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)

DONATE

Become A Regular Giver

Regular donations to Lifeline help us answer more calls from Australia in need of support and care.  Donating just $10 a month can make a real difference.

Give regularly by direct debit (fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, annually) through your bank, building society, credit union or credit card.

Make a Single Donation

Help us answer more calls and provide mental health, suicide prevention and crisis support services to all Australians by making a donation today.

Single, one off donations can be made by electronic transfer, cash, credit card, cheque or money order.

Other Ways To Donate

Make a donation in memory of a loved one, consider leaving a bequest in your Will to Lifeline or give a donation in celebration of a personal event (i.e. birthday, anniversary, wedding).

Donate material goods to your local Lifeline Store

You can donate material goods like clothing, books, furniture, blankets, household items and bric-a-brac directly to our Lifeline shops. Local drop off points, donation bins and a collection service in some areas are also available.

For more information please contact Lifeline North West Tasmania on (03) 6424 6547 or email info@lifelinetasmania.com.au

Lifeline Services

Lifeline North West Tasmania Services 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 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. Phone 0438 540 009,

CONTACT US

For:
General Office Enquiries
Volunteer Training
Suicide Intervention Skills Training

Telephone: (03) 6424  6547
Facsimile: (03) 6424 9522
Email: info@lifelinetasmania.com.au

Business Services

Lifestyle & Bargain Shop Locations

Volunteer Opportunities

Lifeline NW Tasmania relies heavily on the support of volunteers in our community with our retail shops entirely staffed by volunteers. If you would like to volunteer your time at a Lifeline Shop, please phone the shop and ask to speak with the supervisor, otherwise please phone (03) 6424 6547 for more information.

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.