STORIES FROM OUR FIRST RESPONDER COMMUNITY
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.
Transition & Employment Pathway Events
Don’t miss this opportunity to network, learn, and connect at our Transition and Employment Pathway events in Brisbane, Sydney, and Canberra! Join us for an event that will inspire your
Two new resources help first responders and families understand PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects approximately one in 10 first responders in Australia. Many more first responders are at risk: PTSD is caused by trauma, which is reported to
Sailing Tall-Ship Soren Larsen from Sydney to Port Macquarie
12 members of the Marine Rescue Port Macquarie (MR PMQ) unit and one of Fortem Australia’s Community Engagement Coordinators boarded the wooden tall-ship Soren Larsen on the 2nd of April
“The most amazing program I have ever done”: First responders discover the mental health benefits of surfing
Fortem ran a pilot program with the foundation Waves of Wellness to provide 10 first responders with identified mental health concerns the opportunity to attend mental health education combined with
5 career transition tips from former first responders who have made the move
We spoke with five former first responders who are now working with Fortem Pledge Partner KPMG Australia. Here are their tips for transitioning into a new career after first responder
Funds Raised for First Responders in Regional Australia at Fortem Australia’s Inaugural Gala Ball
First responders and supporters of the first responder community from across Australia came together on Friday for Fortem’s inaugural fundraising Gala Ball at Hotel Realm, Canberra. All donations contributed to
“It’s cool to help people who help others”: Cohen is celebrating his 9th birthday supporting first responders
When Cohen learnt that the Canberra Marathon is happening on his upcoming 9th birthday, he decided running for Fortem Australia would be the perfect way to celebrate. Alongside his seven-year-old
Upskilling former first responders for a new career in cyber security
As part of our ongoing commitment to those transitioning from first responder roles, Fortem Australia has partnered with University of NSW (UNSW) Canberra Cyber to offer a five-week introductory course
COVID-19 will cause first responders and frontline workers to leave their roles, and we must support them to do so
After two years of pandemic life, we are all feeling weary, but none more so than those on the front line. Our first responders and frontline workers are under psychological
Fortem and KPMG partner to harness the highly skilled talent of former first responders
“After a long policing career … I had become burnt out and was suffering from PTSD. While I loved policing, I needed to make a change, not only for my
Huge Achievements for Fortem in 2021
We are pleased to share the major achievements of Fortem in 2021. In our second full year of operation, our work continued to have an incredible impact on the mental
I’ve been a police officer my whole working life, and I used to think I wasn’t qualified for anything else
I’ve been a police officer for over 35 years: virtually my whole working life. My wife, my kids and my friends don’t know me as anything else. It defines me,
