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.
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,
The Little Adventurers explore the farm!
The Little Adventurers recently experienced all the fun of visiting the Green Connect Permaculture Farm. In June, the ‘Little Adventurer’s’ explored an 11-acre permaculture farm in the heart of Warrawong,
‘Beyond Duty’ online summit to inspire broad approach to first responder mental health and wellbeing. Register now!
Fortem Australia is hosting a one-day online summit for leaders, staff, volunteers, families and communities connected to first responder and national security agencies. This FREE summit will take place over three sessions on Thursday, 2 September 2021
“If you’re a first responder and been through what you’ve been through, hook on to Fortem.”
Port Macquarie’s Ian Bagster has been helping people all his life. His ongoing service to the community is central to his wellbeing, but he is also mindful of the toll this work can take.
First responders hit the trail…
On a sunny Saturday in June, the Centenary Trail Walking Group went on another walking session from the Parliament House to Hackett with a length of approx. 12kms. Despite the
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
