Emergency services have unique cultures, language and ways of working. You shouldn’t have to spend your first few appointments explaining your job before you can begin your recovery.
Our clinicians understand the realities of emergency service work and how trauma can affect people over time.
For more than 25 years, Phoenix Australia has led research, developed clinical guidelines and helped shape trauma care in Australia and internationally. Responder Assist brings this specialist knowledge directly to emergency service workers.
We connect you with clinicians trained in evidence-based treatments for PTSD and other trauma-related mental health concerns. These treatments are supported by research and recommended in national clinical guidelines.
Responder Assist is independent of your employer. Our intake team can help you understand your options, answer questions about funding and connect you with the support that's right for you
Emergency service workers are regularly exposed to distressing and traumatic events. While many people recover naturally over time, trauma can sometimes have lasting effects on how you think, feel and respond. These experiences can affect anyone; however, not everyone responds in the same way.
Understanding trauma is the first step towards recognising when you or someone you care about may need support.
Many emergency service workers experience reactions after traumatic events. While these reactions are often a normal response to an abnormal situation, sometimes they don’t improve or begin to interfere with work, relationships or everyday life.
Common experiences include:
You don’t have to wait until things become overwhelming before reaching out for support.
Recovery doesn’t mean forgetting what happened or pretending it didn’t affect you. It means that your experiences have less impact on your daily life, you’re able to manage difficult memories and emotions, and you feel more like yourself again.
Everyone’s recovery journey is different, and there’s no ‘right’ timeline. Whether you’re just starting to notice changes or have been struggling for some time, support is available.
If you’re not sure what to do next, our intake team can help you understand your options.
People reach out with PTSD and other trauma-related challenges such as:
Responder Assist is currently funded to support current and former emergency service workers and volunteers from the following Victorian agencies. If you’re not sure whether you’re eligible, our intake team can help you understand your options.
Ambulance Victoria provides emergency medical response, pre-hospital care and patient transport services across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
Paramedics, first responders, communications staff and support personnel often work in fast-paced, high-pressure environments involving repeated exposure to medical emergencies, traumatic incidents and critical situations.
As part of its commitment to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of emergency service personnel, Ambulance Victoria works with services such as Responder Assist to improve awareness of specialist trauma-informed mental health support and recovery pathways for current and former emergency service workers.
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The Country Fire Authority (CFA) is one of the world’s largest volunteer-based emergency services organisations, supporting Victorian communities through fire response, emergency management, community education and disaster recovery.
CFA members often serve in demanding and unpredictable environments, balancing emergency response responsibilities alongside work, family and community life.
Through partnerships and wellbeing initiatives, CFA supports greater awareness of trauma-informed mental health care and recovery pathways for volunteers, operational personnel and support staff across Victoria, including access to services such as Responder Assist.
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Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) provides fire, rescue and emergency response services across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
FRV firefighters and personnel regularly respond to complex emergencies, critical incidents and high-pressure operational environments, often working in unpredictable situations that can have a lasting impact on mental health and wellbeing over time.
As part of its commitment to supporting the wellbeing of emergency service personnel, FRV works alongside initiatives such as Responder Assist to improve awareness of specialist trauma-informed mental health support, recovery pathways and early intervention for current and former emergency service workers.
Through ongoing investment in workforce wellbeing and mental health awareness, FRV continues to support safer, healthier and more sustainable emergency service careers for its people.
Visit websiteAmbulance Victoria provides emergency medical response, pre-hospital care and patient transport services across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
Paramedics, first responders, communications staff and support personnel often work in fast-paced, high-pressure environments involving repeated exposure to medical emergencies, traumatic incidents and critical situations.
As part of its commitment to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of emergency service personnel, Ambulance Victoria works with services such as Responder Assist to improve awareness of specialist trauma-informed mental health support and recovery pathways for current and former emergency service workers.
Visit website
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) is one of the world’s largest volunteer-based emergency services organisations, supporting Victorian communities through fire response, emergency management, community education and disaster recovery.
CFA members often serve in demanding and unpredictable environments, balancing emergency response responsibilities alongside work, family and community life.
Through partnerships and wellbeing initiatives, CFA supports greater awareness of trauma-informed mental health care and recovery pathways for volunteers, operational personnel and support staff across Victoria, including access to services such as Responder Assist.
Visit websiteFire Rescue Victoria (FRV) provides fire, rescue and emergency response services across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
FRV firefighters and personnel regularly respond to complex emergencies, critical incidents and high-pressure operational environments, often working in unpredictable situations that can have a lasting impact on mental health and wellbeing over time.
As part of its commitment to supporting the wellbeing of emergency service personnel, FRV works alongside initiatives such as Responder Assist to improve awareness of specialist trauma-informed mental health support, recovery pathways and early intervention for current and former emergency service workers.
Through ongoing investment in workforce wellbeing and mental health awareness, FRV continues to support safer, healthier and more sustainable emergency service careers for its people.
Visit website
Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) brings together personnel from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Parks Victoria and Melbourne Water to support bushfire prevention, preparedness, response and recovery across Victoria.
FFMVic personnel often work in challenging and high-risk environments, including prolonged bushfire operations, remote deployments and emergency response situations that can place significant pressure on mental health and wellbeing over time.
As part of its commitment to supporting the wellbeing of emergency management personnel, FFMVic works with services such as Responder Assist to help improve awareness of trauma-informed mental health support for current and former emergency service workers.
Triple Zero Victoria provides critical emergency call-taking and dispatch services for Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria and the Victoria SES (VICSES).
Call-takers and dispatch personnel work in fast-paced, high-pressure environments where they are regularly exposed to traumatic situations, distressed callers and critical incidents through frontline emergency communications work.
Triple Zero Victoria recognises the importance of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of emergency communications personnel and works with initiatives such as Responder Assist to improve awareness of trauma-informed mental health support, recovery pathways and specialist care for current and former emergency service workers.
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Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency in Victoria, supporting community safety through policing, emergency response, investigations and public protection services across the state.
Police personnel are regularly exposed to high-pressure operational environments, critical incidents and cumulative trauma through the course of their work.
Victoria Police plays an important role in supporting the wellbeing of current and former employees and improving awareness of available mental health and recovery supports.
Visit websiteForest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) brings together personnel from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Parks Victoria and Melbourne Water to support bushfire prevention, preparedness, response and recovery across Victoria.
FFMVic personnel often work in challenging and high-risk environments, including prolonged bushfire operations, remote deployments and emergency response situations that can place significant pressure on mental health and wellbeing over time.
As part of its commitment to supporting the wellbeing of emergency management personnel, FFMVic works with services such as Responder Assist to help improve awareness of trauma-informed mental health support for current and former emergency service workers.
Triple Zero Victoria provides critical emergency call-taking and dispatch services for Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria and the Victoria SES (VICSES).
Call-takers and dispatch personnel work in fast-paced, high-pressure environments where they are regularly exposed to traumatic situations, distressed callers and critical incidents through frontline emergency communications work.
Triple Zero Victoria recognises the importance of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of emergency communications personnel and works with initiatives such as Responder Assist to improve awareness of trauma-informed mental health support, recovery pathways and specialist care for current and former emergency service workers.
Visit websiteVictoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency in Victoria, supporting community safety through policing, emergency response, investigations and public protection services across the state.
Police personnel are regularly exposed to high-pressure operational environments, critical incidents and cumulative trauma through the course of their work.
Victoria Police plays an important role in supporting the wellbeing of current and former employees and improving awareness of available mental health and recovery supports.
Visit website
Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) is a volunteer-based emergency service supporting Victorian communities through emergency response, disaster recovery and public safety operations.
VICSES personnel and volunteers respond to floods, storms, rescues, road crashes and other emergencies across the state, often working in unpredictable and high-pressure environments to help keep communities safe.
As part of its commitment to supporting the wellbeing of emergency service personnel, VICSES works alongside initiatives such as Responder Assist to help improve awareness of trauma-informed mental health support and recovery pathways for current and former emergency service workers.
Visit website
Police Veterans Victoria (PVV) is a trusted partner supporting former Victoria Police employees and their families. Together, Police Veterans Victoria and Responder Assist help veterans access both peer support and specialist trauma treatment.
While Police Veterans Victoria provides advocacy, connection and confidential peer support through trained Veteran Peer Support Officers, Responder Assist connects eligible veterans with evidence-based treatment for PTSD and other trauma-related mental health concerns.
Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) is a volunteer-based emergency service supporting Victorian communities through emergency response, disaster recovery and public safety operations.
VICSES personnel and volunteers respond to floods, storms, rescues, road crashes and other emergencies across the state, often working in unpredictable and high-pressure environments to help keep communities safe.
As part of its commitment to supporting the wellbeing of emergency service personnel, VICSES works alongside initiatives such as Responder Assist to help improve awareness of trauma-informed mental health support and recovery pathways for current and former emergency service workers.
Visit websitePolice Veterans Victoria (PVV) is a trusted partner supporting former Victoria Police employees and their families. Together, Police Veterans Victoria and Responder Assist help veterans access both peer support and specialist trauma treatment.
While Police Veterans Victoria provides advocacy, connection and confidential peer support through trained Veteran Peer Support Officers, Responder Assist connects eligible veterans with evidence-based treatment for PTSD and other trauma-related mental health concerns.
Whether you’re looking for information, practical strategies or support for yourself or someone you care about, you’ll find evidence-based resources designed for emergency service workers, volunteers, families and supporters.
Use the filters below to find resources by topic, audience or resource type.
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