This workshop is a rare opportunity for participants to learn about the unique stresses of emergency services personnel (police, firefighters, paramedics) and gain an understanding of the culture of emergency services lifestyle, including impact on family members.

Whilst emergency services have organisational supports, there is a need for a greater understanding of their unique stresses within the community context to extend their support systems. They keep our communities safe, but who keeps them and their families safe when it comes to their mental health? (After all, heroes are human too)

The workshop is presented by Ross Beckley and Veronique Moseley, founders of Behind The Seen. (emergency services SEE what the public don't) the workshop will include an account of Ross's journey as a firefighter who developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Veronique's journey as a first responder partner who despite being a social worker found no informed support networks at community level for support during her partner's two year struggle with PTSD.

Behind The Seen runs programs and campaigns aimed at building resilience and increasing support networks for Australian emergency services personnel and their families. The program covers all emergency services workers including fire brigade, rural fire service, ambulance, police, VRA and SES rescue teams.

By delivering face to face programs, running awareness campaigns online and collaborating with existing services, Behind The Seen are strengthening connections and reducing the stigma of mental health issues in order to enhance the wellbeing of more than 400,000 emergency services personnel plus their respective families.

Behind The Seen have presented the program to 40 groups totalling over 500 participants with overwhelming positive participant response. Additionally they have presented 3 sessions to WA Firefighters, gave 2 presentations at the WA Fire and Emergency Services Conference 2014 and a session to the Australasian Student Paramedic Association.

Whilst agencies and organisations are determined to provide the best possible service to consumers, we can sometimes feel alienated by our own personal stressors in the difficult and challenging work that surrounds us daily as professionals. This presentation delves into this passionate topic that can often lead workers down a lonely path, but recovers hope for each individual listening. Claire Green has experienced vicarious trauma first hand as she takes you on a personal journey of spiralling to the bottom, including warning signs to look out for. Claire then provides positive coping strategies showing that professionals can come back from the brink of burnout and thrive again in the workplace, promoting a sustainable workforce into the future. Aspects of organisational management are also addressed as Claire reflects on workplaces and the role that managers play in supporting and nurturing their staff through caseload and crisis management. She also sheds light on the policies and processes necessary for providing appropriate levels of support. This presentation promotes a healthy understanding of vicarious trauma whilst providing practical hands on strategies that professionals can use to maintain their own health and wellbeing, discovering a new sense of personal and professional meaning along the way.