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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.
Connecting over a new creative skill: acrylic paint pouring
Ssshh! Don’t tell the grandparents, but they’re getting a beautiful artwork for Christmas from these Gold Coast first responder families. With two opportunities to make the perfect piece through the
Book Launch “Moral Challenges: Vocational Wellbeing among first responders”
Today Fortem Australia launched “Moral Challenges: Vocational Wellbeing among first responders”, a collection of experiences on moral challenges in the first responder community, edited by Professor Tom Frame AM, from
First responder families’ creative juices flow in resin jewellery workshop
The evening started with everyone arriving to the studio, in a gorgeous little coastal town in the Illawarra. Armed with an apron and safety glasses, each participant sat around the table
I work with first responders and I want them to know this: It’s time to start the conversation
When someone has PTSD, most people assume that one traumatic event caused it. Even the very definition and diagnostic criteria for the disorder would indicate that this is the case.
Jiu Jitsu: the perfect way for families to connect
The temperatures were soaring as first responder families arrived at the martial arts centre for their first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lesson. With plans to continue the family-time theme for the
First responders take to mindfulness in specialised yoga class
Fortem was pleased to offer a session of yoga designed specifically for first responders, in partnership with Frontline Yoga. The session, held online so that our first responder participants could
Smiles all ’round at the wildlife park
First responders enjoyed a recent day out with family and friends, meeting new people and taking in the sights of some furry critters. It was a great way to enjoy
First Responder Story: ‘Volunteering is a big part of our identity, but we’re disconnected this year’
WARNING: This article contains confronting content Volunteering is a big part of our identity. Because of coronavirus, we haven’t had face-to-face training since March, and we don’t know when it’ll
Kidding around at the goat farm
Have you ever fed a baby goat? If you never have, you should – it’s fun, and fun is good (to paraphrase Dr Seuss). The bottle-feeding was one of the
Announcing our partnership with the 5 Ways to Wellbeing – and what that means
Fortem Australia is proud to be an official partner of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. The 5 Ways to Wellbeing is an initiative of the Royal Melbourne Hospital, based on
Sharing bushfire lived experiences over tapas
Sharing stories over food is a classic way to connect with others, and that’s exactly what happened at our latest cooking class. Chef Toni, from Flavours of the Valley in
Family Story: ‘I was so sick of him being called out, I threw his pager into the bushes’
When a big fire season hits, the pressure on families is huge. I know, because during Victoria’s Black Saturday fires, I had a newborn baby, postnatal depression, and a husband
