Stress, Resilience & Functioning: Building Mental Fitness Across Frontline Communities
Tracks
Prince Room and Virtual via OnAIR
| Monday, March 2, 2026 |
| 1:05 PM - 1:35 PM |
| Prince Room |
Overview
Matt Newlands, Frontline Mental Health
Details
Three Key Learnings:
From Recovery to Prevention – SRF shifts the focus from post-injury intervention to proactive resilience building and mental fitness for Military and First Responders. Evidence-Informed and Tested – Grounded in over a decade of research and developed by Assoc. Prof. Jon Lane, SRF has been successfully piloted across Army, Open Arms, and Veteran organisations. Flexible, Accessible, Practical – With an eight-module curriculum and a custom-built Learning Management System, SRF delivers practical strategies in a format that suits high-stress, unpredictable operational environments.
From Recovery to Prevention – SRF shifts the focus from post-injury intervention to proactive resilience building and mental fitness for Military and First Responders. Evidence-Informed and Tested – Grounded in over a decade of research and developed by Assoc. Prof. Jon Lane, SRF has been successfully piloted across Army, Open Arms, and Veteran organisations. Flexible, Accessible, Practical – With an eight-module curriculum and a custom-built Learning Management System, SRF delivers practical strategies in a format that suits high-stress, unpredictable operational environments.
Speaker
Mr Matt Newlands
Co-Founder | Educator
Frontline Mental Health
Stress, Resilience & Functioning: Building Mental Fitness Across Frontline Communities
Presentation Overview
Stress, Resilience & Functioning (SRF) is an eight-week, evidence-informed psychoeducation program designed to strengthen psychological resilience, promote emotional regulation, and improve functioning within Military, Veteran, and First Responder communities. Developed by Associate Professor Jon Lane, Chief Psychiatrist at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, SRF represents the latest evolution of more than a decade of research, clinical practice, and program delivery.
Originating from the STAIR model, which later evolved into the GEARS program formally evaluated during the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide (2021–2023), SRF retains some of the core principles of its predecessors while incorporating significant refinements. Guided by participant feedback and emerging research, the program has been streamlined to 8 weeks to improve accessibility, without compromising depth or impact.
A key innovation is the integration of the Systematic Self-Reflection (SSR) model, first validated in a study at the Royal Military College Duntroon (Crane et al., 2019). This addition enhances participants’ ability to engage with stressors in adaptive, sustainable ways, strengthening emotion regulation and stress tolerance. Unlike earlier clinical iterations, SRF shifts the focus from post-injury recovery towards prevention and early intervention, making it ideally suited to both current-serving and veteran populations.
Delivered through an eight-module curriculum, SRF combines psychoeducation, applied strategies, and reflective practice. A custom-built Learning Management System supports delivery with resources, videos, transcripts, and audio content, enabling asynchronous access and flexibility for those in demanding operational environments.
SRF has already demonstrated strong relevance across multiple service contexts. Successful pilots with Open Arms and the Australian Army have shown positive outcomes, while delivery to veterans through RSL NSW and other organisations has further highlighted its adaptability. Police and Correctional Services personnel have also responded favourably, reflecting the program's alignment with shared service values and culture.
Originating from the STAIR model, which later evolved into the GEARS program formally evaluated during the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide (2021–2023), SRF retains some of the core principles of its predecessors while incorporating significant refinements. Guided by participant feedback and emerging research, the program has been streamlined to 8 weeks to improve accessibility, without compromising depth or impact.
A key innovation is the integration of the Systematic Self-Reflection (SSR) model, first validated in a study at the Royal Military College Duntroon (Crane et al., 2019). This addition enhances participants’ ability to engage with stressors in adaptive, sustainable ways, strengthening emotion regulation and stress tolerance. Unlike earlier clinical iterations, SRF shifts the focus from post-injury recovery towards prevention and early intervention, making it ideally suited to both current-serving and veteran populations.
Delivered through an eight-module curriculum, SRF combines psychoeducation, applied strategies, and reflective practice. A custom-built Learning Management System supports delivery with resources, videos, transcripts, and audio content, enabling asynchronous access and flexibility for those in demanding operational environments.
SRF has already demonstrated strong relevance across multiple service contexts. Successful pilots with Open Arms and the Australian Army have shown positive outcomes, while delivery to veterans through RSL NSW and other organisations has further highlighted its adaptability. Police and Correctional Services personnel have also responded favourably, reflecting the program's alignment with shared service values and culture.
Biography
Matt Newlands is a mental health advocate and consultant drawing on over a decade of frontline policing experience with SA Police. Having navigated his own service-related mental health challenges, Matt brings unique insight and authenticity to his work. He has since dedicated his career to supporting Military personnel, First Responders, and frontline professionals in building resilience, recovery, and wellbeing. Through education, counselling, and tailored programs, Matt helps individuals and organisations create healthier, more sustainable cultures. His lived experience, combined with professional expertise, makes him a trusted voice in advancing conversations around mental health and operational readiness.
