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Fortem Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that supports the mental fitness and wellbeing of first responder families. Every day, more than 300,000 first responders keep our communities safe. They are backed up by their families: partners, children and parents. All of them hold vital and challenging roles. We help them to be well, and stay well, through mental fitness, support services and wellbeing activities. These are their stories.
Knot your average wellbeing activity!
A group of first responder families recently attended a macrame workshop at the Gordon Community Centre in Canberra. The benefits from participating in a group craft activity go beyond having
COVID-19 pressures on first responders acknowledged – support needed now and in the future.
Community awareness around the mental health impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis on the first responder community is growing. The release of new research from Charles Sturt University (CSU) has
Fortem Australia and Volunteering Gold Coast – Keeping First Responders Connected to Community.
Envisioning inclusive, purposeful, and connected communities, Volunteering Gold Coast (VGC) are now a proud partner of Fortem Australia’s new Transition and Employment Program. Fortem will be working one-on-one with first
Mental health impacts on first responders could be worse than COVID-19 itself
The COVID-19 pandemic risks having a deep and lasting impact on Australia’s first responder community. New research highlighting alarming rates of anxiety, depression and burnout potentially leaves Australia with a
Empathy monsters and glitter jars help first responder families to connect and be mindful…
Do you know what an empathy monster is? Have you ever heard of meditation glitter jars? A group of Fortem kids got to find out and make their own when
Fortem Talks – the Olympics bring welcome distraction to lockdown.
The wick has been lit on the Tokyo Olympics! Perhaps a welcome distraction and a shift of focus as we continue to rise the challenges of the last two years
Walk, Snap, Explore at Killalea State Park
Do you know where Killalea State Park is? Our first responder families found out when they recently attended a Walk, Snap, Explore wellbeing activity hosted by Fortem Australia. Exploring this
It’s a strike for first responder families at Ten Pin Bowling!
Ten Pin Bowling is always such a family-friendly fun activity, and our first responder families thoroughly enjoyed spending time together trying to get a strike when Fortem Australia hosted a
The Little Adventurers go on a Magical Leaf Hunt
The Little Adventurers recently experienced all the fun of visiting the Wollongong Botanic Garden. The Little Adventurers is a program hosted by Fortem Australia for families with children aged between
Lake Area Command Police Station Paintball Skirmish
The Fortem team recently invited a group of first responders from Lake Area Command Police Station for a paintball skirmish at Alpha Paintball in Stanwell Park! Thirty participants were split
Illawarra Police vs Ambulance Paintball Skirmish
The Fortem team recently challenged a group of first responders from Wollongong police and Southern NSW ambulance agencies to join together for a paintball skirmish at Alpha Paintball in Stanwell
Adventure amongst the tree tops for first responder families!
On a sunny Saturday in May, Fortem Australia hosted a family day at the Tree Top Adventure Park in Nowra. Our participants enjoyed a day out filled with heights, challenges,
