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.
NEW from Fortem: Pre-transition workshops offer the skills for job searching
Fortem Australia is running a three-part workshop series to assist transitioning first responders learn key job searching skills. The online workshops cover the skills that you will need to take
Two years of building the mental fitness of first responders and their families – but so much more to do.
World Mental Health Day this year marks two years of Fortem Australia, a charity that supports the mental health and wellbeing of first responders and their families – people who
Beyond Duty – why suicide prevention is a role for the whole first responder community.
There are some protections that can be put in place to help first responders who are at risk of mental health challenges. Protective factors are the things that reduce a person’s likelihood of suicidal
Beyond Duty – “We need to narrow the gap between home and work,” a first responder family story.
Kate Lord is a personal trainer and the wife of a first responder. Her partner, Grant Edwards, experienced PTSD and depression while serving as an Australian Federal Police Officer. Kate is
Engaging with ‘Black Summer’ TV series and documentary – decide what’s right for you.
Communities impacted by the Black Summer Bushfires are considering how to engage with a new TV drama series and feature documentary based on the experiences of those challenging months. ‘Fires’
Beyond Duty – the role of families in first responder suicide prevention.
First responders are more than twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts than the general population. This makes suicide a very real risk that the first responder community needs to openly discuss and act
Bega Valley first responders battle for trivia crown, the winner is…
On a cold Thursday evening, Bega Valley first responders were treated to a delicious menu of woodfired pizzas served with a side of friendly inter-agency rivalry. After weeks spent juggling rosters and
School speech festival gives voice to first responder kids
The voice of children can be hard to hear, the more shouty and privileged voices of adults dominate our world – naturally so. When children are given a space or
Beyond Duty – how you can build a connected family with the ‘Resilience Doughnut’.
A resilient person can recover well from stress and challenges. When we’re resilient, we’re also more likely to create connection with the people around us. “The people who show great resilience have optimism
Greek cooking breaks down lockdown isolation for Canberra region.
Connections have grown within and between the first responder families who have joined Fortem’s virtual activities during lockdown. A dynamic mix of virtual activities have been keeping our first responder community learning, moving, and connecting – in tune with our ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing.’ Fortem’s Gen Lindsay, says
“I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for Fortem,” – fun & friendship on the NSW Mid North Coast.
The recent line-up of engaging, entertaining, and educational Fortem activities on the NSW Mid North Coast has been incredible. Fish Port Macquarie led another fantastic fishing charter in August – an experience always in high demand, with participants quick to register. A
Beyond Duty – the lived experiences of first responder families.
Ben Watson, Cameron Watts and Kate Lord – all Fortem Australia Ambassadors – spoke at Fortem’s summit, Beyond Duty – what is the bigger picture in first responder wellbeing? about their lived
