How to show your support this Thank a First Responder Day

There are special people all over Australia who run toward a crisis while the rest of us flee from it and this week we can all say thank you to our national heroes.

June 10 marks Thank a First Responder* Day, a day where ordinary Australians can express gratitude and show their support for the police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other first responders who continuously put their lives on the line to help keep us safe.

From May 31, Ten Days of Gratitude leads up to the event, with each day focusing on a different theme, including water rescue and the furry friends that keep us safe.

Data shows there were more than 14 million triple-0 (000) calls made across Australia in 2025 alone, with first responders rushing out to save lives during extreme weather, natural disasters and even – tragically – scenes of mass violence.

Research has shown that these brave actions often end in psychological* scarring for first responders and their families, with the emergencies they attend leaving a trail of trauma* that lingers long after the sirens stop.

In fact, one in three (33 per cent) first responders experience high or very high levels of psychological distress due to trauma on the job – a level that is much higher than the general population.

In addition, more than half of first responders say they have experienced a traumatic event that has deeply affected them.

National not-for-profit* organisation Fortem Australia runs programs that support the mental health and wellbeing of first responders and their families. Fortem has recently expanded its support to include former first responders within 10 years of leaving active duty.

Fortem Australia CEO Mick Willing APM said first responders were deeply affected by the situations they encountered when responding to emergencies.

As the former Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force, Mr Willing has seen first hand the effect that workplace trauma has had on first responders.

“First responders often see people during very difficult and scary moments, like car accidents, bushfires, floods, or medical emergencies,” he said. “Seeing these situations repeatedly can sometimes make people feel stressed, worried, sad, or emotionally exhausted. Some first responders can also have trouble sleeping, feel anxious, or find it hard to switch off from work when they get home.

“For many people, these feelings can last a long time if they don’t get support. Some first responders carry the effects of trauma for months or even years, and it can impact their families too. That’s why mental health support is so important, because asking for help early can make a really big difference.”

Fortem Australia community ambassador, mum of three and the wife of a police officer, Simone Lord said families of first responders often deal with change and uncertainty.

“A police officer, firefighter, paramedic or emergency worker might suddenly get called away from dinner, miss important family events, or come home much later than expected,” Ms Lord said. “This can feel confusing or disappointing for children, especially when routines change quickly or plans don’t go ahead.”

She said families often learn to be understanding and flexible since first responders can regularly see and experience difficult things in their jobs.

“One of the biggest challenges for families is that they can carry a lot emotionally without always talking about it,” she said. “Children are very good at noticing when things feel different at home, even if no one explains exactly why. That’s why connection, communication, and feeling safe and supported are so important in frontline* families.”

Help in the form of counselling, peer support groups and wellbeing programs were available to first responders and their families, while organisations such as Fortem Australia could connect people with others who understood what they were going through, said Mr Willing, adding that community connection was also key.

“Feeling part of a supportive community is really important for good mental health,” he said.

Even kind acts from a stranger could benefit first responders and their families in big ways.

“Small acts of kindness can make a really big difference,” he said. “There are lots of simple ways Australians, including children, can support first responders and their families. Saying thank you, writing a card, or recognising the work they do can help people feel appreciated and valued.

“Support can also mean checking in on others, helping neighbours during busy times, or taking part in community events that celebrate first responders.”

Ms Lord agreed that community support was vital.

“Community support reminds first responder families that they are part of something bigger and that people care about what they do and sacrifice for others,” she said. “It helps families feel connected, included, and appreciated, especially during busy or stressful times.

“It can be as simple as checking in on a friend, helping a classmate whose parent is working away, inviting someone to join in at community events, or saying thank you to a first responder and their family.

“Small acts of kindness can help children and families feel proud, supported, and less alone.”

HOW TO GET INVOLVED
There are plenty of ways you can show your gratitude for Australia’s national heroes.

Fortem Australia has a range of resources on its website, such as message envelopes where you can write a letter of thanks and posters you can use to hold a dress up fundraiser day at your school.

There are also plenty of fun colouring and activity sheets.

These can be found at:

fortemaustralia.org.au/tafrd-2/resources/#childrens-activities

To share a message of thanks from your class or find out more about Thank a First Responder Day, your teacher can visit thankafirstresponderday.org.au

POLL

GLOSSARY

• first responder: the frontline, or first on call emergency response workers or volunteers on scene when there is an emergency, such as a fire, violent incident, health emergency, natural disaster or rescue needing to be performed. First responders include police officers, paramedics and ambulance personnel, firefighters, SES rescuers and surf lifesavers
• psychological: related to the mind and mental health
• trauma: a deeply distressing experience that makes it really hard to cope and leaves lasting effects on someone’s mental, physical or emotional wellbeing
• not-for-profit: an organisation that puts any money made back into the delivery of its services for members
• frontline: the first people there

EXTRA READING
Brave teens ready to fight fires
Australian mounted police turn 200
Schoolkids thank the fireys fighting bushfires

QUICK QUIZ
1. When is Thank a First Responder Day?
2. When does the Tens Days of Gratitude begin?
3. How many first responders experience psychological distress due to trauma on the job?
4. In what way are the families of first responders affected by trauma?
5. What are some ways the community can show their support for first responders?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Why work as a first responder?
The news story acknowledges that working as a first responder can be extremely challenging. Despite the difficulties, many people still choose to begin and continue careers in these roles. What do you think motivates them to do this?

Choose one of the first responder careers mentioned in the story and explain why you believe someone would choose this profession. In your response, consider the personal qualities, values, or experiences that may inspire a person to become a first responder.

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English

2. Extension
First responders have important jobs that require specialised skills and knowledge. Research to find out what education and training is required for the role you wrote about in the above activity.

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English

VCOP ACTIVITY
To sum it up
After reading the article, use your comprehension skills to summarise in a maximum of three sentences what the article is about.

Think about:

• What is the main topic or idea?
• What is an important or interesting fact?
• Who was involved (people or places)?

Use your VCOP skills to re-read your summary to make sure it is clear, specific and well punctuated.