Thanking Those Who Answer the Call: First Responders, Community Preparedness and Connection

This week’s Building Stronger Communities program was dedicated to recognising the people who answer the call when our communities need them most – our first responders.

As Australia prepares to mark Thank a First Responder Day on 10 June, we took time to acknowledge the dedication, sacrifice and service of firefighters, paramedics, police officers, SES volunteers, emergency service personnel and the families who support them behind the scenes.

Supporting Those Who Support Us

One of the highlights of the program was hearing from Piper Johnston about her involvement with Fortem Australia and her passion for supporting first responders and their families.

Piper shared that Fortem Australia was established in 2019 by a first responder, following the devastating Black Summer bushfires. Since then, the organisation has supported more than 25,000 first responder families through a range of services including mental health support and counselling, wellbeing activities, social connection programs, career management support, and transition assistance for those moving from first responder roles into civilian careers. Importantly, this support can continue for up to ten years after service.

Piper also spoke about her role representing the children and families of first responders.

As she explained, families are often the backbone behind first responders. They provide encouragement, stability and support, helping their loved ones continue serving the community with dedication and passion.

Piper highlighted that while many young people have a general understanding of the role first responders play in keeping communities safe, there is still an opportunity to increase education and awareness around the sacrifices first responders and their families make every day.

She also reminded listeners that Thank a First Responder Day is held annually on 10 June and encouraged everyone to take a moment to recognise the people who serve our communities.

We were also privileged to hear from Brett Johnston, who shared his lived experience as a first responder. His reflections provided a personal and honest insight into the realities behind the uniform, the challenges faced by emergency service personnel, and the importance of family support and community understanding.

Their conversations reminded us that behind every emergency response is a person, a family and a story.

Winter Emergencies: Preparation Matters

The second hour of the program focused on common winter emergencies and how simple preparation can make a significant difference.

A key message throughout the discussion was simple:

“A little preparation today can reduce the impact tomorrow.”

While first responders are there when emergencies occur, community preparedness helps reduce risks, keeps people safer and lessens pressure on emergency services.

Switch Off and Connect

This week’s Switch Off and Connect segment focused on the connection between community wellbeing and emergency preparedness.

Often the strongest support during difficult times comes not from emergency services, but from neighbours, friends, family members and community networks checking in on one another.

Our challenge this week was simple:

• Check in on someone you haven’t spoken to recently.
• Thank someone who supports others.
• Spend time connecting face-to-face.
• Reach out to a neighbour, particularly someone who may be vulnerable or living alone.

Strong communities are built through everyday acts of connection.

Through stories, culture, music, food and community conversations, we’ll continue exploring the many backgrounds, traditions and experiences that help shape modern Australia.

Thank You

A sincere thank you to Piper Johnston and Brett Johnston for sharing their experiences and perspectives throughout the program.

Most importantly, thank you to all first responders, volunteers, support personnel and families who continue to serve our communities every day.

Your commitment, courage and compassion help make our communities safer, stronger and more connected.

Because everyone has a place, and every story matters.