Find Support

You don't have to work out where to turn on your own.

There are organisations across Australia providing support specifically to first responders, former first responders and their families.

Whether you're looking for mental health support, connection with people who understand the job, help for your family, assistance with workplace injury or financial hardship, or support as you transition out of service, this directory can help you find somewhere to start.

Some services are completely independent of employers. Others are provided by agencies, unions or professional associations. We've identified this where possible so you can choose the type of support that's right for you.

Crisis Support

Need urgent help?

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).

Lifeline

24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention.

Phone: 13 11 14

Website: lifeline.org.au

Suicide Call Back Service

24/7 telephone and online counselling for people affected by suicide.

Phone: 1300 659 467

Website: suicidecallbackservice.org.au

Beyond Blue

Mental health information and support for anxiety, depression and related concerns.

Phone: 1300 22 4636

Website: beyondblue.org.au

13YARN

24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, provided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis supporters.

Phone: 13 92 76

Website: 13yarn.org.au

MensLine Australia

Telephone and online counselling for Australian men.

Phone: 1300 78 99 78

Website: mensline.org.au

Kids Helpline

24/7 counselling for children and young people aged 5–25.

Phone: 1800 55 1800

Website: kidshelpline.com.au

Australia-wide support

Fortem Australia

Support: Mental health · Family · Social connection · Career transition

For: Eligible first responders and their families

Type: Independent not-for-profit

Fortem provides free wellbeing activities, psychology and counselling services and career-management support to eligible first responders and their families.

Career support includes career transition planning, identifying transferable skills, job applications, interview preparation and transition to retirement.

Website: fortemaustralia.org.au

National Emergency Worker Support Service — Black Dog Institute

Support: Mental health · Trauma

For: Emergency service workers

Type: Independent clinical service

A specialist national mental health service for emergency workers, providing confidential mental health assessment and access to trauma-informed mental health professionals.

Website: nationalemergencyworkersupportservice.blackdoginstitute.org.au

Beyond the Badge

Support: Career transition

For: Serving, transitioning and former first responders

Type: Independent not-for-profit

Beyond the Badge helps first responders transition into careers beyond emergency service.

Programs focus on translating first responder experience into civilian employment, identifying transferable skills, résumé and LinkedIn development, interview preparation, networking and connections with employers.

Website: beyondthebadge.com.au

Code 9 Foundation

Support: Peer support · Mental health · Family

For: Current and former first responders and their families

Type: Independent charity

Code 9 provides peer-to-peer support and connection for current and former first responders affected by PTSD, mental health difficulties and the impacts of emergency service work.

Family support is also available.

Website: code9ptsd.org.au

Living Alongside

Support: Family · Partners · Psychological injury

For: Partners and families of first responders

Type: Independent not-for-profit

Living Alongside supports families affected by psychological injury resulting from first responder work.

It provides lived-experience connection, education, resources and advocacy specifically for the people living alongside an injured first responder.

Website: livingalongside.org

Police Care Australia

Support: Mental health · Wellbeing · Transition · Service navigation

For: Current and former police and their families

Type: Independent resource

Police Care Australia provides information and navigation to services relevant to serving police, former police and police families, including mental health, wellbeing and transition resources.

Website: policecareaustralia.org.au

Police Post Trauma Support Group

Support: Peer support · Mental health · Family

For: Serving and former police, emergency service personnel and families

Type: Independent not-for-profit

The Police Post Trauma Support Group provides peer support, connection and referral for people affected by post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression and other consequences of emergency service work.

PPTSG also operates Blue Hearts, supporting partners of serving and former police.

Website: pptsg.org.au

FearLess

Support: Trauma education · PTSD · Transition

For: People affected by post-traumatic stress, including first responders and families

Type: Independent charity

FearLess provides education, awareness and resources relating to post-traumatic stress, with a focus that includes first responders, veterans and their families.

Website: fearless.org.au

Buddy Up Australia

Support: Peer connection · Wellbeing

For: First responders, veterans and families

Type: Independent not-for-profit

Buddy Up Australia provides connection, purposeful activity and community for first responders, veterans and their families.

Website: buddyupaustralia.org

Australian Capital Territory

Emerge & See

Support: Peer support · Mental health · Family

For: Current and former emergency service workers, volunteers and families

Type: Independent not-for-profit

Provides free and confidential peer support for ACT and NSW emergency service communities, including AFP/ACT Policing, ACT Ambulance, ACT Fire & Rescue, ACT SES and ACT Rural Fire Service personnel and families.

Website: emergeandsee.org.au

AFP Legacy

Support: Bereavement · Family · Welfare

For: Eligible AFP families

Type: Police Legacy organisation

Website: afplegacy.org.au

Workplace & industrial support — Australian Capital Territory

Australian Federal Police Association

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Legal advocacy

For: AFP and ACT Policing members

Type: Professional association

Website: afpa.org.au

New South Wales

Emerge & See

Support: Peer support · Mental health · Family

For: Current and former emergency service workers, volunteers and families

Type: Independent not-for-profit

Emerge & See provides free, confidential and independent peer support across Police, Ambulance, Fire & Rescue, Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service, Corrective Services and other emergency services.

Website: emergeandsee.org.au

Retired & Former Police Association of NSW

Support: Former members · Peer connection · Welfare

For: Former NSW Police and eligible family members

Type: Member association

Provides connection, fellowship and welfare support to former police through a network of branches across NSW.

Website: retiredpolice.com.au

The First Responder Program

Support: Mental health · Trauma treatment

For: First responders experiencing psychological injury

Type: Independent treatment provider

Provides treatment programs for first responders, including workers compensation and private treatment pathways.

Website: tfrp.com.au

NSW Rural Fire Service Association

Support: Welfare · Financial support · Family · Advocacy

For: NSW RFS members and families

Type: Member association

Provides advocacy, welfare assistance, scholarships, family support and other assistance to NSW Rural Fire Service members.

Website: rfsa.org.au

NSW RFS Member Support

Support: Mental health · Peer support · Family

For: NSW RFS members and families

Type: Agency service

NSW RFS members have access to peer support, chaplaincy, psychologists and an external Member Assistance Program.

Website: rfs.nsw.gov.au

NSW Ambulance Family Support Network

Support: Family · Partners

For: Families of NSW Ambulance personnel

Type: Agency-associated support

Provides connection, information and support for the families of NSW Ambulance personnel.

Website: ambulance.nsw.gov.au

NSW Ambulance Legacy

Support: Former members · Connection · Welfare

For: Former NSW Ambulance employees

Provides connection and support for former NSW Ambulance personnel.

Website: ambulance.nsw.gov.au

Workplace & industrial support — New South Wales

Northern Territory

NT Police Legacy

Support: Bereavement · Family · Welfare

For: Eligible NT Police families

Type: Police Legacy organisation

Provides support to Northern Territory police families following the death of a serving member.

Website: ntpolicelegacy.com.au

Workplace & industrial support — Northern Territory

Northern Territory Police Association

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Advocacy

For: NT Police members

Type: Professional association

Website: ntpa.com.au

United Workers Union — Ambulance & Paramedics

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Advocacy

For: Eligible Northern Territory ambulance workers

Type: Union

Website: unitedworkers.org.au

Queensland

Blue Hope

Support: Police · Peer support · Mental health · Family

For: Current and former Queensland police and their families

Type: Independent not-for-profit

Blue Hope provides independent peer support and connection for current and former police and their families.

Website: bluehope.org.au

Queensland Ambulance Service Legacy Scheme

Support: Financial hardship · Welfare · Family

For: Queensland Ambulance Service employees and families

Type: Charity

Provides assistance to Queensland Ambulance Service employees and their families during hardship, together with wellbeing initiatives.

Website: qaslegacy.org.au

Queensland Police SelfRefer

Support: Mental health

For: Current Queensland Police Service employees

Type: Agency service

SelfRefer provides QPS employees with access to mental health professionals experienced in working with first responders.

Website: police.qld.gov.au

Workplace & industrial support — Queensland

South Australia

South Australia Police Legacy

Support: Bereavement · Family · Welfare

For: Eligible South Australian police families

Type: Police Legacy organisation

Website: policelegacysa.org.au

Workplace & industrial support — South Australia

Police Association of South Australia

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Advocacy

For: South Australian police

Type: Professional association

Website: pasa.asn.au

Ambulance Employees Association of South Australia

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Advocacy

For: South Australian ambulance employees

Type: Employee association

Website: aeasa.com.au

United Firefighters Union of South Australia

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Advocacy

For: Professional firefighters

Type: Union

Website: ufusa.asn.au

Public Service Association of South Australia

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Advocacy

For: Eligible public-sector employees, including relevant corrections personnel

Type: Union

Website: psaofsa.asn.au

Tasmania

Police Legacy Tasmania

Support: Bereavement · Family · Welfare

For: Eligible Tasmanian police families

Type: Charity / Police Legacy organisation

Provides support to the families of deceased Tasmanian police officers.

Website: policelegacytas.org.au

Workplace & industrial support — Tasmania

Police Association of Tasmania

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Advocacy

For: Tasmania Police members

Type: Professional association

Website: pat.asn.au

United Firefighters Union Tasmania

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Advocacy

For: Professional firefighters

Type: Union

Website: ufutas.asn.au

Victoria

Emergency Services Foundation

Support: Mental health · Family · Wellbeing · Transition

For: Victorian emergency service workers and volunteers

Type: Independent foundation

The Emergency Services Foundation works to improve mental health and wellbeing across Victoria's emergency-management sector.

Programs include Mental Health Matters, Family Matters, Volunteer Leaders, family support, Well Beyond transition support and the Residential Wellbeing Program.

Website: esf.com.au

Police Veterans Victoria

Support: Former police · Peer support · Family · Career transition

For: Former Victoria Police members and families

Provides trained veteran peer support, social connection, health referrals, family support, employment opportunities and career-transition assistance.

Website: policeveteransvic.org.au

BlueHub

Support: Mental health · Workplace injury

For: Eligible serving Victorian police and Victorian-based AFP members

Type: Police-focused mental health service

Provides culturally informed mental health assessment and treatment and support associated with psychological injury and return to work.

Website: tpass.com.au

BlueSpace

Support: Mental health information · Family

For: Victoria Police employees, families and friends

Type: Police wellbeing resource

Provides mental health and wellbeing information for Victoria Police employees, their families and friends.

Website: police.vic.gov.au

Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria Welfare Fund

Support: Financial hardship · Welfare

For: Eligible CFA volunteers, former volunteers and families

Provides needs-based financial assistance to eligible CFA volunteers and families experiencing significant financial hardship.

Website: vfbv.com.au

Workplace & industrial support — Victoria

Western Australia

WA Police Legacy

Support: Bereavement · Family · Welfare

For: Eligible WA Police families

Type: Police Legacy organisation

Website: wapolicelegacy.com.au

Workplace & industrial support — Western Australia

WA Police Union

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Advocacy

For: WA Police members

Type: Union

Website: wapu.org.au

WA Ambulance / Paramedics Union — United Workers Union

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Workers compensation

For: Eligible WA ambulance and paramedic workers

Type: Union

Provides workplace representation and industrial support to ambulance and paramedic members.

Website: unitedworkers.org.au

United Professional Firefighters Union of WA

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Advocacy

For: Professional firefighters

Type: Union

Website: upfuw.com.au

Australian Federal Police

AFP Legacy

Support: Bereavement · Family · Welfare

For: Eligible AFP families

Type: Police Legacy organisation

Provides support to eligible AFP families following the death of a member.

Website: afplegacy.org.au

Workplace & industrial support — Australian Federal Police

Australian Federal Police Association

Support: Workplace · Industrial · Legal advocacy

For: AFP and ACT Policing members

Type: Professional association

Website: afpa.org.au

Career Transition

Leaving emergency services can involve much more than finding another job. It can mean changes to identity, purpose, routine, relationships, social connection and the way you see yourself outside the role.

There are organisations that understand this transition.

Beyond the Badge

Practical career transition support designed specifically for first responders.

Support includes:

  • identifying transferable skills

  • résumé development

  • LinkedIn development

  • interview preparation

  • networking

  • employer connections

  • adjusting to employment outside emergency services

Website: beyondthebadge.com.au

Fortem Career Management

Career-management support for eligible first responders including career transition planning, transferable skills, job search, applications, interviews, career coaching and retirement transition.

Website: fortemaustralia.org.au

Police Veterans Victoria

Career transition, employment opportunities, peer connection and post-service support for former Victorian police.

Website: policeveteransvic.org.au

ESF Well Beyond

Peer-based support for Victorian emergency-service personnel approaching or experiencing transition to retirement.

Website: esf.com.au

About this directory

Responders First Australia provides this directory as a starting point for finding support. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement of an organisation or service.

Services, eligibility, funding and contact details can change. Please confirm current information directly with the relevant provider.

Last reviewed: August 202