The 'Hot Debrief Podcast' lets amazing Australian First Responders tell their story through the lens of a 'Hot Debrief'. We explore the: What worked well, What didn't, and What would you do differently next time through these epic stories. Australian Emergency Services workers and related stories told by a former Police and Fire Rescue officer committed to sharing stories from amazing Australians. Proudly produced by Soaring Eagle Productions. This podcast was formerly the Heart 2 Heart Walk Podcast.
S2Ep6 - Assoc. Prof. Tracey Varker - Frontline Mental Health Conference: Responder Assist
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 (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/ (https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/)
More on Responder Assist:
https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/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 (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-025-02092-1)
17 Feb 2026
S2Ep5 - Rev. Dr Mark Layson - Frontline Mental Health Conference: Organisational betrayal and moral injury
Rev. Dr Mark Layson - Special Edition 4 for the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2026.
Presentation: Preventing Organisational Betrayal and Moral Injury: Mitigating Psychosocial Risks of Organisational Injustice Through Just Cultures. (1100hrs 2 March 2026)
WARNING: This Episode discusses mental health themes.
This the fourth 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 (https://anzmh.asn.au/fmhc) )
Mark is an interdisciplinary researcher and emergency manager who researches at the intersection of moral injury, trauma exposure, and psychosocial risk mitigation. He has developed leadership, organisational culture, and holistic staff support interventions to address the impacts of organisational betrayal. Alongside his research, since 1991 Mark has worked as a police officer, firefighter, ambulance chaplain, emergency manager, and consultant to emergency agencies across Australia. He facilitates training in research to practice models of leadership and organisational strategies for high risk organisations. He utilises biopsychosocial-spiritual framework to prevent moral injury, mitigate psychosocial risks, and provide pastoral care in disaster settings.
Mark's book: Unexpected Poison - Betrayal and Moral Injury in your workplace will be available 26 March 2026:
https://www.routledge.com/Unexpected-Poison-Betrayal-and-Moral-Injury-in-Your-Workplace/Layson/p/book/9781032803067 (https://www.routledge.com/Unexpected-Poison-Betrayal-and-Moral-Injury-in-Your-Workplace/Layson/p/book/9781032803067)
Research papers referred to in this episode on Mark's presentation topic:
The longer technical report is at: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/resource-library/whs-research/development-of-a-bpss-framework-for-preventing-stress-in-first-responders.pdf (https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/resource-library/whs-research/development-of-a-bpss-framework-for-preventing-stress-in-first-responders.pdf)
A shorter (12 page) report is at: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/resource-library/whs-research/preventing-harms-in-first-responder-communities-industry-summary.pdf (https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/resource-library/whs-research/preventing-harms-in-first-responder-communities-industry-summary.pdf)
16 Feb 2026
S2Ep4 - Matt Newlands - Frontline Mental Health Conference: Special Edn. Stress, Resilience & Functioning
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 (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.
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