2025 Frontline Mental Health Conference

March 3rd & 4th Gold Coast – Qld

Leadership, Culture, Prevention: The Trifecta of Frontline Thriving

Fostering Wellbeing at Every Level of Frontline Organisations

Join us at FMHC25

The Frontline Mental Health Conference brings together some of the country's most dedicated sector leaders, frontline workers, mental health professionals and service providers in the one place for two big days of learning, listening, strategising and conceptualising the future of frontline mental health.

At FMHC25 we’re having the honest conversations…

At FMHC, we dive deep into the multifaceted challenges and innovative solutions shaping the wellbeing of our essential workers. From exploring protective factors and prevention strategies to examining the crucial role of organisational culture, we'll address the complex landscape of frontline mental health.

We'll tackle sensitive issues like moral injury and the impact of frontline work on family life, while also highlighting the transformative power of effective leadership and peer support. Experts will share the latest advancements in trauma treatment and guide us through the entire lifecycle of a first responder's career.

This comprehensive approach ensures that as a delegate, you will gain a holistic understanding of frontline mental health, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to foster resilience, support recovery, and create lasting positive change in your organisation and community.

The Mission

Unite to cultivate a mentally resilient workforce.

To support multi-sectoral collaboration and create a platform for knowledge sharing, case studies and learning opportunities to advance the outcomes of the frontline sector.
To give professionals access to the latest research, proactive mental health care, projects, programs and strategies to help meet the diverse needs of the frontline sector.
To share best practices, explore innovative concepts and facilitate meaningful connections to transform interagency collaboration and communication.
To provide real solutions with applicable takeaways for all frontline professionals as we walk into a challenging future.

More about FMHC25

The delegates for the Frontline Mental Health Conference are varied across emergency services, defence, community, government, mental and allied health as well as business.

Here’s a snapshot of delegates you can connect with at FMHC

The delegates for the Frontline Mental Health Conference are varied across emergency services, defence, community, government, mental and allied health as well as business.

Typically, we see:

Emergency services personnel, defence force personnel, wellbeing officers and sector leaders.
Professors, Associate Professors, Lecturers, PhD Students from Universities around the world with a particular focus on frontline workers and emergency workers.
Senior management and leadership roles including Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Unit Director & Coordinator, Member Welfare Manager
Psychologists, GPs, Social Workers, Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Nutritionists, Allied Health Managers, Mental Health Nurses working within frontline sector.
Directors and Consultants of Private Counselling/ Psychiatrist/ Psychologist Practice.
Mental health workers from federally funded government agencies.
Team Lead, Program Manager, Project Lead of Hospital and Health Services and PHNs.
Hospital workers (ICU Doctors, Nurses, Emergency department workers, Midwifes, Physicians, Pharmacists, etc)

Yes! FMHC is for you if you’re looking for…

A space for safe, open and connected conversation around the mental health of all first responders and frontline workers at all stages of their career.
Up-to-date research and application based presentations to leave you with practical tools to create immediate and positive changes.
A gathering of frontline workers, leaders and mental health practitioners, researchers and service providers sharing real information about what is happening in the moments that matter for our frontline workers.
A break away from your every-day to focus on the future of the sector and network building with purpose.

Transform the health and wellbeing of all frontline workers

Understand the current research and data around what the sector needs now, and what the immediate future means for you and your frontline peers. Take this information back into your role, your organisation and your community.

Access to all recorded keynote presentations (30 days)
All recorded concurrent presentations (30 days)
Access to conference app
Printed conference materials
Over 10 hours towards CPD points
Your personalised certificate of attendance

This is your chance to connect with your peers, mental health professionals, frontline workers, frontline leaders, researchers, and service providers in the frontline sector.

Get ready to enjoy:

An exclusive welcome networking function with drinks, canapes and entertainment
A full day catering package for the entire conference with morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
A special gift for returning delegates
The chance to win awesome prizes
Chillout mindfulness zones
Other fun things for all delegates

Keynote Speakers

Dr Henry Bowen

Senior Research Officer, Military and Emergency Services Health Australia

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Dr Karen May

Program Director, Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA)

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Josh Darby

Senior Firefighter/Project Lead, Fire and Emergency New Zealand

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Monica Schweickle

Clinical Psychologist, Monarch Mental Health Group

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Professor. R. Nicholas Carleton, Ph.D

Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Canada

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Detective Senior Sergeant Stewart Williams

Sex Crimes Investigation, Tasmania Police

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Professor Tony Walker

Professor of Paramedicine, Monash University

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Tara Lal — Dr Tara J Lal AFSM

Firefighter | Lived Experience Researcher | Specialist in Trauma, Suicide and Stress-related Growth

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Debbie Platz

Deputy Commissioner Operations, NSW State Emergency Service

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Janja Bojanic

Allied Health Manager/Psychologist, St John of God Health Care

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Senior Sargeant Todd Best

Senior Operational Support Officer, Financial and Cyber Crime Group, Queensland Police Service

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Jesse Winter

Chaplain, Fire Rescue Victoria

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Mark Armstrong, CSC

Chief Officer, Queensland State Emergency Service

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Mary Noy

Director, Health and Wellbeing, NSW Police Force

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What we’ll cover at FMHC25

Thriving on the Frontlines: Integrating Prevention, Culture, and Leadership for Lasting Wellbeing

With the full program to be created after our presenter applications have been accepted, take a look at the main topics and subtopics which will form the program.

Click to expand the topics below.

Protective influences and mediating factors on the health and wellbeing of frontline workers (aka prevention)
- Building emotional resilience to prevent and combat mental health challenges
- The role of authentic relationships, social connection and community in mental health protection
- Physical wellness to improve mental wellness – building health, vitality and energy via exercise, nutrition etc
- Proactive mental health care – crafting a self-care plan for ongoing mental wellbeing
- Identity, meaning and purpose and its power to support and heal the frontline community
- Integrated Prevention Strategies: Managing and Supporting Vicarious Trauma
- Understanding Empathic Distress Fatigue: Differentiating Stressors and Building Resilience with
  Self-Compassion
- Leveraging technology to enhance mental health: innovative tools for early intervention
Beyond the individual – the role of organisational culture and stressors
- The impact of organisational culture on health and wellbeing
- The role of the leader in fostering a positive culture / Importance of supportive leadership in mitigating psychosocial risks
- Trauma informed organisational practices and support systems – how a positive work environment can help to buffer stress responses.
- Organisational culture change initiatives and strategies for improving organisational culture
- How culture affects psychosocial risk
- Primary prevention strategies based on psychosocial hazard identification, assessment, and elimination.
- Navigating the return to work: best practices for organisations supporting reintegration after psychological injury or burnout.
Moral injury on the frontlines
- Moral injury and post-traumatic embitterment disorder
- Contributing factors: Events and cultures that increase the risk of moral injury
- Risk factors and protective strategies for moral injury: identifying vulnerabilities, risks and mitigating factors
- Healing and recovery from moral injury: effective therapeutic approaches and interventions for recovering from moral injury
- Learning from case studies and real-life examples: practical lessons from real life experiences
- Future directions in moral injury research and practice
Leadership's Role in Mental Health: How effective leadership can positively impact the mental health and wellbeing of frontline workers
- Understanding the connection between organisational culture and frontline worker mental health: Implications for leadership
- Leading for health: how leaders can better support the mental health and wellbeing of teams
- Leadership strategies for building a culture of psychological safety
- Supporting leaders’ mental health and ability to lead through challenging times
- Navigating the path to leadership: Exploring the common challenges faced by frontline workers transitioning to leadership roles
- Vicarious trauma: what leaders and organisations can do
Impacts of frontline work on parenting and children
- Prevention and management of cumulative stress and burnout in families
- Building resilience within families: strengthening family ties and providing coping strategies
- Vicarious trauma: spousal and partner coping mechanisms
- Research into parental PTSD and child development
- Strategies for explaining a parent's PTSD or psychological health conditions to children
- Breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma through early intervention
Navigating the lifecycle of first responders: from entry to retirement and beyond
- Essential skills and knowledge for new recruits: preparing for the stresses of frontline work
- Impact of age on trauma responses: How trauma responses vary across different age groups and the implications for treatment and support
- Experience-Based differences: Differences in trauma responses between novice and experienced first responders and tailored interventions for each group
- Promoting career longevity: Best practices for maintaining physical and mental health throughout a first responder's career to promote longevity and reduce burnout
- Transitioning safely out of service: Understanding the psychological impact of retiring from a first responder role and the challenges associated with identity loss
- After service (retirement) care: post-retirement connection, health and wellness
Treating trauma: latest thinking in therapeutic approaches and treatments
- Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: current research and clinical trials
- Leveraging technology to enhance mental health: innovative tools for personalised treatment
- Up to date research into evidence-based interventions: latest advancements in approaches specifically tailored for trauma survivors
- Somatic therapies and body-oriented approaches
- Trauma informed care and integrated treatment models
- Cultural and contextual sensitivity in trauma treatments
- From surviving to thriving: Post-traumatic Growth (PTG)
Peer support approaches for mental health and wellbeing
- Types of peer support programs: overview of various peer support models
- Developing a structured peer support program: guidance on creating, implementing, and sustaining a structured peer support program
- Case studies of successful initiatives: successful peer support initiatives, showcasing best practices and lessons learned.
- Evaluation and effectiveness of peer support programs: methods and tools for assessing the impact and success of peer support initiatives
- Technology and peer support: exploration of digital platforms and tools that facilitate peer support.
- Building and sustaining a supportive peer community
- Adapting Peer Support Programs: Strategies for evolving with current challenges.
- Supporting PSOs: Methods to manage strain, enhance resources, support mechanisms

The FMHC Conference Committee

Dr Sadhbh Joyce (MClinNeuroPsych, PhD, MAPS)

Senior Psychologist & Co-Founder, Mindarma & External Fellow, The Black Dog Institute/UNSW

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Dr Buck Reed

Lecturer in Paramedicine, Charles Sturt University

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James Maskey

Director of Strategic Communication, Fortem Australia

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Ms Pip Weiland CSC — Pip Weiland CSC

Executive Director Strategic Advisory Group, Mental Health and Wellbeing Branch, Department of Defence

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Tony ODay — Tony O'Day AFSM

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Interoperability, Fire Rescue Victoria

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Lieutenant Colonel Jacqueline Costello

Commanding Officer, 1st Psychology Unit, Australian Defence Force

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Bonita Lousich

Manager Peer Support Program, Qld Fire and Emergency Services (QFES)

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Matthew Hill

Lecturer - Paramedicine, University of the Sunshine Coast

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Meg Power

Client Services Manager, Ambulance Tasmania and Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management (AT & DPFEM)

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Dr Tara J Lal AFSM

Firefighter | Lived Experience Researcher | Specialist in Trauma, Suicide and Stress-related Growth

**Learn More**

Samantha Hodges

Military Psychologist, Australian Army

**Learn More**

$ 449 + GST

Virtual

Save $100 with Early Bird. Ends 31/01/2025.

Live streaming of all keynote presenters
Live streaming of all sessions in the plenary room over two-day conference period
Virtual presentations
Complete online access to audio and visual presentations for 30 days (excluding workshop sessions)
Over 10 hours towards CPD points
Your personalised certificate of attendance

$ 1,199 + GST

In-Person | 2 Day Program

Save $300 with Early Bird. Ends 31/1/2025.

All keynote presentations
All concurrent presentations
All workshop sessions
Discounted accommodation rates
Access to conference app
5-star conference catering package
Access to exclusive networking functions
Complete online access to audio and visual presentations for 30 days post-event (excluding workshop sessions)
Printed conference materials
Over 10 hours towards CPD points
Your personalised certificate of attendance
Exposure for your organisation
Plus, chances to win great prizes!

$ 3,297 + GST

In-Person Group of 3

Save $600 with Early Bird. Ends 31/01/2025.

All keynote presentations
All concurrent presentations
All workshop sessions
Discounted accommodation rates
Access to conference app
5-star conference catering package
Access to exclusive networking functions
Complete online access to audio and visual presentations for 30 days post-event (excluding workshop sessions)
Printed conference materials
Over 10 hours towards CPD points
Your personalised certificate of attendance
Exposure for your organisation
Plus, chances to win great prizes!

HAVE A TEAM OF 4 OR MORE?

Fill in this form to receive a personal call from our team with your best possible rate.

I love this conference, it is a great contribution to the community who work and support the front line community.

Do it! I attended with a trainee from one of my own courses. We both LOVED IT!

Highly valuable for anyone working with the front responder community

We will send another team again next year. It certainly was invaluable.

Quality platform. Excellent speakers. Great balance of clinical, research and lived experience. Human centric focus. Great food. Consistent forms of support throughout the conference.