ON A day when thousands of frontline emergency service workers across NSW went on strike calling for a fairer wage increase, the rest of the country came together to thanks them for their selfless efforts every other day of the year.

Yesterday (Wednesday 8 June) was national 'Thank a First Responder Day'. The day was first organised in 2020 by not-for-profit organisation Fortum Australia which supports the mental health and wellbeing of first responders.

Fortem Australia Managing Director and Co-Founder John Bale said the idea behind the initiative was to give first responders and their families the recognition they deserved.

"Our first responders have been through a lot, in the last three years especially," Mr Bale said.

"We've had bushfires, we've had COVID, we've had multiple floods and we don't thank our first responders enough for the daily job that they do, let alone the incredible response they've had to these massive natural disasters."

In addition to encouraging anyone who saw a first responder yesterday, including police, paramedics, SES workers and Fire and Rescue brigades, to thank them for their efforts in person, Fordem Australia also set up an official website, where people could submit personal messages, social media posts and images for first responders to read on the day.

Mr Bale said the first 'Thank a First Responder Day' was incredibly well-supported, with video 'thank you' messages coming from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Prime Minister and the Governor General, along with countless community members, including children.

"That really surprised us, we thought there would be a bit of an outpouring but the outpouring from the community was absolutely phenomenal," Mr Bale said.

"Paramedics at the time were doing so much on the front lines of COVID and so were our front line health workers and to see the response from the community was incredible."

Messages thanking first responders were widespread on social media throughout yesterday, including from state member for Barwon Roy Butler.

A former police officer himself, Mr Butler said the day urged all Australians to show gratitude to those who are first on the scene when we need them and keep us safe every day.

"Many give their time freely, others go above and beyond and we owe them all a huge debt of gratitude," he said.

Because of COVID, the amount of face-to-face opportunities to thank first responders has been limited.

Mr Bale was pleased that this year presented more opportunities for this to occur and hoped this would only increase in future years to come.