Celebrating first responders: A look at Fortem’s Thank a First Responder Day 2026
As part of Thank a First Responder Day 2026, the children’s book Remember: Triple Zero Heroes is helping young Australians learn about the people who serve their communities every day.
Written by Julie Miller and published by Hawkeye Publishing, the book encourages children to better understand the values of courage, service and community represented by emergency services.
Fostering empathy and respect for emergency service workers, Remember: Triple Zero Heroes helps children understand the people who serve their communities and the values they represent. Drawing on her background in teaching, Julie Miller uses story to encourage social and emotional learning and respectful conversations at home and in classrooms.
‘Triple Zero Heroes is about the people behind the uniforms, their humanity, compassion, and commitment to serving others. I wanted children to grow up understanding and valuing the real people who show up for our communities every day,’ said Ms Miller.
The book is also a national community project, illustrated by 21 artists from across Australia who donated their work in gratitude for emergency services.
Partnering with Fortem Australia for Thank a First Responder Day 2026, Hawkeye Publishing director Carolyn Martinez, shared her passion behind supporting the initiative. ‘My Dad was a former detective; I’m a former volunteer rural firefighter and one of my best friends was once run off the road while she was driving to work simply because she had her police officer’s uniform on. She nearly died at the scene.’
‘I think it’s important we support all our emergency services, and I particularly believe that police officers get an unfair bad rap in our society. They do a very tough job, tough on them and their families. They risk their lives simply by putting their uniform on.’
‘I think it’s important that the rest of us get behind them, and all of our emergency services, whenever we get the opportunity’
In February, Fortem Australia launched its school and early childhood campaign for Thank a First Responder Day, inviting schools and early learning centres across the country to register their participation.
To support classrooms taking part, the first 200 schools to register were gifted a copy of Remember: Triple Zero Heroes. The response was overwhelming, with registrations arriving quickly from schools across the nation.
Due to this strong interest, a limited number of books are now available for purchase so more schools, families and communities can take part.
Learn more or order the book here:
https://fortemaustralia.org.au/tafrd-2/remember-triple-zero-heroes/#order