Thousands of traumatised firefighters have needed counselling to process the horrors of last year s Black Summer bushfires, with Âdemand for mental health support doubling. About 3300 Rural Fire Service members needed counselling last financial year as bushfires tore across the state, destroying thousands of properties and killing 25 Âpeople between October 2019 and March 2020. RFS firefighter Nathan Barnden at the home of Troy Pauling s parents in Quaama, where firefighters rescued Mr Paulingâs family. Picture: Jonathan Ng To deal with the huge Âdemand, the RFS - the largest volunteer fire service in the world - has advertised 17 positions for psychologists, which will be permanently embedded in every command around NSW.
Thousands of traumatised firefighters have needed counselling to process the horrors of last year s Black Summer bushfires, with Âdemand for mental health support doubling. About 3300 Rural Fire Service members needed counselling last financial year as bushfires tore across the state, destroying thousands of properties and killing 25 Âpeople between October 2019 and March 2020. RFS firefighter Nathan Barnden at the home of Troy Pauling s parents in Quaama, where firefighters rescued Mr Paulingâs family. Picture: Jonathan Ng To deal with the huge Âdemand, the RFS - the largest volunteer fire service in the world - has advertised 17 positions for psychologists, which will be permanently embedded in every command around NSW.