Who we are

Why we
exist

Fortem Australia is an independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of emergency service workers and their families – the people who protect and care for our communities.

Established in 2019, Fortem provides counselling and psychological support, social connection, career management and mental health literacy programs and services for emergency service workers and their families, including an outreach program to target regional and remote locations. Former emergency service workers who have left service within the past 10 years are also eligible to access Fortem’s services.

Emergency service work can be incredibly rewarding but it can also be confronting, traumatic and dangerous. Our early intervention and preventative mental health approach helps to promote resilience, recovery, and overall wellbeing, while reducing stigma around mental health. 

Thank a First Responder Day is an initiative of Fortem Australia and is a national day of appreciation for emergency service workers and their families. 

Held on the second Wednesday in June each year, the day provides an opportunity for the community to show their appreciation to the many first responders in our communities by saying ‘thank you’.

Our
services

We provide an integrated range of confidential services tailored to each emergency service worker and their family to promote resilience and to transform struggle into strength.

Our services for emergency service workers and their families include: