Calling First Responders

Are you a lifesaver, a firey or an SES volunteer? A charity founded in the Illawarra would like to offer you a free weekend to work on your mental wellbeing.

Applications are now open for the first First Responder Emergency Services Health Education Retreat (FRESHER), to be held at the Sylvan Glen Estate in Penrose from 6-8 August.

“We are calling for applicants across all volunteer emergency first responder organisations, including RFS, SES, St John Ambulance, Surf Life Saving, Marine Rescue,” said Churchill Fellow Louise Murphy, a Registered Nurse and St John volunteer whose passion for helping others with mental wellbeing drove her to found the not-for-profit Australian First Responder Foundation last year.

“This is the first retreat in NSW specifically for our volunteer emergency first responders – we are a little bit proud,” Louise told 2508. “It’s foundations are on peer support, prevention.

“We have 15 places available. The weekend is at no cost to volunteer emergency first responders.”

The aim of the retreat is for first responders to reconnect through peer support, reframe views through conversation, listening and learning, and reset via mindfulness workshops, outdoor and creative exercises.

Find more information on the AFRF Facebook page @Australian First Responder Foundation or apply via this link.