ON THE RADAR Care for our people
Support helps members build mental fitness Families welcome to join in smorgasbord of enjoyable wellness activities.
M
arine Rescue NSW members can now take advantage of a new service to support their wellbeing and help build their mental fitness – and they can do it while enjoying a range of activities with their families and emergency services colleagues. Under a new Memorandum of Understanding, Fortem Australia, a not-for-profit organisation established to help support emergency first responders and national security personnel, is providing the additional support to our membership. Commissioner Stacey Tannos and Fortem’s General Manager of Service Delivery, Darrin Lincoln, lauded the new partnership as offering tremendous benefits to MRNSW volunteers, staff members and their families. Commissioner Tannos said Fortem provided an opportunity for frontline workers in the emergency services and other areas to deal with their wellbeing and mental health. ”It’s an issue that’s becoming more and more prevalent right across Australia and right across the world. It’s great to see an organisation that has grabbed this issue and is actually doing something about it,” he said. Mr Lincoln said Fortem understood the trials and tribulations
Members of MR Botany Port Hacking, Geoffrey McDonald, Jesse Rowley, Grahame Aulbury and Bronwyn Daniels at the Fortem Australia family fun day on May 15.
MRNSW personnel and their families dealt with day in and day out. “We support members and their families. Sometimes families get forgotten in the overall struggle of what members do. It’s important that families are treated equally, if not better,” he said. “We look forward to delivering a whole lot of services that we provide to members across NSW.” Fortem uses research and best practice to develop activities, community engagement and psychological support services to assist participants’ mental health and wellbeing. MRNSW members and their families will now be able to choose from a smorgasbord of wellness
Fortem Australia General Manager of Service Delivery Darrin Lincoln and Commissioner Stacey Tannos sign a new agreement to provide wellness services to MRNSW volunteers.
activities such as bushwalks, gym classes, lawn bowls, surfing lessons, barbecue classes, craft activities and ten pin bowling. Volunteers from MR Port Macquarie have already taken part in activities including surfing and paintball challenges through the program and members of MR Botany Port Hacking took part in a family fun day at Appin on May 15. Online activities also are offered, such as a monthly trivia competition that has linked personnel serving not only around Australia but also others farther afield, such as Federal Police officers in Papua New Guinea and Timor and the International Court of Justice in The Hague. All activities are free to members and their families. Joining in is easy – simply book online at https://fortemaustralia.org. au/calendar/ and add that you are from Marine Rescue NSW. “Family is anyone you share a fridge with – it might be your husband or wife and your kids. Maybe you live with your parents or maybe it’s your flatmate who’s your sounding board. They’re all welcome,” Mr Lincoln said. “We don’t care what rank, uniform or security clearance you have. It’s about people talking to each other while they’re there that’s
The MRNSW Rescue Water Craft proved a drawcard at the family fun day.
important – it’s informal chats and bonding that helps.” Events can be organised specifically for members of one agency but more commonly are open to a range of participants from different services. Some events are only for families and others combine members and families. Fortem also offers a range of counselling and psychological support services free of charge to members. These can be accessed on 1300 338 594 or psychology@ fortemaustralia.org.au. This is in addition to Marine Rescue NSW’s existing Critical Incident Support Service. SOUNDINGS | MARINE RESCUE NSW
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