Meet Anthony, one of Fortem’s Career Management Specialists. Anthony is a former first responder, having served for 20 years in the QLD Police Service. Before leaving the service, he reached the substantive rank of Senior Sergeant Officer in Charge. He also spent a short period of time in the QLD Fire and Emergency Services in the Firecom area.
As a Career Management Specialist, Anthony supports current first responders and former first responders who exit active service to transition into the next phase of their lives through a structured program involving ongoing case management. “Our goal is to promote a dignified transition experience for first responders that highlights the value of their service and future potential. We do this by equipping, supporting, and empowering them by building confidence and developing their job-ready skills through training and education, career development and lifestyle resources.”
“My day involves responding to new enquiries, providing interested first responders with a no-obligation introduction chat about the program, and facilitating intake meetings for people applying to formally enter the program. I also deliver presentations at first responder agencies, stations, and work units about the program to help spread the word. Our program also offers participants regular professional development through regular workshops and seminars on various career planning, job application, and wellbeing topics. I assist our team by facilitating some of these sessions.”
Anthony describes defining success in his career based on an individual approach “If I can deliver a professional service that builds confidence in my participants, opens their eyes to new possibilities, and supports them to take those first steps out of service into a new and exciting new phase of their lives through a smooth transition process, then I am content. Too many people try to define success for others, and that can be unfair. For a child, success may be riding a bike for the first time. For an adult, it may be seeing their kids graduate from school. It’s all relative to a person’s life circumstances, goals, skills, and opportunities, and what defines success for me may not be the same for others. I have set myself a number of goals to achieve in my personal and professional life. If I can achieve a good number of them and be seen as an honest and decent person with integrity, and a sense of humour, then I’d be happy with that as well!”
When asked about his decision to join the Fortem team, Anthony said, “I read the job advertisement on SEEK, which was probably the longest job advert I’ve ever seen, and it stopped me in my tracks. Everything the advert talked about resonated with me, and it spoke directly to my personal and professional values and tapped into my skills and experience, having spent the majority of my working life in emergency services. When I finished reading the advert, I said to myself this is me!”
Fortem’s goal in the Career Management Program is to promote a dignified transition experience for first responders that highlights the value of their service and future potential. This is achieved by equipping, supporting, and empowering first responders into the next stage of their career lifecycle by building confidence and developing their job-ready skills through training and education, career development and lifestyle resources and professional case management.
“Anthony from Fortem Australia continually checks in and supports me and current job negotiations/applications. After feeling down and out for so long, the support I have received from the people and companies involved has been life-changing. I am currently in a new job and negotiating other jobs for my future. This is the best I’ve felt in years. To anyone in a similar spot or not knowing where to go, you’re not alone. There is support out there.” said a former first responder accessing Fortem’s services.
Anthony’s advice for first responders was, “I wish all first responders knew that the programs Fortem provide are a free service and we have no reporting obligations or responsibilities back to their agency. It is something that really really worries so many first responders, and their relief is palpable when we reassure them that their engagement with Fortem is confidential. The need and demand for our services, whether it be clinical services or community engagement, is far greater than even I anticipated. Our program participants are just so grateful for the support we give them as they step out of the emergency services bubble!”