From Policy to Action: Bridging the Gap for a Resilient Disaster Workforce
Tracks
Prince Room | In-Person & Virtual via OnAIR
| Monday, July 22, 2024 |
| 1:25 PM - 1:55 PM |
Overview
James Maskey, Fortem Australia
Details
Presentation Key Learnings:
1. NGOs Catalyse Action: Trusted NGOs, like Fortem, play a pivotal role in translating disaster-specific government policies into tangible action through direct service delivery, community mobilisation, coalition building, and unwavering advocacy.
2. Impact on Responders' Wellbeing: Disaster response significantly affects the mental health of first responders and families. As a nation, we must transform numerous government policy documents into dedicated and impactful actions to foster national resilience.
3. National Wellbeing Call to Action: Bolstering the disaster management workforce and promoting mental wellbeing. This commitment aligns with Commonwealth policy, benefiting first responders and communities, contributing to a disaster-resilient Australia.
Speaker
James Maskey
Director Of Policy
Fortem Australia
From Policy to Action: Bridging the Gap for a Resilient Disaster Workforce
Abstract
In this presentation, Fortem Australia (Fortem) will emphasise the crucial role played by trusted non-government organisations (NGOs) in translating government policy from mere words on a page into tangible action. NGOs stand as the linchpin in the implementation of government disaster-specific policy platforms through direct service delivery, community mobilisation, coalition building, and unwavering advocacy.
The compounding effects of disaster response takes a toll on the wellbeing of first responders and their families, substantially impacting mental health over an extended period. To mitigate against this deeply personal impact of being first on the scene for others, Fortem plays a pivotal role in enhancing the national resilience of this crucial workforce - a fundamental element for Australia's ability to continue navigating the progressively complex disaster risk environment.
As the leading and most trusted not-for-profit organisation delivering mental health and wellbeing initiatives for first responders across Australia, Fortem provides tailored services encompassing social connections, evidence-based psychology, online resources, and strategic career management, promoting resilience in the face of persistent challenges.
Amid ongoing high-risk weather seasons and the development of significant national policy initiatives, Fortem actively contributes to key reports and reviews, aligning with various policies and turning them into actionable outcomes, including the Senate Select Committee's Review into Australia's Disaster Resilience and the National Mental Health Plan for Emergency Services Workers 2024-2027.
Transforming these policy documents into action must be a key national focus. As a nation, we must pursue the narrative of resilient, supported and retained first responders as mission critical to Australia’s disaster resilience.
By safeguarding and advocating for the needs of first responders on national policy platforms, Fortem actively contributes to realising government policy and building a disaster-resilient Australia. Ensuring the wellbeing of those who keep communities safe is a critical and compelling national priority, benefiting all Australians.
The compounding effects of disaster response takes a toll on the wellbeing of first responders and their families, substantially impacting mental health over an extended period. To mitigate against this deeply personal impact of being first on the scene for others, Fortem plays a pivotal role in enhancing the national resilience of this crucial workforce - a fundamental element for Australia's ability to continue navigating the progressively complex disaster risk environment.
As the leading and most trusted not-for-profit organisation delivering mental health and wellbeing initiatives for first responders across Australia, Fortem provides tailored services encompassing social connections, evidence-based psychology, online resources, and strategic career management, promoting resilience in the face of persistent challenges.
Amid ongoing high-risk weather seasons and the development of significant national policy initiatives, Fortem actively contributes to key reports and reviews, aligning with various policies and turning them into actionable outcomes, including the Senate Select Committee's Review into Australia's Disaster Resilience and the National Mental Health Plan for Emergency Services Workers 2024-2027.
Transforming these policy documents into action must be a key national focus. As a nation, we must pursue the narrative of resilient, supported and retained first responders as mission critical to Australia’s disaster resilience.
By safeguarding and advocating for the needs of first responders on national policy platforms, Fortem actively contributes to realising government policy and building a disaster-resilient Australia. Ensuring the wellbeing of those who keep communities safe is a critical and compelling national priority, benefiting all Australians.
Biography
James Maskey is a social change leader striving to enhance the mental, physical, and social wellbeing of the first responder community.
James is the Director of Policy at Fortem Australia – the nation’s leading support organisation for first responders and their families. As a thought leader in the first responder sector, James is deeply committed to driving systemic cultural change, high-value policy reform, and additional government support to ensure positive mental health and wellbeing outcomes for first responders and their families across the country.
James is a retired front-line Queensland Police Officer with a service history including General Duties and the Child Protection & Investigation Unit. In 2013, James was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and transitioned out of service in 2015. He was also formerly the National Engagement Manager of Beyond Blue’s Police and Emergency Services Program.
James is an advocate for individual first responders and works tirelessly to increase help-seeking behaviours, remove barriers to accessing supports, and ultimately create mentally healthy workplaces within the first responder sector.
For his ongoing mental health advocacy, James recently received the 'Conversation Leader' award in the 2023 R U OK? Barbara Hocking Memorial Awards and was named one of Pro Bono Australia's 'Impact 25 Award' recipients in 2020.
James is also an ultra-endurance athlete, having represented Australia on the world stage in a 250KM ultra marathon, as well as securing a joint small group world record on the Concept 2 ‘SkiErg’ across a 24-hour period. James utilises these events to platform the mental health impact of the first responder occupation, and what supports are available for individual first responders and their families.
