Bulldogs partner with NSW Fire & Rescue
More firefighters will be at the top of their game as Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) teams up with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and other elite sporting organizations to provide support for health and wellbeing.
The Tactical Athlete Resilience Program (TARP) gives firefighters access to the same high-performing workforce, specialized services and facilities as some of Australia’s top athletes.
Steph Cooke, Secretary of State for Emergency Services and Resilience and Secretary of State for Flood Recovery, announced today that the scheme has expanded significantly beyond the testing phase.
“The Government recognizes that the incredible work of our firefighters takes a toll both mentally and physically,” Minister Cooke said.
“It is important that the men and women on the front lines have as much access to support as possible and this unique program is helping to ensure that.”
FRNSW have now joined forces with the NRL’s Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons, Netball NSW and the A-League’s Central Coast Mariners to deliver TARP.
This builds on the continued involvement of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, who helped steer the program through a successful dry run in 2019-2020.
Surveys conducted after the pilot showed that more than 80 percent of participants were “very satisfied” with the program and wanted to continue participating in future activities and workshops.
FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said TARP demonstrates the agency’s continued commitment to its workforce and to expanding support networks.
“By equipping our firefighters with world-class training, treatment and rehabilitation options, we build resilience and improve return-to-work outcomes,” said Commissioner Baxter.
“FRNSW is always looking for ways to minimize the incidence and impact of illness and injury.
“By bringing more clubs and their medical experts on board for more sports, TARP is now accessible to more of our firefighters and able to better serve the diverse needs of care.”
In addition to the preventive stand-by component, which is about keeping the firefighters in good shape, the sporting partnership also includes the rehabilitation of firefighters who have been injured in action.
The alliances are also supported by insurer EML, which has been helping people recover from work injuries and get their lives back for more than 100 years.
FRNSW hopes to expand the program to more sports and clubs soon.