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Free Support Services for Responders in the Illawarra

Free Support Services for Responders in the Illawarra

Published By Newly , 3 years ago

Illawarra’s emergency services were challenged by a series of catastrophes—from the pandemic, bushfires, flood, and other natural causes.

John Bourke, one of the first respondents during these times, shared his experience of being deployed throughout the date.

Mr. Bourke serves as the aviation support coordinator for Illarawarra’s Rural Fire Service said that last Christmas, he only got to spend four days over two months.

He spent holidays carrying out tasks and duties as a first responder for Illawarra.

Fortem Australia launched a program that aims to support the first responders including their families in the Illawarra.

Fortem Australia is a non-profit organisation that provides early intervention options and clinical programs. These services are free of charge. They provide services to first responders and their family members.

The program was funded by the Department of Home Affairs as a part of the grant program for emergency services workers.

Services such as mental health and psychological support, mental fitness, and well-being activities will be provided for first responders and their families.

Mr. Bourke already accessed the programs and even involved his family.

He said that it is a good thing that such kinds of services are initiated. It gives valuable support to people like him.

He admitted that the series of events that just recently unfolded has been stressing him a lot and having access to this kind of support system allows him to reduce the strain.

John Bale, managing director and co-founder of Fortem, said that Fortem was founded last October and has been initiating services for a short while.

Mr. Bale said that in a year like this, one could easily say that everyone’s forgotten what just happened.

However, the reality lies in how the first responders were held back by the trauma and challenges that they managed to deal with, regardless of their disposition.

To date, Fortem has run various well-being activities. Matthew Reeves, district officer of Illawarra said that the services provided by Fortem are a good opportunity for their members.

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