Lifeline Services

Telephone Counselling

Lifeline Ballarat is the major provider of accessible and affordable telephone counselling in the greater Ballarat and Grampians regions. Its mission is to:

• Provide a quality 24 hour confidential telephone counselling and referral service;
• Promote a caring, nurturing and supportive environment for callers, volunteers and staff; and
• Develop appropriate community understanding and support of the needs of individuals and groups through education and training.

Emergency Response and Recovery

Lifeline is recognised as a significant resource whenever a counselling response to disasters, critical incidents and other emergencies is needed.

Lifeline is a 24 hour service, which may be easily and immediately contacted to assist in emergency situations, particularly after hours.

Lifeline Ballarat is able to mobilise appropriate counselling resources to deal with critical incidents and disaster situations by supplying a team of Counsellors to attend an emergency or to offer support via the 13 11 14 telephone number.

Lifeline is also able to provide assistance to organisations to assist in debriefing emergency workers.

For further information on Lifeline Ballarat's capacity to provide support in emergency recovery telephone 5332 1009 or email info@lifelineballarat.com.au

For emergency support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ring Lifeline on 13 11 14

Training

Lifeline Ballarat is a designated site of Lifeline Australia's Registered Training Organisation (RTO) status and as such is able to offer programs within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) administered by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA).

Training for volunteer Telephone Counsellors will commence in August 2012. Information Sessions about this rewarding role will be held on Tuesday, 19th June 2012 at 6.00pm, in the Peart Wing, Uniting Church, 103 Lydiard St Sth, Ballarat.

For further information, please contact the Lifeline Ballarat office on 5332 1009, or info@lifelineballarat.com.au

There are no current employment opportunities.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteers are always welcome to apply to join our service as:

• Volunteer Crisis Support Telephone Counsellors
• Lifeline Shop volunteers

Information Sessions for people interested in the rewarding role of volunteer Telephone Crisis Support Counsellors are being held on Tuesday, 19th June 2012 at 6.00pm, in the Peart Wing, Uniting Church, 103 Lydiard St Sth, Ballarat.

Phone 5332 1009 or email info@lifelineballarat.com.au for further information.

Lifeline Ballarat - serving the people of Ballarat and the Grampians Region and beyond

Lifeline Ballarat is the major provider of accessible and affordable telephone counselling in the greater Ballarat and Grampians regions.

Last year Lifeline Ballarat's telephone counsellors received approximately 11,491 counselling calls, an average of 31 calls per day year round.

Lifeline Ballarat has been supporting its community for 40 years and is still going strong.

Repaying a Debt of Gratitude to Lifeline

A true story, as told to a Lifeline Ballarat staff member

Why do you volunteer at the Lifeline Shop?

When people ask me why I am happy to give so much time and effort working at the Lifeline shop, I don’t always have the time to give the real answer.

Many years ago after a severe mental breakdown, I was in a terrible state. After being released from care my life seemed worthless and my desperation was something I couldn’t bear. I was reduced to such a low state that I often thought of ending my life, and on several occasions I almost succeeded.

Throughout this period of many months, my major source of support, care and strength came from the Lifeline counsellors I called, often several times a day and also during the night. Those counsellors are responsible for my being alive today, as their counselling and their actions drew me back from the brink each time.

I have never forgotten the huge debt of gratitude that I owe Lifeline and the wonderful counsellors for the fulfilling life I have today with my family, my friends, my interests and my volunteer work at the Lifeline shop. I will work my heart out to support this wonderful organisation that helps so many people just like me, in their time of need.

Thank you Lifeline counsellors.

Have we been a Life Line for you?

We are committed to providing a quality service to our callers. If you would like to provide information to us about our service we would be pleased to hear from you. Your feedback is important to us.

Contact: Lifeline Ballarat Phone: 03 5332 1009 Fax: 03 5331 7083 Email: info@lifelineballarat.com.au

Lifeline Ballarat is a program of UnitingCare Ballarat.

Volunteer with us

Volunteer for Lifeline Ballarat

We can't do it without you. Together we can make a difference.

Last year Lifeline Ballarat made a difference to over 8,000 callers from across Australia.
To keep our 24 hour 7 day per week service going we need the support of caring and committed volunteer telephone counsellors.

Information Sessions will be held on Tuesday, 19th June, 2012 at 6.00pm, in the Peart Wing, Uniting Church, 103 Lydiard Street South, Ballarat. Call the Lifeline Office for further information on 5332 1009.

Could you be a Volunteer Telephone Counsellor for Lifeline?

We offer:

• A journey of self discovery and development
• A nationally accredited training course comprising theory and practice plus a supervised probationary period
• The opportunity to participate in a unique form of community service
• Ongoing supervision and support within a community of friendly, committed people.

1. Job satisfaction, making a difference, helping people, filling a need
2. Belonging, the team, friendships, people at Lifeline
3. Caller interaction and appreciation
4. Relaxed, safe, caring environment
5. Improving skills and self development

For more information about our service or to express interest in applying to become a Lifeline Counsellor ring our friendly staff during business hours on 5332 1009.

Donate to Lifeline

Lifeline Ballarat is grateful for the support of its army of volunteers, and for the generosity of its sponsors and donors. Without this help, Lifeline could not continue to provide its valuable service to our local community.

Lifeline Ballarat currently receives funding of approximately one third of its operating costs from the Department of Human Services (Victoria) per annum. The remainder of the income required must be obtained from such avenues as gifts, fundraising, trusts, grants and from the Lifeline shop.

Donations

Lifeline Ballarat is indebted to its generous supporters whose contributions support the vital role that Lifeline plays in the health and wellbeing of the people of the Ballarat and Grampians region community. An Annual Appeal is held in May each year, however donations are most welcome at any time.

Donations may be posted to PO Box 646 Ballarat 3353. All donations are acknowledged and those over $2 are tax deductable.

Lifeline’s Corporate Supporters 2007-08

The Ballarat Courier
Beechworth Bakery Ballarat
Mars Snack Foods Australia New Zealand
Prime Television
Regional One Credit Union
Southern Cross Business Machines
Win Television

Lifeline’s Community Supporters 2007-08

SHARE Community Appeal
United Way Ballarat Community Fund
The Rotary Club of Ballarat Springfest Committee
The Rotary Club of Ballarat East
The Rotary Club of Ballarat West
The Rotary Club of Horsham East
The Lions Club of Ballan
The Lions Club of Ballarat
The Lions Club of Brown Hill and District
The Lions Club of Buninyong and Mt Helen
The Lions Club of Creswick
The Lions Club of Haddon and District
The No 23 Masonic Social Club
Ballarat Central Parish Mission (Wesley Majority Club)

Lifeline’s Support from Trusts and Foundations 2007 08

The Bob and Emma House Foundation
The Estate of Gladys May Brown
The Estate of Ian Morris
The Flora & Frank Leith Charitable Trust
The Isobella Foundation
The Joe White Bequest
The RACV Foundation

Lifeline’s Generous Donors 2007-08

Mr M K Balharrie
Mrs N Bohn
Mr Zachary Casper
Eclipse Ford
Mr D A Fawell
Mr L G Gason
Mr J Gay
Gendia Pty Ltd
Marion Hammond
Mr Ron Harris
Mr G Heinz
Mr G Hewitt
Dr G Hughes
Mr H Lay
Mr A Lowe
Mr & Mrs A W N Lyons
Mr S McArdle  
Mr Ralph Manno
Mr R Masom
Mrs N Oliver
Mrs A Plush
Dr J Richmond
Mrs W L Sloss
Mr Stephen Tobin
Mr P N Toom
Dr G W Torney
Dr J F Williams

Donations over $200 are acknowledged.

We thank also, the numerous individuals whose support we are unable to acknowledge within this site.

Our very generous supporters recognise the vital role that Lifeline plays in the health of the Ballarat and Grampians region community and in upholding the rights of all people to be heard, to be understood with compassion and to receive competent care in a time of need.

Thank you to all of you for your continued support of our service.

To make a donation contact us

Business Services

The Lifeline Clothing Shops

All proceeds from the Lifeline shops go towards supporting the Lifeline Ballarat 13 11 14 telephone counselling service which operates 24 hours a day for members of our community.

The Lifeline shops have a huge range of good clean clothing, linen, books, furnishings, kitchenware, crafts and bric-a-brac, all at affordable prices.

Pet blankets are a speciality and Seniors and Student discounts apply.

The shops are located:

1. on the corner of Sheppard and Davies Streets Ballarat, just off Mair Street, behind BigW, and
2. at Reid's Coffee Palace in Lydiard Street Ballarat, just next door to the Ballarat railway station.

Hours: 10 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday
Recently our shops have also been opening on Saurdays too.

DONATIONS OF GOOD CLEAN GOODS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!

Become a Volunteer at one of the Lifeline Shops

The Lifeline Shops are always on the lookout for new volunteers to join our team of friendly, hardworking, committed and caring volunteers.

For more information telephone the shop 03 5331 2908 or email
pneal@unitingcareballarat.com.au

The Light Lounge Lifeline Bookroom

The Lifeline Bookroom operates at the UnitingCare Light Lounge at the former Wesley Hall, on the Dana Street hill in Ballarat.

Come in and browse our wide selection of fiction and non fiction books and magazines.

All proceeds from the sale of books help to support the work of Lifeline in our community.

Light Lounge hours: 10:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday

Phone 03 5337 2765 for further information or email:
lightlounge@unitingcareballarat.com.au

The Lifeline Ballarat media kit is available for you to download. It contains an organisational backgrounder, facts, FAQ and media contact details. The contents of this media kit, including statistics were correct at January 2007.

Media Kit - January 2007 : Download PDF version 64kb

Media Releases

Lifeline Ballarat Media Kit
60.5 kb Released 2007-01-30
New Lap Top Computer
13.2 kb Released 2006-07-20
Troubled Waters for Lifeline
14.3 kb Released 2006-07-20

Links

Lifeline's services related websites

Resources for individuals, professionals, families and communities.

Lifeline International
Lifeline provides a mantle of compassion, linking people with people and country with country.

Lifeline Service Finder
A comprehensive database of low cost or free health and community services offered throughout Australia.

Living Works / Suicide Prevention
A suicide prevention scheme, auspiced by Lifeline Australia.

Other Useful Websites

Attention Deficit Disorder, Parenting South Australia
Helping parents be their best.

Auseinet
Australian network for promotion, prevention and early intervention for mental health.

Beyond Blue
An Australia site with information on depression.

BluePages Information on Depression
Information about depression for consumers, produced by the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University, CSIRO Mathematical & Information Sciences with the assistance of an advisory board.

Carers Australia
Supporting information for carers including parents, families, teachers, friends, and professional carers of people with disacility and mental illness.

Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression
A group of researchers and clinicians concerned with anxiety and depression. The website provides self help information and facts about mental illness such as depression, panic attacks and anxiety.

Headroom
Formerly known as Partnership with Young People Project (PYPP), a South Australian mental health promotion project managed by the Division of Mental Health, Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide. This website aims to inform young people, their caregivers and service providers about positive mental health.

Health Insite
A portal to mental health issues.

Kids Helpline
A national telephone counselling service for young people aged between 5-18 years. Free call - 1800 55 1800.

LivingWorks Education, Inc (Canada)

MoodGYM
Training programs about cognitive behaviour therapy for preventing depression.

Multicultural Mental Health Australia
Multicultural Mental Health Australia provides national leadership in mental health and suicide prevention for Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and works to promotr better mental health and well-being for a diverse community.

Reach Out!
An initiative of the Inspire Foundation for young people to help themselves and get involved in their community through difficult times

SANE Australia
A national charity helping people affected by mental illness. SANE Australia Helpline Free call - 1800 18 SANE (7263).

The Australian Governmment Department of Health and Aging

The Mental Health Council of Australia
An independent, non-government sector peak body established under the National Mental Health Strategy to represent and promote the interests of the mental health sector and advise on mental health in Australia.

The World Federal of Mental Health
Founded in 1948 to advance, among all people and nationa, the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care of thos with such disorders, and the promotion of mental health.