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Founded | 16 March 1963 |
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Founder | Reverend Dr Sir Alan Walker |
Location |
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Area served | Australia |
Product | Telephone and online crisis support |
Key people | CEO: Colin Seery Chairman: Jacinta Munro |
Volunteers | Over 11,000 |
Website | www |
Lifeline is a non-profit organisation that provides free, 24-hour telephone crisis support service in Australia. Volunteer crisis supporters provide suicide prevention services, mental health support and emotional assistance, not only via telephone but face-to-face and online.
The telephone service can be accessed by calling 13 11 14 within Australia.
Telephone crisis support is provided via a network of Lifeline Centres maintained by trained volunteers and some paid staff. Lifeline Centres are owned and operated by affiliate member organisations of Lifeline Australia, some of which are wholly owned subsidiaries of the national group, and some of which are local branches of the Uniting Church in Australia.[1]
As at August 2022, there are 41 Lifeline Centres, spanning across 60 locations around Australia in every state and territory. About 11,000 volunteers deliver support services, while approximately 1,000 staff provide administration and fundraising co-ordination. Some Lifeline Centres also provide other support services which may include face-to-face counselling, group support, assistance with food and utility bills, support for the elderly and frail, and related services.
Lifeline has over 250 retail outlets around the country which sell a variety of clothes, furniture and bric-a-brac. Some Lifeline Centres have a number of stores but not all Lifeline Centres have retail outlets.[citation needed]