Employee support

Support for staff, their family, and friends

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) are committed to ensuring our firefighters are well prepared and supported in doing their job. We know their loved ones also play an important role and are a primary source of support. This guide provides a few practical suggestions on how to help you support the firefighter in your family, practice self-care for yourself, and ensure the family and friends of our staff know what resources are available. View support information for staff, their family, and friends here.

Employee Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance Program offers an external service that provides professional and confidential counselling for a broad range of personal problems that may affect the health, safety and work performance of all employees.

These services are provided externally, free-of-charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Appointments can be made for telephone counselling or face to face counselling.

The contact number is 1300 687 327

Critical Incident Support Program

The Critical Incident Support Team offers help to employees who are affected by individual traumatic incidents or a cumulative effect over their career. It can be accessed through the peer support model, and is staffed by personnel who volunteer their time.

The Wellbeing Coordinator manages the Critical Incident Support Team and can be contacted on 0448 295 725 or alternatively by email on WellbeingCoordinator@fire.nsw.gov.au

FRNSW Staff Networks

FRNSW have a number of staff-led support networks with the purpose of improving the psychological safety, wellbeing and life cycle of every employee. View some of our support networks here.

FRNSW Chaplain

FRNSW employs a Chaplain to support and counsel firefighters, other staff, retired personnel and their families, who are facing a personal or family crisis or are having problems dealing with a difficult incident.

The FRNSW Chaplain provides counselling and referral services to firefighters throughout NSW, and, in some cases, to members of the public who are affected by major incidents.

During and after serious incidents, the Chaplain also ensure firefighters have access to the support they need.

Contact information: chaplain@fire.nsw.gov.au

Workplace Bullying and Harassment 

Bullying in the workplace can be defined as 'repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety'. A single incident of reasonable management action is not bullying. Before completing this form it is recommended that you read the following policies Preventing and Managing Workplace Bullying and Positive and Productive Workplaces Guide (PDF).

You should complete and submit this form to FRNSW Professional Standards if your complaint meets the above definition of bullying.

Download the Workplace Bullying and Harassment - Complaint Form (PDF)

Contact details:

  • Email: professionalstandards@fire.nsw.gov.au
  • Phone: (02) 9265 2826
  • Fax: (02) 9166 8209
  • Postal: Professional Standards Branch, Fire and Rescue NSW, Locked Mail Bag 12, Greenacre NSW 2190

Community support information

Members of the public often help and assist on the scene of traumatic events. These events can be mentally and emotionally demanding. Everyone reacts differently after they witness or are involved in a traumatic event.
Click here to learn how to get support.

Employees Relief and Welfare Fund

The Relief & Welfare Fund supports members during times of hardship. Membership is open to all permanent firefighters, retained firefighters and administrative and trades staff.

Learn more about the Employees Relief and Welfare Fund

FRNSW Retirees Peer Support Program

The Fire and Rescue Retirees Peer Support Program is available to all former employees regardless whether exit was for retirement, medical discharge or other reasons.

Learn more here: www.retiredfirefightersupport.com.au

Further information

Further information about all of these services are available on the FRNSW Intranet. The purpose of this page is to help staff, their family, and friends find support services if access to the intranet isn't available.