ARE you a person who cares about other people? Can you spare four hours a week to do something tangible to help them?
If so, you might be just the sort of person Lifeline Mid Coast is looking for.
Each year Lifeline Mid Coast participates in a volunteer drive to train telephone crisis supporters, who provide care and support to callers in their time of personal crisis. People with a strong sense of self and self-awareness and the ability to express empathy and respect for others are sought to fulfil the role of telephone crisis supporters.
Lifeline Mid Coast is one of the 40 locations throughout Australia that operates the Lifeline national crisis support service on 13 11 14, a free service that supports all Australians in need.
The training course will be offered only once locally next year, simultaneously in Port Macquarie and Taree, commencing in February.
“Lifeline is looking for caring people wishing to increase their personal and community spirit by providing volunteer crisis support,” a spokesperson said. “The experience is both challenging and rewarding.
“Training is underpinned by research provided by the Lifeline Foundation and by Lifeline’s registered training organisation status. Supporters are recognised as trained to the world’s best standards with training focused on crisis support, suicide intervention and pathways to help seeking.
“Becoming a volunteer telephone crisis supporter carries with it many benefits. Beside obtaining a nationally recognised qualification and providing an essential service for the community, volunteers experience personal and professional growth and development, a sense of enhanced self-awareness and confidence.
“Volunteers report their involvement has opened up new opportunities in their lives with future career development and prospects. The experience gained at Lifeline can complement other training courses in counselling, psychology or psychotherapy.”
If you are interested in this training, please contact Maria at Lifeline Mid Coast for more information or to register your interest on 6581 2800 or email admin@lifelinemidcoast.org.au
BIANCA’S STORY
BIANCA is young 29-year-old who has been a mother for the past 10 years. Originally from Goulburn, Bianca moved her family of three to Port Macquarie, two years ago.
After seeing an advertisement to become a telephone crisis supporter, she decided she liked the idea and investigated further.
Bianca attended an information session, where she was inspired by the passion and commitment of the head trainer, Di Bannister. She soon realised the importance of the service and the need of highly trained volunteers to facilitate it. It also provided Bianca with an opportunity to get out of the house and involve herself in a community-spirited organisation.
“The training was excellent,” Bianca said. “I hadn’t studied for years and was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with it, but I found myself in a really supported environment where everyone was helpful.
“The most important thing I learned was to lose judgmental responses and give unconditional positive regard. I dropped my negative feeling towards people and surprisingly my own negative dialogue stopped. I became a more tolerant and open-minded individual.
“Getting on to the phones, I was quite nervous, but the great feeling I got from helping people was totally worth it. Sometimes the caller just needed someone to listen to and other times I was able to assist the caller, which was a great feeling.
“Now that training is finished, I attend one four-hour shift a week from 6 pm until 10 pm, which I look forward to. I’m so glad I do this for myself. It nourishes my soul and makes me appreciate what I have. It has also helped me become a more patient mother, wife and friend.”
SUICIDE FACTS
* Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15-44.
* Suicide accounts for more than one in five deaths of younger Australians: for males between 15-34 years of age, and for females between 15-24 years of age.
* The most recent Australian data (ABS, Causes of Death, 2011) reports deaths due to suicide at 2273.
* Men account for four out of every five deaths by suicide.
