Lifeline Macarthur

Lifeline Macarthur provides telephone crisis support in an area south west of Sydney. From Lansvale and Canley Heights in the north to Marulan in the south and west to Barralier.

Lifeline Macarthur also offers face-to-face financial counselling by professional financial counsellors. We can also help with welfare relief for families in crisis. Call 02 4652 7000 for more information.

Lifeline Macarthur operates 10 Lifeline Macarthur shops which sell new and preloved items including clothes, books, household items, collectables, toys and reconditioned white goods.

Lifeline Macarthur's Telephone Counselling Course

Lifeline Macarthur - Board Members

Lifeline Macarthur - Deductible Gift Recipient donations

What is a Gift?

1. There is a transfer of money or property;
2. They are made voluntarily;
3. They do not provide a material benefit to the donor;
4. They essentially arise from benefaction and proceed from detached and disinterested generosity.

Types of Gifts: (to DGRs that qualify for tax deductibility)

1. Currency requires a minimum of $2.00.
2. Land/property requires a minimum value (as valued by ATO) of more than $5,000 unless donated within 12 months of acquisition in which case it can be worth any amount.
3. Shares less than or equal to $5,000 and must have been acquired at least 12 months before the gift is made.
4. Trading stock disposed of outside the ordinary course of business i.e. donated to a DGR.  Such “donated” stock is to be valued at “Market Price” and not “Recommended Retail Price”.  Donor is responsible and liable for determining “market value” of such donated stock.

Please Note:
For a gift to be tax deductible to the donor then the gift must really be a gift i.e. not “tit-for-tat” or the like and no material benefit or advantage is to be received by the donor.  A “pledge” is not deductible until the gift is actually made.  A donor can claim a full deduction if the gift falls within any one or more of the above four categories.

Please note:
Tax “Credits” do not arise from gifts to DGRs.  If the value of the gift exceeds the taxable income of the donor for a particular tax year then only that portion of the gift needed to zero the donor’s taxable income will be applied and the balance is lost i.e. it is not carried forward into future years.  In some instances the donor may be allowed to spread the deductibility over a five year period but this decision must be made prior to lodging the first year’s income tax return and must continue into the next consecutive four years.  It is recommended that individual professional advice on this be obtained if a donor contemplates this course of action.

Fundraising Events by DGRs and Tax Deductibility

There are only two types of contributions to DGR fundraising events which are tax deductible to the contributor.

1. A right to participate in a fundraising event (e.g. purchase of ticket to attend). To be tax deductible the contribution (payment for ticket) must be any one of: Money greater than $150.

Property purchased within the preceding 12 months valued at more than $150
Property valued by the commissioner at more than $5,000

Shares acquired more than 12 months ago valued at more than $150 but less than $5,000

Provided that any benefit (“cost of production + 10%” per head) received by the contributor must be no more than “20% of the value of the contribution” or $150, whichever is less. 

The benefit or “cost of production + 10%” cannot exceed $150 otherwise the entire function becomes ineligible for tax deductibility.  However if benefit (“cost of production + 10%” = say $70 then (irrespective of actual asking price) contributor must pay minimum $350 otherwise NIL deductibility.  However for “any amount $350 or over” then the amount paid minus $70 is fully deductible.

DGR is responsible and liable for determining “benefit” amount.

2. A successful bid at a charity auction conducted by a DGR.

The price paid minus “market price” (not “retail price”) is fully deductible by the successful bidder provided “money only” and not “goods” or “tit-for-tat” is paid. Bidder is responsible and liable for determining “market price”.

History of Lifeline Macarthur

Services offered:

Many people in  our community experience depression or stress at some stage of their lives ...

• Situations that are hard to cope with
• Problems in the work place
• Stressful relationships
• Loss of a loved one
• Financial situation
• Loneliness
• Feelings of Suicide

Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention is a key focus for Lifeline in Australia. We receive a lot of requests and inquiries about relevant resources and links which can assist with understanding suicide prevention or helping someone at risk.

For immediate help call Lifeline's 24 hour Telephone Counselling Crisis line on 13 11 14.

In case of emergency or when life is in danger call 000.

Lifeline's roll in suicide prevention

Suicide Prevention is the reason that the Lifeline 24-hour telephone counselling service was developed more than 40 years ago. For those with thoughts of suicide, it is vital to find ways to stay alive, work through problems in living and get help.

For those who know someone at risk of suicide, it is important to listen and understand and to help link at an risk friend or loved one with services that can help them to stay safe.

Lifeline offers information on helping people at risk of suicide.

Are you at risk?

If someone asked you right now if you are having thoughts of suicide, what would your honest answer be? If your answer is ‘yes’, this is probably a very difficult time for you. You don't need to go through this alone. Help is available.

There are several things you could do right now:

• Reach out to someone you trust and ask for help. Tell them honestly how you feel, including your thoughts of suicide.
• Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (within Australia). Our telephone counsellors are trained in crisis support and suicide prevention and may provide support and information.
• Look up your local crisis support centre in your phone book.
• Contact your local GP or Hospital Emergency Department.

You are not alone

Thoughts of suicide occur to many people and for a range of reasons. Talking to someone is a good place to start, even though it may seem difficult.

Is someone you know at risk?

Lifeline has a range of resources available on the national web site. You can download them or order them by calling 1300 13 11 14.

Financial and Budget Counselling/Welfare Assistance

• Emergency Relief
• Welfare Assistance
• Welfare Counselling

Lifeline Macarthur Budget Counselling is now available to people who require help or guidance in making their money stretch further. Assistance may be available for food, electricity, gas, telephone, water and household goods.

To discuss your budgeting needs phone Lifeline Macarthur on 4645 7200 for an appointment.

Conditions apply
Current identification must be produced at time of appointment.

Anxiety and OCD Clinic

If you have a knot in your stomach that never unties, feel distress in social situations, panic about leaving home, if you've developed behavioural rituals to cope with daily life or you worry constantly about things that haven't happened yet, you're not alone.

You're one of approximately 14 percent of everyday Australians who are affected by anxiety each year.

The University Of Western Sydney School Of Psychology, in partnership with Lifeline, have launched an Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Lifeline's centre in Smeaton Grange to assist people in the Macarthur region whose lives are impacted by anxiety disorders such as Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Generalised Anxiety, all of which are treatable clinical disorders.

Many people suffer in silence, often not knowing exactly what's wrong with them and don't realise that effective treatments are available. Our goal is to work closely with existing health services, especially family physicians, and help people learn methods to effectively deal with their anxiety problems.

The anxiety clinic, which will be staffed by seven trainee clinicians, supervised directly by Dr Rocco Crino, is a free service which will operate Mondays to Wednesdays at Lifeline Macarthur located in Smeaton Grange.

Financial and Budget Counselling/Welfare Assistance

• Emergency Relief
• Welfare Assistance
• Welfare Counselling

Face to Face Counselling

Lifeline Macarthur offers face-to-face counselling. Please contact us for more information.

Ph: (02) 4645 7200