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.
Virtual Firefighter Stair Climb to support Fortem Australia – THANK YOU!
Pre-COVID, Saturday, 11 September would have seen 600 Firefighters and other emergency service personnel stepping up to fight depression, PTSI and suicide, by climbing the 28 floors of Crown Metropol
Beyond Duty – “An imperfect patchwork” the career of a first responder’s partner.
The partners of first responders experience many challenges. One of those is how to build your own career amid the demands of your first responder partner’s role. At Fortem’s summit,
Business recognises the future potential of first responders.
Fortem’s new Transition & Employment Program represents a significant deepening of our work and commitment to the first responder community and our relationships with the businesses sector. Our ambition is
First responder families seen and heard at Beyond Duty Summit
Fortem’s Beyond Duty Summit this week was a milestone in the community’s understanding of the impacts that exposure to high stress work and potentially traumatic events can have on first
Watch out for the West Gippsland ninjas!
Back in August, our first responder families had the exciting opportunity to become ninjas! This wellbeing activity was all about learning how to do Ninja Parkour techniques safely. The Ninja
Over 500 people registered for Beyond Duty Summit – will your first responder family be there?
The mental health and wellbeing of our first responder community will take centre stage this week, with over 500 people putting time aside to engage in a dynamic, free online
Fortem’s new Transition & Employment Program to build opportunities for national security and law enforcement community.
Fortem Australia’s support for national security and law enforcement personnel deepens today with the launch of our Transition & Employment Program. “Our team will work one on one with national
Fortem Talks – inspired by first responder families. Meet Felicity and Gen.
Fortem’s network of Community Engagement Coordinators add real grunt to the engine that drives our work. Many, like Felicity Grice and Gen Lindsay come to the role with lived experience
Beyond Duty summit offers space and clear air in the midst of COVID life pressures
I am so excited and proud to be part of the team working on the Beyond Duty summit and I am grateful for the silver lining COVID delivers. What was
“I need to be at the top of my game to be able to help and lead my team” – Danielle Brice, Eurobodalla RFS.
On the eve of one of the biggest days in our Black Summer, Rural Fire Service (RFS) Captain Danielle Brice wrote to her team, “Tomorrow will be a challenging day.”
Fortem Talks – Afghanistan through the eyes on a Federal Police veteran
Grant Edwards is worried about his friends in Afghanistan. He remains in contact with the people he worked with, especially so this week as the country crumbles following the withdrawal
Using day-to-day tasks to tackle the ‘cortisol casserole’ of lockdown
Even if you’re not noticing yet, we’re all stewing in stress hormones. “Being the excellent citizens we are, we’re all keeping a close eye on COVID updates and the news,
