Aussie Frontline is owned and operated by first responder Mali Briggs and former Army SAS member Dr Dan Pronk. Mali and Dan both know the challenges faced by frontline members and have felt the tragedy of fallen colleagues. Their pride in their professions and their shared passion for improving the health and wellbeing of frontline people is what brought them together. Their mission is to share their enthusiasm, experience and knowledge for the benefit of the frontline community.
The symbolism of the Aussie Frontline logo is a united representation of the Australian emergency services: police, fire, ambulance, and the Australian defence organisations: army, navy, and air force.
With frontline member wellbeing our central focus, Aussie Frontline identified a void between the educational support provided by employers and available resources relevant to the first responder experience and environment. Aussie Frontline is now committed to the ongoing rollout of educational products designed to address the specific challenges and opportunities presented by frontline occupations. Each resource is curated by Dr Dan Pronk to be evidence-based, relevant and relatable.
Frontline occupations present many unpleasant, distressing, and negative factors that can’t be mitigated. It’s one of the reasons emergency services and military roles are so unique. However, one important factor that we can influence is how our frontline workers and veterans feel about being frontline community members. Aussie Frontline use our online and social media presence, and our engagement with frontline community members, to encourage a positive culture – promoting respect, trust, cooperation, support, positive self-image, mental health and pride within the frontline community.
The generosity, enthusiasm and camaraderie of the frontline community has been the driving force behind the growth of Aussie Frontline and we look forward to continuing to foster this spirit into the future.
Aussie Frontline is also proud of its Pay It Forward program, which evolved organically from the altruistic gesture of one South Australian fire fighter to become an honoured cycle of kindness and solidarity at the centre of our community building endeavour. The process is discreet, heartfelt and has received incredible feedback from recipients who felt supported, connected and inspired by their gift and the community members who made it possible.
Transition is a notoriously stressful period. This course explains why and equips you with the tools to overcome these challenges and thrive in life post service.
Aussie Frontline Tees were designed as a discreet way for frontline members to show their association with this unique community. The intention was that wearing an Aussie Frontline Tee would facilitate connections and conversations within the community.
From inception, $10 from the sale of every Aussie Frontline Tee has been used to fund programs supporting the mental health of members of the Australian frontline community. Aussie Frontline is proud to partner with ex-police officer and counsellor Matt Newlands to directly fund counselling packages for first responders, military personnel and veterans.
A shirt for first responders, military members, veterans, or anyone wishing to support them. A shirt that means something.
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Optimising Australia’s first responders, ADF members and veterans through community, education and positive culture.
Mali grew up in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, raised by a hardworking single mum. The absence of a consistent father figure sparked his own journey to understand masculinity and what it means to be a ‘good man’ in today’s world. It also inspired his drive to be a present and dedicated father to his own children.
Mali joined the South Australia Police in 2009. After graduating from the Academy he spent time patrolling a busy city beat before volunteering for a patrol posting in a remote community on the far west coast of South Australia. During this time on the west coast he became good friends with a police colleague, and Army veteran, who would later take his own life. This was the first of many times that Mali felt the real impact of frontline struggles with mental health.
On his return to metropolitan Adelaide, Mali spent seven years as a patrol member on numerous secondments to specialist areas focussing on criminal investigation, drugs, serious crime and criminal gangs.
During this time Mali became aware that fellow police officer and friend, Matt Newlands, was experiencing a severe mental health crisis. Mali has a strong sense of ‘family loyalty’ to his colleagues and he made a personal commitment to support his friend. Through hours of talking with Matt during his crisis and recovery, Mali gained valuable insight into depression, PTSD and the very real issues of stigma and denial. Mali was also privileged to witness, and be inspired by, Matt’s triumphs as he faced his demons, learnt to maintain his mental health, rebuilt his damaged relationships, and eventually went on to use his experience to help others in the field of mental health and wellbeing. Mali is now proud to count Matt not only as a best friend, but also as a key partner in supporting the Aussie Frontline Community. Years later when Mali found himself overwhelmed by the mounting pressures in his life, he was grateful to have Matt’s support throughout his own mental health struggle.
Physical training has been a significant part of Mali’s life since he discovered the gym in his late teens. After getting married, Mali spent two years dedicated to training for a specialist policing role requiring high standards of fitness. In the lead up to the multi-stage selection process for this role Mali’s first child was born – seven weeks premature. After two years of sacrifice and hard work, he was devastated when he dropped out on day one of the assessment. In the months that followed, while struggling with the demands of first-time parenting and a high-need newborn, he battled a loss of identity, feelings of worthlessness, and depression – linked to his perceived failure. Against the backdrop of managing these feelings, Mali’s marriage went into decline as both parents struggled with a relentless lack of sleep – compounded by the birth of Mali’s second child – also seven weeks premature. Mali felt himself bucking under the pressure of full-time shift work, managing household duties, and looking after his children, as his relationship fell apart – eventually ending in divorce. At the pinnacle of his stress and despair – he contemplated suicide. But with the assistance of several professionals and the support of friends and colleagues, including Matt, Mali endured this difficult period and emerged as a better version of himself.
Through his mental health challenges Mali learned about the toxicity of an unregulated ego and the importance of accountability, humility, and vulnerability. He also gained an appreciation for how important it is to speak up if you’re struggling and discovered how many good people are willing to rally around a person in need.
In addition to his role at Aussie Frontline, Mali is a full-time detective at a suburban Criminal Investigation Branch and a loving father to his two young daughters. He lives in the suburbs with his supportive partner (who is also a full-time police officer) and two needy but loveable dogs. Mali is proud of the role he has played in founding Aussie Frontline and he looks forward to supporting the optimisation of the Aussie Frontline Community into the future.
Dan entered into the Australian Army in 2001 on a scholarship to study medicine. Upon graduation he completed his internship and first year residency in civilian hospitals before posting to his first Army unit and quickly moving into Special Operations following successful completion of the Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment selection course. Dan spent the last five years of his service working between the SAS and the 2nd Commando Regiment and saw operational service in Timor Leste and Afghanistan. Dan was awarded the Commendation for Distinguished Service for his leadership in combat during his second of four operational tours of Afghanistan.
Following leaving the army in 2014 Dan has held positions as a remote mine site doctor, a ship’s doctor, the Deputy Medical Superintendent of a regional hospital, and the Medical Director of the South Australian Prison Health Service. He co-owns and serves as the Medical Director for the private medical company TacMed Australia. He currently works part time in the Emergency Department of a regional hospital in between remote medical support tasks including support of reality TV shows including SAS Australia.
Dan holds a Bachelor of Exercise Science, A Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, A Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, a Master of Business Administration, and an Associate Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators. He is an instructor on the Royal Australian College of Surgeons’ Early Management of Severe Trauma course, a board member of the Australian Tactical Medical Association, and a former Independent Medical Advisor to the Department of Home Affairs. Dan regularly presents to corporate, medical, military, government, and other groups on leadership under adversity, resilience, and social psychological theory. He has co-authored a best-selling book on resilience titled The Resilience Shield, which uses the evidence base from both the scientific literature, as well as Resilience Shield’s own government grant supported research project, to present resilience as a multifactorial, dynamic, and modifiable construct. Other titles from Dan include his autobiography “The Combat Doctor”. He lives in Adelaide, is married to a very tolerant wife and is the proud father of three boys.
Narelle is a Level 2 registered counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association. She has a background in Military and Emergency Service roles, serving six years as a frontline Police Officer, followed by ten years in the Royal Australian Airforce.
Narelle has a wealth of experience with people from various backgrounds and has developed a deep understanding of mental health issues and the impact poor mental health can have on entire communities. She draws on her experience working in high-stress environments to facilitate programs that educate and reduce mental health stigma in the community.
Narelle’s primary focus is delivering 1-on-1 counselling to frontline members and veterans.
Matt is a highly experienced and passionate mental health advocate dedicated to helping individuals, executives, and organisations improve their mental health.
Drawing on his ten years of frontline experience as a former police officer, Matt provides counselling and mental health training to those in high-stress roles seeking high-performance outcomes. He also has experience navigating post-traumatic stress and depression following his service, which he uses to support and educate others.
Matt is a Level 2 registered counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association, a national Community Ambassador for RUOK?, a peer training consultation for The Male Hug, and sits on the state’s first Suicide Prevention Council as the First Responders representative.
