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Fortem has welcomed a $3 million funding grant from the Federal Government which will support its ongoing work delivering mental health and wellbeing services for emergency services workers and their families.
The Mental Health Support for Emergency Services Workers grant, delivered via the National Emergency Management Agency, will support Fortem’s clinical, social connection and mental health literacy programs for paid and volunteer first responders and their families throughout 2026, with a focus on those who have been involved in disaster response and recovery.
The grant will also enable Fortem to extend its support of serving emergency services workers and their families to former first responders who have left service up to 10 years ago.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain, said the funding would allow Fortem Australia to continue to deliver crucial services that improved the wellbeing of first responders, and those closest to them, across Australia.
‘The pressures and challenges of responding to disasters can be extreme, confronting and traumatic, so it’s vital that our government can do its part helping those who sacrifice so much to protect others,” Minister McBain said.
‘Fortem Australia has significant experience delivering trauma-informed, culturally appropriate evidence-based mental health and wellbeing support tailored to the realities of emergency services work.
‘I want to encourage those emergency services workers and their loved ones who are struggling to seek support. Help is available, if you need it.
Fortem CEO Michael Willing APM praised the Federal Government and thanked Minister McBain for the ongoing support for the first responder mental health and wellbeing.
‘Our emergency services workers are always there to support the community, but that work is often dangerous, confronting and traumatic,’ he said.
‘That can impact their mental health and wellbeing, as well as that of their families.
‘Fortem’s person-centred services combine early intervention programs, aimed at boosting wellbeing and strengthening personal resilience, together with trauma-informed psychological treatment.
‘This helps strengthen our emergency services agencies and Australia’s disaster response capabilities.’