Strength in Adversity
Tracks
Prince Room and Virtual via OnAIR
Monarch Room - In Person Only
Marquis Room - In Person Only
| Monday, March 2, 2026 |
| 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM |
Overview
Dr Rory Morris-Butler & Danielle Baldock, Soul Medicine VAR & FIRST by Soul Medicine
Details
Three Key Learnings:
Recognising and addressing trauma – Understanding how trauma affects veterans and frontline personnel and the barriers to seeking help. Innovative, veteran-led treatment – Insights into evidence-informed programs like FIRST by Soul Medicine that combine clinical effectiveness with operational feasibility. Practical strategies for care – Approaches to build trust, improve engagement, and deliver accessible mental health support for frontline communities.
Recognising and addressing trauma – Understanding how trauma affects veterans and frontline personnel and the barriers to seeking help. Innovative, veteran-led treatment – Insights into evidence-informed programs like FIRST by Soul Medicine that combine clinical effectiveness with operational feasibility. Practical strategies for care – Approaches to build trust, improve engagement, and deliver accessible mental health support for frontline communities.
Speaker
Mrs Danielle Baldock
Founder
Soldiers & Sirens
FIRST: Transforming Mental Health
Presentation Overview
Biography
Danielle Baldock graduated from the UWA Psychology programme in 2001 and joined the WA Police Force as an officer. After serving six years she left the Police to pursue her psychology career. Since 2010 she has worked in various organisations including the Sexual Assault Resource Centre, WA Police Health & Welfare, Victim Support and Child Witness Service, Soldier On, HMAS Stirling, the Marian Centre, and ADF Careers. She has continued to study throughout that time, completing a Masters of Business Administration in 2015 and a Masters in Psychology at Murdoch in 2020. In 2018 she joined the Australian Army as a Reserve Psychology Officer.
In 2019 she founded Soldiers & Sirens, a not for profit charity, dedicated to the mental and physical wellbeing of uniform members be they current or ex-serving police, fire, ambulance, corrections or military. She believes in thriving and that to optimise quality of life depends not only on mental wellbeing but physical wellbeing too.
In 2025 she joined Soul Medicine as Operations Lead, including training as a FIRST practitioner, to support this incredible organisation to further their mission to provide innovative treatment services to veterans and first responders.
Dr Rory Morris-Butler
CEO
Soul Medicine VAR & FIRST by Soul Medicine
Strength in Adversity
Presentation Overview
Dr Rory Morris-Butler explores the complex and often hidden mental health challenges faced by veterans and frontline personnel, drawing on his dual experience as a psychiatrist and former British Army Medical Officer. With over a decade of military service, including deployment to Afghanistan, Dr Morris-Butler brings a unique perspective shaped by both lived experience and clinical practice.
The presentation examines how trauma manifests in individuals operating in high-risk environments, and why those who serve are frequently the least likely to seek support. He discusses cultural, operational, and systemic barriers to early intervention, and the long-term consequences of untreated psychological injury.
Drawing on his work across acute inpatient units, community mental health services, and rural and remote regions of Australia, Dr Morris-Butler highlights gaps in traditional mental health models for veteran and frontline populations. He emphasises the importance of trust, shared understanding, and culturally informed care in achieving meaningful engagement.
The presentation will also discuss FIRST by Soul Medicine, a psychological therapy transitioning from a pilot program to a scalable, system-level intervention. FIRST is an evidence-based treatment program initially designed for military populations, providing structured interventions for PTSD and related mental health conditions. At Soul Medicine VAR, Dr Morris-Butler is leading the development of structured, evidence-informed treatment models that balance clinical efficacy with operational feasibility.
Attendees will gain practical insight for clinicians, leaders, and policymakers, challenging them to rethink how mental health services are designed and delivered for frontline communities. Ultimately, the presentation reinforces a central message: strength is not diminished by seeking help, and effective care begins with understanding.
The presentation examines how trauma manifests in individuals operating in high-risk environments, and why those who serve are frequently the least likely to seek support. He discusses cultural, operational, and systemic barriers to early intervention, and the long-term consequences of untreated psychological injury.
Drawing on his work across acute inpatient units, community mental health services, and rural and remote regions of Australia, Dr Morris-Butler highlights gaps in traditional mental health models for veteran and frontline populations. He emphasises the importance of trust, shared understanding, and culturally informed care in achieving meaningful engagement.
The presentation will also discuss FIRST by Soul Medicine, a psychological therapy transitioning from a pilot program to a scalable, system-level intervention. FIRST is an evidence-based treatment program initially designed for military populations, providing structured interventions for PTSD and related mental health conditions. At Soul Medicine VAR, Dr Morris-Butler is leading the development of structured, evidence-informed treatment models that balance clinical efficacy with operational feasibility.
Attendees will gain practical insight for clinicians, leaders, and policymakers, challenging them to rethink how mental health services are designed and delivered for frontline communities. Ultimately, the presentation reinforces a central message: strength is not diminished by seeking help, and effective care begins with understanding.
Biography
Dr Rory Morris-Butler is a psychiatrist and former British Army Medical Officer with extensive experience in both military and civilian mental health care. He completed his Bachelor of Medicine at Norwich Medical School in England and, in 2017, completed specialist postgraduate training in psychiatry, gaining membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists through the South London and Maudsley training scheme.
He has worked across acute inpatient units, psychiatric intensive care, community and liaison services, and occupational mental health. After relocating to Australia in 2018, Dr Morris-Butler joined the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, working with Bentley Mental Health Service and providing rural and remote psychiatric support in the East Kimberley region.
A graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Dr Morris-Butler served as a commissioned officer in the British Army Medical Corps for 12 years, including deployment to Afghanistan. He is the founder of Soul Medicine VAR and brings deep expertise in veteran mental health, military psychiatry, and the Statements of Principles under the VEA and MRCA.
