Hot Debrief Podcast

Associate Professor Tracey Varker - Special Edition No. 5 for the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2026.Presentation: Responder Assist: A Specialised Mental Health Service for Emergency Services Workers (1405hr 3 March 2026) WARNING: This Episode discusses mental health themes.This the fifth episode in a short special edition series where we hear from presenters of at the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2-3 March 2026 ( details here: https://anzmh.asn.au/fmhc )Associate Professor Tracey Varker is a Director of Research at Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, and an Associate Professor with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne. She leads a program of work focused on improving mental health outcomes for those who are at high-risk of encountering trauma or stress through their occupation. A/Prof Varker leads the Research function of Responder Assist, a Victorian support service for emergency services workers. She has published 70 research articles in posttraumatic mental health, and more than 70 reports for government and industry.Find out more about the work Tracey and the team do:https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/More on Responder Assist:https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/responder-assist/A paper on the SOLAR research and smartphone app with firefighters:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-025-02092-1

Matt Newlands - Special Edition 3 for the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2026.Presentation title: Stress, Resilience & Functioning: Building mental fitness across Frontline communities.WARNING: This Episode discusses mental health themes.This the third episode in a short special edition series where we hear from presenters of at the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2-3 March 2026 ( details here: https://anzmh.asn.au/fmhc )Matt Newlands is a mental health advocate and consultant drawing on over a decade of frontline policing experience with SA Police. Having navigated his own service-related mental health challenges, Matt brings unique insight and authenticity to his work. He has since dedicated his career to supporting Military personnel, First Responders, and frontline professionals in building resilience, recovery, and wellbeing. Through education, counselling, and tailored programs, Matt helps individuals and organisations create healthier, more sustainable cultures. His lived experience, combined with professional expertise, makes him a trusted voice in advancing conversations around mental health and operational readiness.

Dr Tara Lal AFSM - Special Edition 1 for the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2026.WARNING: This Episode discusses suicide and mental health themes.This the first episode in a short special edition series where we hear from presenters of at the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2-3 March 2026 ( details here: https://anzmh.asn.au/fmhc )Tara is an applied researcher, former firefighter, and internationally published author. She is deeply passionate about the need to embed the voice of lived experience into translational research to tackle the complex challenges of mental health, trauma, and suicide prevention. Her unique perspective as a frontline firefighter, who has journeyed through her own experiences of trauma, combined with a diverse academic and professional background, fuels her advocacy for meaningful change in the emergency services mental health and wellbeing sector. She is a born collaborator focussing on solutions that drive impactful change at individual, organisational, and community levels. Tara also holds an adjunct senior lecturer position at the University of New England and has been recognised with multiple awards for her contributions. As conference co-chair, she brings warmth, authenticity, a touch of humour and a strong commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for everyone.

EP25 - The Final H2H Walk Podcast: Life after the walk with Billy, Bats, Greg and Matt.The podcast wrap-up. We've been back for a while, and a few walkers have had a chat!I'll say sorry up front for the delay in doing this podcast. Even after getting it recorded, it has taken a while to edit it for the platform. To be honest, I've not been going too well for a long time since we got home and sometimes things are just a bit harder than they should be. I'll talk about that when I'm ready, but let's just get on with it hey!In this episode we talk openly about what it's like to walk over 2600km, the highs and lows and if it was worth it. Everyone had a common purpose on the walk through the objectives of the Heart 2 Heart Walk, but most of us had our own journey too. It gets deep. All the way to Greg (yes of course it was Greg) going back to the Emergency Services Memorial in Canberra, looking at the 26 words that sum up the virtues of Emergency Service Workers. On reflection, he talks about 4 of them, and how they related to the walk: Community, Hope, Resilience and Spirit. We were invested in all of these during the walk, and getting to see these virtues first hand on the walk really took us to the purpose of the walk. Making sure we can maintain our capabilities in Australia, and looking after those who serve the country.Sadly, one of the main focusses of the walk was the unacceptable rate of suicide in First Responders both serving and veteran. There were 5 serving member suicides during the walk, and one soon after we finished that we heard about. Sadly, there were probably more that we didn't know about, and remember we do not have a way of tracking suicides of former first responders in Australia - so that figure is unknown. It really hit us hard on the walk, but was certainly motivation to keep pushing on.To quote our Ambassador Allan Sparkes CV OAM VA:"It's not about the walk, it is about the building of the path for others to follow. You have laid the foundations with your blood sweat and tears that now joins the blood sweat and tears in the Earth of those who are fallen before you and who will be forever grateful for caring about them in the way you have “_______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.____________________________Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk

Living alongside PTSD- a family perspective with Janine Hopkin and Sarah U'Brien. In this episode, Matt takes a step back from the microphone and lets two of the Heart 2 Heart Walkers, Sarah and Janine have a 'self interview' by the waters edge not far from our camp at Urana, NSW. After setting up the recording equipment and hitting the red button it was over to them.However this is no ordinary chat between these ladies. Both Sarah and Janine were 'Police wives' and everything that goes along with it. From living in small communities with the local Policeman to now looking after their partners that both suffer PTSD.We hear all too often about the action packed, drama filled lives Police and emergency services workers lead however what is often left out is the 'behind the scenes' part of those stories; the partners, the children and the consequences.In this episode, we are changing that. You will hear about the tragic effects on both them as partners, but even more devastating, their children who are just so innocently involved in not only the chaos of service, but the effects of having a parent suffer a mental health condition as a result of that service.You can also watch this waterside chat between Sarah and Janine on YouTube. https://youtu.be/ZojBgZ0-HTw_______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.____________________________Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk

Steve Watson - Served in both the Royal Australian Army - 6RAR and Royal Australian Air Force - Airfield Defence Guard roles with multiple deployments to East Timor, Afghanistan and more. Steve talks about the highs and lows of service, and the challenges of adjusting to life out of uniform.This is such a fantastic, raw chat with Steve, talking through his life and careers. From starting out as a typical young bloke tearing up the town starting out with Army Reserve moving to full time service then changing services to the RAAF and the challenges of leaving military life. All this followed by buying a pub he used to frequent as a young guy living the South Australian outback aside the Flinders Ranges.Deployments to East Timor and Afghanistan left a mark, with challenges still to this day. Despite all of this, Steve talks about giving back to his local community with the only local emergency service, the Country Fire Service.It was a lucky connection with some of our mates at 3 Zeros Coffee that made this podcast happen, amazing to think this came together in the middle of the South Australian Outback through our mutual friend.So many parts of this story will resonate with many, so listen in to this amazing Australians' story._______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners. If you need support check out our support page here._______Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk www.heart2heartwalk.orgSpotify Walk Song Playlist#army #raaf #H2hwalkpodcast #heart2heartwalk2023 #triplezeroalliance #heart2heartwalk #firstresponderfamily #firstrespondermentalhealth #firstrespondersaustralia #firstresponder #firstresponderfamily #FirstResponderPTSD #firstrespondersuicide #ptsd #mentalhealthawareness

Peter Forbes - Former Australian Federal Police (AFP) Officer and Heart 2 Heart Walk 2023 member. In this episode, Matt talks to Forbsy by the camp fire in a dry riverbed near Algebuckina Bridge, south of Oodnadatta on the Heart 2 Heart Walk 2023. Forbsy talks about life as a kid shooting rabbits to a calling he and a good mate followed into Policing. We hear all about what it's like to be in Police Rescue, becoming a sniper team leader and how he lost a finger in a training accident during time in Perth training with the Special Air Service. We also hear about the highs and lows of overseas deployments as part of the United Nations Policing deployments into East Timor, Cyprus, and Africa. Peter also talks about how difficult adjusting to the bustling life in Sydney can be after postings to these countries, and how his travels now are taking him back to similar countries as he appreciates these different ways of life now as a civilian on holidays.So enjoy this small insight into one of the Heart 2 Heart Walkers, as we mention, these humble people rarely tell their stories so we are privileged to get this peek into Forbsy's amazing career._______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners. If you need support check out our support page here.____________________________Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk www.heart2heartwalk.orgSpotify Walk Song Playlist#H2hwalkpodcast #heart2heartwalk2023 #triplezeroalliance #heart2heartwalk #firstresponderfamily #firstrespondermentalhealth #firstrespondersaustralia #firstresponder #firstresponderfamily #FirstResponderPTSD #firstrespondersuicide #ptsd #mentalhealthawareness

Our first ever 'Pubcast' recorded literally at the bar of the Transcontinental Hotel, Oodnadatta with publican Simon Gunther hosted by Billy Brooks and Matt. Simon was one of those characters you couldn't miss on our arrival into Oodnadatta setting up a basecamp for a lot longer than planned due to bad weather. Simon and his wife travel the country, and at the moment are in Oodnadatta with Simon filling any number of critical town functions like comedian, larrikin, publican, Uber driver and much more. This is a light hearted chat between a few lads at the bar while Simon showed off his 1.4kg Tomahawk steaks from Hamilton Station. Enjoy._______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners. If you need support check out our support page here._______Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk www.heart2heartwalk.orgSpotify Walk Song Playlist#oodnadatta #transcontinentalhoteloodnadatta #H2hwalkpodcast #heart2heartwalk2023 #triplezeroalliance #heart2heartwalk #firstresponderfamily #firstrespondermentalhealth #firstrespondersaustralia #firstresponder #firstresponderfamily #FirstResponderPTSD #firstrespondersuicide #ptsd #mentalhealthawareness

Dean Yates - A mental health advocate and veteran war zone correspondent, journalist and author of the recently released book 'Line in the Sand'. Dean has had an extensive domestic and international career, which ultimately lead him to being admitted to a psych ward (Ward 17) multiple times in managing his PTSD. One major contributor was the tragic friendly fire incident where two of his staff were killed by an American Apache attack helicopter in Iraq. Dean continues to recognise the impact that his career has had on his family, and dedicated this book in recognition of this seriously under-acknowledged issue._______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners. If you need support check out our support page here._______In this Hot Debrief episode, Matt talks to Dean Yates, who was head of mental health and wellbeing strategy at Reuters, the world’s largest news provider, for nearly three years until January 2020. Before that he was a journalist, bureau chief and senior editor at Reuters for more than 22 years.Dean Yates was the ideal warzone correspondent: courageous, compassionate, dedicated. After years of facing the worst, though, including the Bali bombings and the Boxing Day tsunami, one final incident undid him. In July 2007, two of his staff members were brutally gunned down by American fighter pilots in Iraq. What followed was an unravelling of everything Dean thought he knew of himself. His PTSD was compounded by his moral wound – the devastation of what he thought he knew of the world and his own character and beliefs. After years of treatment, including several stints inside a psychiatric facility, Dean has reshaped his view of the true meaning of life. Here, in all its guts and glory, is that journey to a better way of being. Dean has been to the blackest heart of humanity and come out with strength and heart. Dean is now a mental health expert and advocate based in Tasmania. He commits his time helping organisations with mental health strategy and training, hosting the Mindarma Podcast and managing his youngest son's rock band.Dean's recently released book is available at : https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761264429/line-in-the-sand/Dean's website: https://www.deanyates.com.au ____________________________Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk www.heart2heartwalk.orgSpotify Walk Song Playlist#journalist #H2hwalkpodcast #heart2heartwalk2023 #triplezeroalliance #heart2heartwalk #firstresponderfamily #firstrespondermentalhealth #firstrespondersaustralia #firstresponder #firstresponderfamily #FirstResponderPTSD #firstrespondersuicide #ptsd #mentalhealthawareness

Dr Laura Finlayson-Short is a Research Fellow at Phoenix Australia's Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health.In this episode, Matt talks to Dr Laura Finlayson-Short. Matt participated in a trial program called 'SOLAR-m' during his time in Fire Rescue NSW that was lead by Laura and the team at the Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health. The SOLAR-m FRNSW trial aims to find out if using a smartphone app designed specifically for first responders, can help firefighters improve their mood as well as wellbeing and feel more in control of their reactions to distressing situations.Beyond exploring this program, in this podcast we talk about issues related to cultural competence of mental health treatment providers working with first responders, MRI scans of people with mental health conditions and so much more. Some of the information and programs referred to in the podcast are listed below:The SOLAR FRNSW trial: https://www.solartrial.org/Phoenix Australia: https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/Phoenix’s training offerings: https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/education-training/The SOLAR program more broadly: https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/research-projects/solar-program/ _______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners. If you need support check out our support page here.___________________________________Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk www.heart2heartwalk.orgSpotify Walk Song Playlist#phoenixaust #H2hwalkpodcast #heart2heartwalk2023 #triplezeroalliance #heart2heartwalk #firstresponderfamily #firstrespondermentalhealth #firstrespondersaustralia #firstresponder #firstresponderfamily #FirstResponderPTSD #firstrespondersuicide #ptsd #mentalhealthawareness

Simon Bouda AM - 40 year veteran journalist, author and ambassador for victims of crime. In this episode, Simon talks about life as a journalist, and the parallels with the emergency services world along with the amazing work he is doing supporting so many causes in the community including his role as ambassador for Homicide Victims Support._______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners. If you need support check out our support page here._______In this Hot Debrief episode, Matt talks to Simon Bouda AM, a veteran journalist with a career spanning over 40 years. Simon talks of his deployments to East Timor with the Australian Defence Force, Fiji covering the violent coup where he was almost shot and later his role in the rescue of the last surviving victim of the Christchurch Earthquake in New Zealand. Simon reflects on the importance of maintaining trust with those people around him, including the emergency services workers and victims throughout his journalistic career.Simon also talks about his work as an ambassador for Grace's Place - the Homicide Victims Support centre where he proudly hosts the 'Ride For Justice' combining his passion for motorcycles with yet another community support activity he is involved with. Combined with his career as a journalist, this community work has had him recognised in the Queens Birthday Honours with the Member of the Order of Australia medal.His support of the Police and Emergency Services is evident in his roles with Police Legacy and more recently being appointed as Editor of the Australian Police Journal. Simon has also authored and co authored a range of books including Deadline, Man's Best Friend and Survival. ____________________________Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk www.heart2heartwalk.orgSpotify Walk Song Playlist#journalist #H2hwalkpodcast #heart2heartwalk2023 #triplezeroalliance #heart2heartwalk #firstresponderfamily #firstrespondermentalhealth #firstrespondersaustralia #firstresponder #firstresponderfamily #FirstResponderPTSD #firstrespondersuicide #ptsd #mentalhealthawareness

Peter Clark - Founder of Due South Inc. Tasmania talks about support and mate-ship for veterans and first responders done differently through their 100% volunteer basis, private sector funded programs that have set up a self sufficient incorporation that is not reliant upon donations and government funds. _______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners. If you need support check out our support page here._______In this episode, Matt talks to Peter Clark from Due South Inc. Tasmania, a Royal Australian Air Force Veteran doing amazing things to support those who serve with a fantastic team down in Tasmania. Due south are doing things differently, founded off the back of Tasmanian veterans using their own initiative and resources to set up what is now a fantastic array of support for not only veterans and first responders, but the local community as well with the view of them being all tied together in getting people through whatever they may be going through. Due South is a self-funded organisation with their sights set on delivering world-class wellness initiatives for Veterans and First Responders. Acting as a logistical hub, they deliver wellness initiatives specifically designed to support those brave and courageous individuals who serve our country. Due South wellness initiatives are referred to as their ‘mid-year resets’ and have been developed to support areas such as lifestyle transition, personal development and general wellbeing. Mid-year resets are run between the months of May and November are proudly planned and delivered by their team of selfless, dedicated and driven volunteers. Their executive board is represented by Navy, Army, Air-Force, First Responder personnel and as dedicated community advocates we guarantee our charity model will never include wages. Due South operate three purposefully designed homes, and off-grid adventure property, a farm and a community hub. These properties are all located in the picturesque town of Ulverstone, on the North-West Coast of Tasmania. Ulverstone is well recognised for its military memorials and parks and they are proud to call it home.Check them out on:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Due-South-Australia-104597315168137/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duesouth_australia/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-clark-ab10a4206/____________________________Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk www.heart2heartwalk.org#DueSouthAus #H2hwalkpodcast #heart2heartwalk2023 #triplezeroalliance #heart2heartwalk #firstresponderfamily #firstrespondermentalhealth #firstrespondersaustralia #firstresponder #firstresponderfamily #FirstResponderPTSD #firstrespondersuicide #ptsd #mentalhealthawareness

Jamie Caldwell - Senior NSW Government Emergency Manager and son of Undercover operative 'M'._______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners. If you need support check out our support page here._______In this episode, Matt talks to Jamie Caldwell, Senior NSW Government emergency management specialist who grew up as the son of a long term NSW Police Force undercover operative.We cover some really serious topics in this chat; from what it was like to grow up in a loving average everyday family where your dad has multiple false identities as an undercover drug squad operative where it was known that criminal networks had taken contracts out on the family, right through to his observations as a child seeing his dad struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) suffered as a result of the work he did. With a Dad known as Undercover ‘M’ in the book Secrets of the Jury Room by Malcolm Knox, Jamie’s childhood was far from the norm most would know, however to him it was exactly that. Jamie’s father, Keith ‘Cocky’ Caldwell, was a 30 year veteran NSW Police officer who spent an insane 10 years undercover and worked on some of the largest major crime syndicates in the country. Despite having fantastic physical outlets as a life long surf lifesaving operative and former NSW Police Rugby League champion, Jamie reflects on his fathers passing at a relatively young age, and what effect living with PTSD may have played towards this.Leaving school against the advice of his teachers at the age of 15 to pursue his surf life saving aspirations, Jamie has proven to all around him that with self-motivation, determination and never leaving those doors closed around you that you can succeed despite what a school careers advisors crystal ball once said. Since this time, Jamie has become qualified and experienced in Paramedic services, Fire and Rescue operations and had the somewhat unique experience of providing these services as a private contractor to large industrial sites and huge expanses of the Western Australian outback under WA government contracts. Moving on to running his own training organisation, Jamie has worked in the NSW Police Force as a Regional Emergency Management Officer, Emergency Coordinator with Transport for NSW and now has the role of Energy and Utility Services Functional Area Coordinator on the NSW State Emergency Management Committee.If this wasn’t enough, Jamie is also the President of the Bulli Surf Lifesaving Club, and has been responsible for coordinating some hectic rescue operations off the coastline, including the rescue of 7 people from an overturned boat off Peggys Beach, which resulted in the simultaneous resuscitation of 4 patients, one of the largest multi-agency operations seen in the Illawarra region of recent years. Similarly to our earlier podcasts with Dr Dan Pronk and Allan Sparkes CV OAM VA, Jamie also talks about the need for the impacts of emergency services work on our volunteers and private sector responders to be better recognised given their stepping in-and-out of their response roles and sometime limited support.Jamie puts up the song ‘Working class Man’ by Jimmy Barnes to our Spotify Playlist in recognition of the ‘daily grind’ faced by our first responders in doing their jobs day in and day out.Get ready for an amazing chat.____________________________Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk www.heart2heartwalk.org#bullisurfclub #H2hwalkpodcast #heart2heartwalk2023 #triplezeroalliance #heart2heartwalk #firstresponderfamily #firstrespondermentalhealth #firstrespondersaustralia #firstresponder #firstresponderfamily #FirstResponderPTSD #firstrespondersuicide #ptsd #mentalhealthawareness