Australia has never asked more of first responders. Frankly, they are exhausted. The severe start to this year’s bushfire season is compounded by enduring trauma from the Black Summer fires,
Michelle Edgar has served in the NSW Police Force for 27 years and is now Director of Career Management at Fortem Australia, working with a dedicated team who provide 1:1 career support to first responders.
As firefighters face extreme danger on the frontlines of devastating bushfires, Fortem Australia welcomes the commitment of the National Emergency Management Agency to implement the ‘Second National Action Plan.
We have provided vital evidence at a public hearing of the Senate Select Committee’s Inquiry into Australia’s Disaster Resilience in Townsville.
As we approach the 2023 Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival, we spoke to Superintendent Neil Hayes, who will be running for first responder mental health and wellbeing.
In celebration of Father’s Day, we recently spoke with one of our participants, a former ADF, and transitioned WA Police Officer has written a chapter for “Working Dads and Balancing Acts: The Secret to Making it Work”.
“If you don’t know where to start, or struggle to see how your qualifications and time with the police mean anything in the civilian world, reach out to Fortem. The different advice, supports, and groups offered will change the way you think”
“By meeting other people at Fortem events, we can discuss issues with mental wellbeing and remove the stigma. That normalises the behavior and the person can consider it [transitioning] for themselves.”
Exposure to trauma, tragedy and the dark side of human nature can challenge what you believe about the word and yourself. Confronting a traumatic event and trying to make sense of it can therefore lead to powerful shifts in thinking.
“You are so much more than a first responder. There is a whole big world out there, look after yourself. Get a good resume together. Back yourself and apply for whatever jobs you like. We have so many skills, Fortem helped me see this.”
Traumatic loss refers to the sudden, unexpected, and often violent loss of life under traumatic circumstances that are experienced as tragic, horrifying, and senseless. This is commonly experienced by first responders.
First responders may experience moral injury, a psychological, social and spiritual wounding that can occur in high-stakes situations that deeply challenge the integrity of personal values, expectations, and social norms.
