There are very few charities supporting the emergency services and most just support a single service in a specific way. Often assisting victims, survivng relatives or commemorating the dead. Code 9's goal is to help first responders and their family's that are suffering here and now and to show them that, even though they often feel it, they are never alone.

PTSD doesn’t just affect one service. A Civilians cry for help begins with the 000 telephone call to Triple Zero Victoria, then through to the radio despatch out to the police, fire and ambulance members working as a team to combat a critical incident. The nature of a first responder from the police, fire, ambulance or Triple Zero Victoria is so similar that the camaraderie between the services is very strong and exclusive.

Code 9 brings together those team members again, to support each other, this time in their own fight, just as they did on the street. Code 9 also incorporates the chance for the Partners & Carers of members to get involved and get their own support.

Code 9 proves to the current & veteran first responder and their families that “you're never alone.”

Our Vision

To ensure that no professional first responder feels alone, ever.

Our Mission

To provide immediate emergency welfare to serving and veteran professional first responders and their family.

To provide support, advice and guidance to members in critical need of assistance.

To fund and coordinate the provision of assistance dogs to mentally injured first responders.

To supply meals to members in need, provide house cleaning, garden maintenance, grocery vouchers and other assistance as needed.

To send members and/or family away on much needed respite weekends.

Our People

The Code 9 Foundation is entirely managed by volunteers. We are extremely grateful for our hard working people, we couldn't do what we do without them.

President

Mark Thomas

Co-Founder

Respite Co-ordinator

Meals Co-ordinator

Our History

On April 8 2003 our founder, Mark Thomas, attended a suicide as part of his policing duties and he was hit hard by the sight. Something was markedly different to any other deceased persons or trauma scenes he had attended in the past but failed to recognise and heed to the subsequent warning signs. Although Mark did not spill one drop of blood that day, he was still undeniably severely injured; the resultant psychological damage was significant.

Nearly a decade later, the situation came to a head and Mark was hospitalised. During this period, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. Whilst in hospital, Mark felt intensely alone. Although a part of his brain registered that he wasn't physically alone, the injury that he sustained would not allow that clear thought to take root, and the feeling of loneliness soared.

During the gradual recovery from his acute phase, Mark spent much time thinking about his stay in the hospital and the impact that debilitating sense of loneliness had on his wellbeing.

Mark set himself the goal of creating a PTSD support group that would show to others in the same situation that they are not alone. From the small beginnings of a Facebook group with 30 members, Code 9 has now expanded to a membership of over 3,200 first responders, including police, fire, ambulance and dispatchers within the group.

With the amazing help of some highly dedicated people to administer Code 9, it has transitioned from a small single group of people meeting in Melbourne to multiple groups in regional and rural Victoria that meets in numerous locations, supporting hundreds of emergency services members.

The name of the foundation, Code 9, originated from a policing radio term. 'Code 9' means 'Police in trouble/Require Urgent Assistance.' For us it means 'Member in trouble? You're never alone.'