The third annual First Responders Day will be held on 30 June with large and small retailers – including those in the pet industry – offering special discounts to our frontline heroes.

The Australian Retailers Association’s (ARA) First Responders Day was conceived as a way of saying thanks to the men and women who sacrifice so much to keep us safe. From health professionals to emergency services personnel, who are always there in times of crisis, the day thanks them for their service to the Australian community over the past year through the pandemic, natural disasters and beyond.

A full list of participating businesses is available here, which include major retailers across pet, convenience, fashion and accessories, household and lifestyle, food and beverage, health and technology.

In previous years, offers have ranged from 10 to 30 per cent off in-store items, depending on where our First Responders choose to shop. All they need to do is bring a photo ID which shows their work identity, or shop in their work uniform.

ARA CEO Paul Zahra said with unprecedented natural disasters, including flooding over the past year, and our health systems under pandemic pressure, our First Responders continue to go above and beyond to keep people and communities safe.

“These are roles that are often done with a minimum of fuss, yet we owe them an enormous debt of gratitude. Whether it’s the emergency services personnel, alongside community members, helping to rescue those stranded by the floods in northern NSW, or the doctors and nurses working around the clock caring for patients in overcrowded hospital wards, our First Responders are always there.

“First Responders Day is now a permanent fixture on Australia’s retail calendar, and this is our small way of saying ‘thanks’ to those who sacrifice so much to keep us all safe and healthy,” Zahra said.

Offers are available only to Australian-based First Responders. They include medical and health workers, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics, as well as ambulance staff, police personnel, firefighters, defence and border force personnel, SES, lifesavers, and quarantine workers.

Businesses can sign up for First Responders Day and register their offers by completing this form.