Lifeline to launch new site

HEAD to lifelinecvm.org.au on 1 September and you’ll be met with a brand-new website showcasing the faces and stories behind the Lifeline team in Central Victoria and Mallee.

The soon-to-be launched site was designed in collaboration with KH Studios, and executive officer at Lifeline CVM, Lisa Renato, said the team were “super excited” for the launch on the first day of spring.

“We’re asking people to spring into action and check out our new cyber digs. We hope that our new cyber home is a massive improvement on what we’ve had historically,” she said.

“The website that we had previously wasn’t really showcasing all the work we do in the community and wasn’t really providing all the information to the community that they may need.”

The new online presence will include information that gives people a greater understanding of what it’s like to become a Lifeline CVM volunteer and will also showcase their community training initiatives.

The local branch features a team of nationally accredited trainers in a range of programs like mental health first aid, suicide prevention and domestic violence awareness.

Ms Renato said community members will be able to register online to participate in these trainings, some fully funded by organisations like Bank Australia and Ski For Life.

“Also if people are interested in having training for their staff or their workplace or their community organisation, they can find out about the different programs we offer, what they might get out of them and then contact us to arrange for us to deliver a specific training just to their organisation,” she said.

The website will also feature a donation platform which Ms Renato said would allow people to contribute financially to the operations of the local branch, including funding the volunteer and community training programs.

“Our centre is responsible for raising 75 per cent of the money we need to keep the call centre operating every year,” she said.

“This website provides people the opportunity to understand what their donation might go towards and to make a really quick, easy and secure one-off donation to our centre.”

Launching amid another statewide COVID-19 lockdown, Ms Renato said the new website could connect people with their local community online.

“By getting onto our website that’s been designed locally but features local people, talks about what we’re doing locally, that provides people some connection,” she said.

“They might see someone there that they know or hear a story about someone that they can relate to.”