Help them help others

Lifeline South East searching for volunteers

Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Lifeline exist so that no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.

Providing that support takes manpower though and in the area of crisis support, as well as roles in their retail outlets and warehouses, Lifeline South East is putting out an SOS for more volunteers.

Lifeline South East chief executive officer Leah Griffin said the need for volunteers was across every facet of the local service.

“We’ve got retail shops here in Mount Gambier, Millicent, Tailem Bend, Victor Harbor and Naracoorte and we don’t just need volunteers for those shops but also the warehouses,” Leah said.

The local service is crying out for help is drivers and sorters to keep the stock moving in and out of the Lifeline warehouses.

“And we need people in crisis support on the phones and we understand that can sound a bit overwhelming for some people but there is significant training and mentoring,” Leah said.

The local CEO is well aware, Lifeline’s need for volunteers is an issue across the board for sporting and community groups.

“People are time poor and postCOVID the cost of living is having an impact and some people that were previously volunteers are now looking after grandchildren and other opportunities like that to help families make ends meet,” Leah said.

“We understand that every organisation is facing these same issues.”

Lifeline offers flexibility with its volunteer opportunities as it looks to boost its workforce.

“We want to work around people that want to come and help us,” Leah said. “Whatever people can offer we would be grateful to receive.”

Ironically the generosity of the community in terms of donations is what has seen Lifeline needing to put out the call for more warehouse volunteers in the roles of drivers, heading to donation bins, taking those donations to the warehouse and then delivering in store, as well as volunteers to sort through the donations in the warehouse.

“The donations that are coming in are far exceeding our ability to output,” Leah said.

“People are just so very, very generous and we have seen an increase in donations.

“In a way it is a nice problem to have that we are having storage issues and can’t process our donations quickly enough but we want to be able to turn around these donations in a more timely manner and getting the donations into our stores so people that need them can access them.”

A vehicle would be provided in terms of pick ups and deliveries and finding personnel to empty the donation bins in Millicent, Naracoorte and Willalooka is high on the priority list.

Crisis support is always high on the priority list as well and long standing volunteer Jeff Hodge said if you are compassionate, caring and have good self awareness then training for a role on the phones is for you.

There are nine online modules to complete as well as nine face to face sessions and even then, there is ongoing support.

“We don’t just leave you,” Jeff said. “Everyone is well supported through phase two and three of their training to help develop your skills and build general confidence on the phones.”

And while getting involved in crisis support is all about helping others, there are spin offs for volunteers in terms of coping with challenges in their own lives.

“It is the opportunity to give back to the community,” Jeff said. “But it is also an opportunity for personal growth and development absolutely.

“ It is a rewarding feeling that you have helped somebody to feel better about themselves by the end of the call. Every day we are saving lives.

“What it does teach you is how to connect better with the people you care about in your own life. They are skills that go back out into the community with your family and friends.”

The CEO was quick to point out that whatever the volunteer role people undertake at Lifeline – they are all critical in the local operation.

“We can’t do what we do without all our volunteers,” Leah said.

“People that work in our retail shops are caring, nurturing people as well and they end up in a lot of important conversations. They are having conversations with people all the time.”

If you are interested in a Lifeline volunteering role contact the local office on (08)8723 2299.

CALL TO ARMS FOR VOLUNTEERS:

(Above & on the over) Lifeline South East volunteer Beth Barratt and Lifeline South East CEO Leah Griffin in the phone room at the local service. Lifeline South East is looking for volunteers across all aspects of its services in the region.