies are getting better but there is still a significant reluctance to use agency services for wellbeing.” 

Why trust matters

The initiative was developed after a QPU survey found strong support for an independent approach. More than 84% of respondents wanted the union to take a stronger role in wellbeing, while many indicated they would feel more comfortable accessing support outside traditional police structures. 

A key principle behind the programme is that officers are often most vulnerable not immediately after traumatic incidents, but during periods of organisational stress, workplace conflict, disciplinary processes or internal investigations.

Dr Drew said that research shows organisational factors can cause “two to three times the harm” of trauma and critical incidents. She said officers may be reluctant to seek support through an organisation they believe has contributed to their distress, making independent services particularly important. 

Cop Care will provide support through several channels. These include an online wellbeing portal, referrals to police-aware health professionals, specialised programmes targeting issues such as trauma recovery, sleep and substance use, and a dedicated veterans’ network. 

One of the most innovative elements is the introduction of Copline, a confidential 24-hour peer-support telephone service staffed by trained former police officers. The service has operated successfully in the United States and Canada, and Queensland veterans will be trained to become part of the international support network. 

Intervention, ASAP

The union is also investing heavily in prevention and early intervention. One programme attracting particular interest is the Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP), a police-specific wellbeing intervention recently introduced to Australia for the first time. 

Designed specifically for police, ASAP aims to help officers regulate acute stress, process cumulative operational and organisational stress and reduce the risk of longer-term psychological injury. Rather than focusing solely on major incidents, it recognises the reality that stress often accumulates gradually over a policing career. 

Research cited by the QPU found officers who participated in ASAP reported significant reductions in stress-related symptoms, with some studies recording reductions of up to 44% in post-traumatic symptoms. The programme has already been delivered to more than 330 police agencies in the United States. 

Importantly, officers attending the programme are not required to disclose traumatic experiences or personal circumstances to the group, something organisers say helps overcome concerns that often stop people engaging with support services. 

‘They deserve this’

For QPU president Shane Prior, the initiative represents a shift in how police wellbeing is approached.

He told Policing Insight that officers had spent their careers protecting others and deserved a support service that would protect them in return. Too many officers believed that asking for help could affect promotions, specialist opportunities or even their careers, he said. An independent service could give officers confidence to seek support earlier. 

Interestingly, the Queensland model recognises that wellbeing is not solely an individual responsibility. While resilience, fitness and self-care remain important, Cop Care’s approach focuses equally on addressing systemic pressures, reducing barriers to help-seeking and ensuring officers have access to trusted support when they need it.

As conversations continue across New Zealand about fatigue, recovery, psychological safety and mental health, Queensland’s experience is a reminder that effective wellbeing systems need trust. And for police officers carrying the cumulative weight of the job, trust could be the key factor that determines whether they ask for help at all.