Lifeline (counselling service)
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| Founded | 16 March 1963 |
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| Founder | Reverend Dr Sir Alan Walker |
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Area served
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Australia |
| Product | Telephone and Online Crisis Support |
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Key people
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CEO: Pete Shmigel Chairman: John Brogden AM National Patron: |
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Volunteers
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Over 11,000 |
| Mission | An Australia Free of Suicide |
| Website | www |
Lifeline is a non-profit organisation that provides free, 24-hour Telephone Crisis Support service in Australia. Volunteer Crisis Supporters provide suicide prevention services, mental health support and emotional assistance, not only via telephone but face-to-face and online.
The telephone service can be accessed by calling 13 11 14 within Australia.
Telephone Crisis Support is provided via a network of Lifeline Centres maintained by trained volunteers and some paid staff. As at March 2012, there are more than 40 Lifeline Centres, spanning across 60 locations around Australia. About 11,000 volunteers deliver support services, while approx. 1,000 staff provide administration and fundraising co-ordination.
Lifeline receives more than 400,000 calls every year. In the 2009/2010 financial year, 449,946 telephone calls were taken. In 2010/2011, Lifeline reported an income stream consisting of 26% from community support, 63% through government grants and 11% from other sources. Income is then distributed to: service support (72%), fundraising and promotion (18%), and administration (10%).
Some Lifeline Centres also provide other support services which may include face to face counselling, group support, assistance with food & utility bills, support for the elderly and frail, and related services.
Lifeline has over 260 retail outlets around the country which sell a variety of clothes, furniture and bric-a-brac. Some Lifeline Centres have a number of stores but not all Lifeline Centres have retail outlets
Lifeline was founded in Sydney, New South Wales in 1963 by the late Reverend Dr. Sir Alan Walker after a call from a distressed man who three days later took his own life. Determined not to let loneliness, isolation and anxiety be the cause of other deaths, Sir Alan launched a crisis line which initially operated out of the Methodist Central Mission.
Lifeline Sydney was two years in planning and preparation, with 150 people attending a nine-month training course to work at the Centre. A century old, dilapidated building owned by the Mission, on the fringes of downtown Sydney was renovated for the purposes of this new support centre. A staff of full-time employees was appointed to direct the work of these new telephone crisis support 'workers'. The Director General of Post and Telephone Services authorised that this crisis support service should be listed on the Emergency Page of the Telephone Directory and the phones were installed.
March 1963 saw the opening of the first official Lifeline Centre. The initiative was well received with over 100 calls for help being answered on the first day. The first call came one minute after the lines were opened and the phones have never stopped ringing.
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Wikipedia