Emergency service workers face unique occupational experiences that can affect their mental health, recovery and help-seeking.
Delivered by Phoenix Australia, the National Centre of Excellence in Posttraumatic Mental Health, Responder Assist training translates the latest evidence into practical skills clinicians can use to support emergency workers experiencing trauma-related mental health challenges.
Our self-paced online courses are designed to strengthen clinical confidence, improve understanding of trauma impacts and support evidence-informed assessment and treatment.
Responder Assist currently provides access to nine evidence-based online courses for clinicians supporting eligible emergency service workers. Training is free for Victorian-based clinicians who are currently treating clients from:
To register yourself or your organisation, use this form to request an access code.
Access to each self-paced online course is available for 6 months from your enrolment date.
Managing Sleep Problems has been developed by clinical experts and equips you with knowledge and skills needed for the bestpractice assessment and treatment of emergency service members with problematic sleep in the context of PTSD.
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Managing Problematic Anger has been developed by clinical experts to he{p you understand the best-practice techniques of assessment and treatment of individuals with problematic anger in trauma.
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This course is designed for mental health practitioners wtlo would like to develop their core cultural competencies for working with emergency services personnel.
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This course is designed to increase practitioner knowledge about one of the most common mental health conditions that practitioners are Likely to encounter in their work with emergency services workers. This course will help practitioners to diagnose PTSD; to understand prevalence, gender differences, comorbidity, risk factors. course and phenomenology; and introduces evidence based treatments for PTSD.
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This course will help practitioners to develop their capability in conducting comprehensive. trauma-informed clinical assessments of emergency workers. The course provides a summary of methods common in the practice of evidence-based assessment and include a resource bank of assessment and treatment planning tools which can be accessed at any time.
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Practitioners
Self-care is of particular importance for health practitioners when they work with the emergency services sector. This course is designed to help practitioners to take care of themselves as they go about their work with emergency services personnel. The course will help practitioners to enhance resilience as well as understand the risk factors and impact of vicarious trauma. burnout, and moral injury.
Trauma-focussed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBTI is an evidence-based treatment for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder that aims to help the individual come to terms with trauma through exposure to, and emotional processing of. memories of the event. Part One introduces practitioners to the common components of this evidence-based treatment.
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Following on from Part I, this course provides detail on engaging therapy treatments including implementing imaginal and in-vivo exposure therapy and trauma-focussed cognitive therapy.
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This course will build practitioners' skills in case formulation when treating emergency workers. The course will use case vignettes to help develop understanding of the principles underpinning the development of case formulations and formulation-based treatment plans.
Find out moreFree access is available for Victorian-based clinicians who are currently treating clients from eligible emergency service organisations, including Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria, Country Fire Authority (CFA), Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES), Forest Fire Management Victoria and Triple Zero Victoria.
Fill out this form to request free access. You should receive a response within 24 hours during business hours.
After submitting your registration form, your details will be reviewed and a coupon code will be sent to you by email. You should receive a response within 24 hours during business hours.
Yes. If you’re treating a current or former emergency service worker who’s based in Victoria, you may be eligible for free access. Fill out this form to find out if you’re eligible. You should receive a response within 24 hours during business hours.
If you’re not eligible, you can still access Phoenix Australia’s online courses through the online learning platform. Fees may apply.
Complete the registration form to confirm your eligibility. Once approved, you’ll receive a coupon code that allows you to enrol in your selected course at no cost.
Fill out this form to request free access. You should receive a response within 24 hours during business hours.
You’ll have access to each self-paced online course for 6 months from your enrolment date.
If you are not currently treating an eligible emergency service worker who’s based in Victoria, you can explore a broader range of Phoenix Australia courses designed to help clinicians build knowledge and skills in trauma-informed care. Fees may apply. Explore Phoenix Australia courses ->
If you are currently treating an emergency service worker from the agencies represented in Responder Assist, a coupon code will be provided for free access to the course.
If you are not currently treating an eligible emergency service worker, you can also explore a broader range of Phoenix Australia courses designed to help clinicians build knowledge and skills in trauma-informed care. Explore Phoenix Australia courses ->
Emergency service workers don’t always present like other clients. The nature of their work, culture and identity can influence how they experience trauma, seek help and engage in treatment. Our Community of Practice helps clinicians better understand these differences through practical learning, discussion and shared experience.
Delivered in partnership with the Mental Health Practitioners’ Network (MHPN), these free online sessions combine expert presentations, real-world discussion and opportunities to learn from experienced clinicians and emergency service workers with lived experience.
Our Community of Practice gives you the opportunity to:
Sessions explore topics relevant to clinicians working with emergency service workers, including:
Emergency service workers experience repeated exposure to traumatic events throughout their careers. They also work within strong occupational cultures that shape how they seek help, engage in treatment and recover.
The more clinicians understand these experiences, the better equipped they are to build trust, tailor treatment and support meaningful recovery.
Communities of Practice also provide an opportunity for clinicians to reflect on their own practice, share knowledge and continue developing their skills alongside peers.
If you’d like to attend a future session, register your interest below. We’ll let you know when registrations open for upcoming events.
Find practical, evidence-informed resources to support every stage of care. Explore clinical tools, guides, webinars, assessment measures and research designed to help you better understand, assess and support emergency service workers and those around them.
Use the filters below to narrow your search by topic, audience or resource type.
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