About Lifeline North West Tasmania

General Background:

In 1963 in Sydney, the founder of Lifeline the Rev. Sir Alan Walker took the first call from the community. Lifeline North West Tasmania Inc. holds accreditation with Lifeline Australia Inc. and through that body is affiliated with Lifeline International. Lifeline North West comes under the scrutiny of the Lifeline Accreditation and Standards Program (LASP) every 3 - 4 years. There are now approximately 250 Centres operating in 15 countries around the world. Approximately 25,000 telephone counsellors answer more than six million calls each year.

Lifeline North West Tasmania Inc.

Mission - "Lifeline exists to meet the needs of people in the community, through the provision of quality, caring and supportive telephone counselling and other related services"

Lifeline North West Tasmania's mission is achieved through its telephone counselling service staffed by trained volunteers who undertake intensive training. We are able to assist those who are in distress through loneliness, confusion, conflict, misfortune, emotional upheaval, helplessness, illness and potential suicide.

Lifeline North West Tasmania Inc. Background:
In March 1975 the Burnie Ministers' Fraternal called a meeting of community groups with a view to establishing a telephone support service for the North West Coast. This meeting was held in the AAP rooms above what is now the St. Luke Health Insurance office. The meeting decided to investigate a Lifeline service. On the 17th July 1975, a public meeting was held in the Council Chambers and it was agreed that a Lifeline service be set up. The nucleus of a Board of management was elected - Mrs Fay Joyce was the Foundation Chairperson and the Reverend Tom Verrier of the Burnie Uniting Church was the first Board Secretary. Other Foundation members included Mr. Graeme Thompson, Mrs. Elizabeth Barron, Mr. Ray Duncombe and Mr. E. Cooper.

Between the period of August 1975 and August 1976, approximately 50 individuals were trained as telephone counsellors; premises were leased (and later purchased) from Uniting Church Burnie; the Constitution was drawn up; Fundraising auxiliary was formed and activities organised. Lifeline North West Tasmania's 24 hour crisis telephone counselling service became operational on 20th September 1976 with the first Annual General Meeting being held on 17th April 1977 with 670 calls being received in the first 7 months of operation.

To help finance this ministry, second-hand shops were opened in Burnie, Devonport and Ulverstone and later in East Devonport and Latrobe, and for a few years in Wynyard. The Wynyard Shop recommenced in larger premises in October 2000. From the second-hand shops and surplus supply of books, the idea developed to start up specific book marts. These were held in Burnie and Devonport until 1998 and were rebranded as Bookfest in 2002. In 1990 under the direction of Mrs. Elizabeth Barron, volunteers commenced operation of a Kiosk at the newly opened North West Private Hospital  as another source of fundraising for 10 years until 2000 when operations at the hospital ceased.

In January 1982, Lifeline North West Tasmania Inc. became incorporated as an Association.

Today, Lifeline North West Tasmania has consolidated its telephone counselling service and operates out of the Devonport Office. Over 40 volunteers generously donate their time as telephone counsellors with over 200 volunteers donating their time in Lifeline shops across the North West Coast to fund Lifeline NW Tasmania's services.

Lifeline NW Tasmania is indebted to its volunteers past and present, the community and business/corporate sector who have and continue to generously support the work of Lifeline through volunteer support, monetary and in-kind donations.

Lifeline North West Tasmania Today 

• 24 Hour Crisis Telephone Counselling Service 13 11 14
• Suicide Prevention Programs (ASIST LivingWorks)
• Professional Development (fee for service basis)
• Go For Life - Free of Charge Counselling Service to those in rural areas of North West Tasmania who may be experiencing stress, anxiety or depression due to the many challenges involved in farming.(Ph. 0438 540 009)