Working together with empathy and integrity, so that we can have a positive impact and help to build a resilient community.
We couldn’t do what we do without the commitment and generosity of people within the community, and we are grateful to each and every one of our volunteers and supporters.
Every single person who works with us plays a part in empowering others who are experiencing difficult times to change their lives.
Our Volunteers
Lifeline is Australia’s leading suicide prevention service, and we rely on over 11,000 volunteers nationwide, over 60 of whom are based with Lifeline Loddon Mallee.
There are many ways to get involved with Lifeline, including volunteering to become an Accredited Telephone Crisis Supporter and through various community and corporate opportunities.
Have you ever thought about getting involved and helping us continue this commitment to the community?
Why do people volunteer?
Giving back to the community; a sense of achievement and pride that comes with that.
Personal and professional growth.
Learning new skills and experiencing new things.
Meeting new people and making friends.
Training, development and career opportunities.
Potential career opportunities
Knowing that you really make a difference!
HEAR ABOUT OUR IMPACT
From a caller, Ben Farinazzo
Being an Accredited Telephone Crisis Supporter means you can make a difference. By offering your time and experience, you have the power to have a positive impact on the lives of people who might be struggling.
HEAR FROM A VOLUNTEER
Our centre talks to over 10,000 help seekers every year. Help seekers are different to job seekers, they are what we call the people who call in needing our help.
MEET JOHN
John gives almost 40 hours of his time every month to talk to help seekers who call our centre. John is a retiree, who began volunteering over 20 years ago. During COVID John saw the increase in calls we were receiving and put his hand up to take on more shifts.
He listens openly and without judgement of the callers or their situation. John's training taught him how to develop both safety and mental health plans with help seekers, so they are in control of their choices, and the same training provides him the skills to support help seekers who need imminent suicide prevention.
We need more John's. We know that more John's means we can answer more call and save more lives.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED YOU
We provide hope to those who are seeking help, by offering non-judgemental, confidential crisis support. Our volunteers are passionate and dedicated individuals that help people every day who are experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, addiction, relationship and financial struggles, and mental health or gender issues.
Don’t worry, we provide training…
All volunteers who join Lifeline Loddon Mallee are provided with a nationally accredited Crisis Supporter training program. This includes 2 months of combined online and classroom format training, followed by help seeker shift observation with experienced student mentors and qualified trainers and social workers.
Volunteers then move into the student placement phase where they spend no less than 16 hours talking with help seekers, supervised and coached by one of our qualified trainers or student mentors.
Once volunteers have moved into the internship phase of their training there are a few additional online and classroom modules to complete, group supervision sessions and additional professional development ios also made available. This ensures that you have the confidence and the skills required to support Lifeline’s callers.
It is a rewarding role, offering you the opportunity to have a genuine, positive impact on the lives of other Australians.
Your Pathway to Become a Volunteer
This is the step-by-step process of what happens when you decide to start volunteering with us.
It’s easy! So why not start today?
Volunteer to be a Crisis Supporter
Thank you for your interest in volunteering.
Our volunteers give their time, energy and expertise generously to achieve our Vision of an ‘Australia free of suicide', so that no person has to face their darkest moments alone.
Lifeline is truly grateful for the support of our volunteers.
Purpose
Volunteers provide one-off crisis support over the phone to people who could benefit from immediate and short-term assistance to cope with crisis or distress.
Training
170 hours including approximately 80 hours of placement and internship over a 12-month period delivered by a Lifeline Loddon Mallee.
Requirements
Be over the age of 18 and an Australian/New Zealand citizen or have a valid visa with no study restrictions
Police Check and Working with Children or Working with Vulnerable People Check relevant to your State/Territory
A student contribution towards the cost of the nationally accredited Crisis Support Workplace Training course. Lifeline centres subsidise the cost of training. To find out more, please read the pre-enrolment booklet.
Accreditation
Accredited CHCSS00113 - Crisis Support Skill Set Training which includes a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment of 3 Units of Competency. The accredited crisis support training is delivered on behalf of Lifeline Australia RTO 88036 by Lifeline Loddon Mallee.
Location
Central Bendigo and Irymple
Steps to take
Pre-enrolment Course Information
Needing further information?
Please email our Training Coordinator
Julie Holland:
