At Living Alongside, we are dedicated to providing support, connection, education, and advocacy for families of first responders who are impacted by workplace injuries. We understand the unique challenges that these families face and are here to offer a compassionate and inclusive community.

Our mission

Our mission is to ensure that no family goes through this journey alone. Founded in a lived and living experience approach we are focused on offering tailored resources, connecting families with others who understand their experiences, and advocating for better mental health legislation, services and resources.

Whether you’re seeking guidance, a safe space to share, or a way to take action, we are here to help. Together, we can make a lasting difference for families affected by psychological injuries in the first responder community.

  • Sarah U'Brien

    Sarah U'Brien

    Sarah U’Brien is a community disaster resilience and recovery practitioner with a deep commitment to social justice, equity, and community-led practice. She is also the proud mother of two teenage daughters whose passions have made Sarah an enthusiastic soccer, equestrian, and dance mum. Her professional and personal lives are closely interwoven, grounded in a strong belief in the power of community and lived experience.

    Sarah is married to Matt, a former NSW Police Sergeant and Fire + Rescue NSW firefighter who was medically retired in 2022 after being diagnosed with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and moral injury. Supporting her husband through the aftermath of his workplace injuries — and navigating the adversarial workers compensation system — gave Sarah firsthand insight into the profound and often overlooked impact of psychological trauma on individuals, families, and wider support networks. This experience has fueled her advocacy for world-class, trauma-informed mental health care for both current first responders and veterans, as well as their families and carers. Through sharing her family’s journey, Sarah aims to create space for connection, validation, and greater awareness of the complexities of first responder mental health within our communities.

  • Lauren Marks

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