Lifeline 60th anniversary

A contingent of 10 past and present volunteers and staff of Lifeline South East attended Government House for a reception hosted by The Governor of South Australia, The Honourable Frances Adamson AC, late last month to mark Lifeline Australia’s 60th anniversary. Lifeline South East is based in Mount Gambier and is one of 41 Lifeline Centres across Australia.

The organisation was founded in March 1963 by Rev Dr Sir Alan Walker OBE after he took a call from a distressed man who later took his own life. Determined not to let isolation and lack of support be the cause of more deaths, Sir Alan launched what was later to become our 24/7 telephone crisis line, 13 11 14.

That first day, Lifeline answered more than 100 calls – and the phone hasn’t stopped ringing since. Lifeline quickly expanded around Australia and throughout the world.

A volunteer-based, peopleserving organisation, which is embedded in communities around Australia, Lifeline has moved with the times and adopted new technologies and innovation to best serve our help seekers.

Lifeline is a dynamic organisation which has reshaped and evolved during difficult times to remain at the forefront of crisis support and suicide prevention in Australia to this day. In the past 15 years, Lifeline has grown substantially, with nationwide recognition and trust, and increased financial support from governments, corporate and public fundraising. Lifeline has been there through distressing events and continues to play a central role in disaster response and recovery at a community level and beyond Lifeline’s skilled and trained Crisis Supporters offer confidential, nonjudgemental crisis support across phone, webchat and text delivered by trained volunteer crisis supporters across our phone, web and text chat services 25/7, 365 days a year.

Lifeline is involved in all aspects of suicide prevention and provides services including suicide prevention support, self-help resources and toolkits, mental health information and programs, training and advocacy.

Lifeline’s network of 41 Centres, 11,000 staff and volunteers – including about 4000 highly-trained Crisis Supporters – provide lifesaving national infrastructure for those experiencing immense pain and anguish. Their activities are guided by Lifeline Research Foundation, which works with leading researchers across Australia and the world to ensure we take an evidence-led approach to suicide prevention.

Lifeline supports more Australians than ever before:

• In 2022, Lifeline received more than 1.1million calls from help seekers and more than 250,000 text and webchat messages.

• In South Australia alone, Lifeline’s crisis supporters answered 44,630 in 2022.

• In total, 95,113 calls were made to Lifeline from people in South Australia in 2022 (note – calls to Lifeline are answered nationally by the next available crisis supporter, so not all calls made from SA are answered in SA.)

Lifeline’s busiest days on record have all occurred since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the top 50 of those busiest days all having happened since August 2021. They are here for all Australians through every challenge, 24 hours a day – phone 13 11 14 (24/7), text 0477 13 11 14 (24/7) or chat at www.lifeline.org. au/crisis-chat (24/7).

Lifeline South East have varied volunteer opportunities on offer. To register an interest in becoming a retail/warehouse volunteer or a crisis supporter volunteer please contact the office on (08)8723 2299.

LIFELINE SOUTH EAST VOLUNTEERS: Bronwyn Martin, Chris Hastie, Shirley Dawe, Allan Gray, Hazel Rigby, Belle and Tim Doyle, Linley Gray, Leah Griffin, Dean Berry & Tracey Wanganeen at the Government House 60th anniversary celebrations.

60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS: Simon Schrapel AM Chief Executive United Communities, Colin Seery Chief Executive Lifeline Australia, Scott Hammond Chief Executive Officer Lifeline Broken Hill Country to Coast, Leah Griffin Chief Executive Officer Lifeline South East