I am a career Senior Firefighter and Project Lead of the Whanaungatanga Wellbeing Programme. I have over 20 years of frontline experience, including time served as a volunteer firefighter. My work is grounded in a unique combination of operational experience, research, and personal experience with mental ill-health. As a peer supporter and health researcher, I received the 2017 Firefighters Scholarship to study suicide, psychological injury, and maladaptive behaviours within the New Zealand Fire Service.
In 2021, I successfully secured funding from the Movember Veteran and First Responders Grant Programme, supporting the creation and evaluation of evidence-based mental ill-health and suicide prevention initiatives. Over the past two years, I’ve led a team in delivering two national wellbeing surveys, conducting workshops with 500 career firefighters and commanders, and developing several organisational interventions designed to foster a positive culture and mitigate mental health risks. In 2024 I was fortunate enough to receive the Mental Health Champion award at the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards.
Outside of this work, I lead a legislative advocacy team seeking to have repeated and indirect exposure to trauma recognised as a valid cause of work-related mental injury.
The views expressed in my posts are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
