A huge hug and thank you to our first responders everywhere! 🙏
Australia stands with our first responders
Thank a First Responder Day – a day to say ‘thank you’
Thank a First Responder Day 2026 will be held on Wednesday 10 June to encourage the community to give thanks for the incredible work first responders do and the families that support them.
In 2025 first responders and their families across Australia received an outpouring of gratitude from the community. Events were held across the country, cards and mementos were dropped at stations and messages of gratitude flooded social media. Check out some of the highlights on the photos link below.
Thank a First Responder Day is an initiative of Fortem Australia, an independent not-for-profit supporting the mental health and wellbeing of first responders and their families.
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What is Thank a First Responder Day?
Thank a First Responder Day was established in 2020 as a way to publicly express gratitude to the hundreds of thousands of first responders who are there for us day in and day out.
First responders are ordinary people. They have families, friends, commitments, and homes to go to at the end of their working day. Yet, they dedicate every day to protecting our communities and keeping us safe.
Being a first responder can be challenging, for both first responders and their families. But the power of gratitude can have an extraordinary impact on wellbeing and mental health
Gratitude gallery
“Thanks” is more than just a word – it’s a symbol of gratitude and respect for those who do a job most of us could not do.
Your gratitude can have a big impact
Gratitude is good for us – did you know it can make us feel more connected to those around us?
Whether we’re showing our gratitude to someone else, or being thanked, the act of gratitude makes us feel closer to each other. It helps to make our relationships stronger, and it deepens connections.
This sense of connection is part of what brings happiness and a sense of wellbeing into our lives.
In fact, connectedness is an important pillar of psychological wellbeing and inclusion.
When we feel connected to others, we also feel supported. This is vital for first responders, who spend so much time helping others. It’s important that they feel backed up by their families, friends and community members.
Donate
Turn gratitude into action.
Every day, first responders show up for our communities during some of life’s most difficult moments. Your donation helps ensure Fortem can continue supporting the mental health and wellbeing of those who dedicate their lives to protecting others.
Every contribution – big or small, makes a difference.
FAQs
All money raised goes to Fortem’s service delivery, allowing better access for First Responders and their families across Australia.
Yes. Every donation above $2 is tax deductible. Donors will receive a tax receipt via email when they donate.