Reaching out to first responders

Behind the Seen
Humble. Inspirational. Amazing

Compassionate firefighting veteran Ross Beckley is on a mission to encourage Central Coast emergency service workers to put their hand up if they need help.

Ross co-founded the Behind the Seen project with his wife partner seven years ago. The group creates resources to encourage mental health conversations and advocates for policy change.

Ross’s mantra is: “Heroes are People Too.” Which means they have the same emotions as everyone else.

He has visited every Central Coast rural fire brigade to make a presentation and offer peer support and provide innovative resources materials.

Ross’s experiences during his 21-year-career as a first responder led to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

He knows from experience that it is not healthy to suffer in silence. That’s what drives his passion for early intervention and reducing the stigma of depression, anxiety and PTSD among first responders.

“I don’t want any first responder or their family to suffer what I did. It’s preventable if we put our hand up for help early,” he says.

“I was called a hero as a firefighter and never felt comfortable with that. I served to help my community, not for recognition.”

But being nominated as a Westfield Local Hero is different, he says. “It gives me an opportunity to spread the word that first responders need the community’s support.”

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Behind the Seen will use its funds to organise a mental health forum for first responders and their families and provide Stress Less Conversation Packs to 150 teams.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here