MORE SUPPORT POSSIBLE SAYS COOKE AHEAD OF THANK A FIRST RESPONDER DAY
- Steph Cooke MP
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, says there is more that the NSW Government could do to support the regions’ emergency service personnel and volunteers, ahead of Thank A First Responder Day.
Falling on Wednesday, June 10, Thank a First Responder is an initiative run by Fortem Australia, an independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of first responders and their families.
The day asks members of the public to give thanks for the incredible work first responders do and the families that support them.
Ms Cooke, who formerly served as the NSW Minister for Emergency Services, is a proud supporter of the initiative and encourages residents and community groups to participate.
“Our emergency services are wonderful organisations, which, between them, have a couple of hundred thousand volunteers in addition to paid staff,” Ms Cooke said.
“These are the people who run towards an incident and run towards danger when the rest of us turn around and bolt the other way.”
“We should be saying thanks to them every single day for the work that they do to keep our communities and us safe.”
Since the change of Government in 2023, Ms Cooke has maintained strong relationships with members of the Police, Ambulance, Fire & Rescue, as well as the RFS, VRA, SES, Surf Lifesaving and Marine Rescue.
Last year, she recommended a suite of reforms to support greater mental health outcomes for emergency service personnel and volunteers during a parliamentary debate on the Suicide Prevention Bill 2025.
Those included an NSW Emergency Services Suicide Register, peer-led support services, evidence-based screening and wellbeing checks, trauma-informed leadership, and cultural change initiatives across ESR agencies.
Ahead of Thank A First Responder Day, Ms Cooke is urging the Government to consider the recommendations and explore ways in which NSW could better support the mental health of our state’s heroes.
“We know that there is a culture of stoicism and self-silencing within our emergency service, which can prevent members from seeking support if they need it,” Ms Cooke said.
“The Government has the ability to work in partnership with established organisations to address these deeply ingrained norms, and support members and volunteers who are far more likely to encounter trauma in the line of service.”
“Our emergency services have our backs 24/7, seven days a week, and they deserve to know that the government has theirs in return.”
