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Who we are
We’re Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation delivering free support to first responders, their families and former first responders who have left service within the past 10 years.

Why we exist
Fortem Australia is an independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of first responders and their families – the people who protect and care for our communities.

Established in 2019, Fortem provides psychological and counselling, social connection and mental health literacy programs and services for first responders and their families, including an outreach program to target regional and remote locations. Former first responders who have left service within the past 10 years are also eligible to access Fortem’s services.

First responder work can be incredibly rewarding but it can also be confronting, traumatic and dangerous. Our early intervention and preventative mental health approach helps to promote resilience, recovery, and overall wellbeing, while reducing stigma around mental health.

Thank a First Responder Day is an initiative of Fortem Australia and is a National Day of Appreciation for first responders and their families.

Held on the second Wednesday in June each year, the day provides an opportunity for the community to show their appreciation to the many first responders in our communities by saying ‘thank you’. Look out for what St John WA and Fortem are doing this year!

Our services
We provide an integrated range of confidential services tailored to each first responder and their family to promote resilience and to transform struggle into strength.

Our services for first responders and their families include:
Social wellbeing activities (virtual, in person across metro areas Mandurah to Joondalup; shift work friendly weekday events and family friendly events and hours)
Psychology and counselling
Outreach for regional areas
Collaboration with other emergency services
Peer support and people who ‘get it’
Resources – such as the Wellbeing Hub, community gardens, online resources and mental health books

Who we are
We’re Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation delivering free support to first responders, their families and former first responders who have left service within the past 10 years.

Why we exist
Fortem Australia is an independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of first responders and their families – the people who protect and care for our communities.

Established in 2019, Fortem provides psychological and counselling, social connection and mental health literacy programs and services for first responders and their families, including an outreach program to target regional and remote locations. Former first responders who have left service within the past 10 years are also eligible to access Fortem’s services.

First responder work can be incredibly rewarding but it can also be confronting, traumatic and dangerous. Our early intervention and preventative mental health approach helps to promote resilience, recovery, and overall wellbeing, while reducing stigma around mental health.

Thank a First Responder Day is an initiative of Fortem Australia and is a National Day of Appreciation for first responders and their families.

Held on the second Wednesday in June each year, the day provides an opportunity for the community to show their appreciation to the many first responders in our communities by saying ‘thank you’. Look out for what St John WA and Fortem are doing this year!

Our services
We provide an integrated range of confidential services tailored to each first responder and their family to promote resilience and to transform struggle into strength.

Our services for first responders and their families include:
Social wellbeing activities (virtual, in person across metro areas Mandurah to Joondalup; shift work friendly weekday events and family friendly events and hours)
Psychology and counselling
Outreach for regional areas
Collaboration with other emergency services
Peer support and people who ‘get it’
Resources – such as the Wellbeing Hub, community gardens, online resources and mental health books