How can I help?

By Volunteering as a Telephone Counsellor

Lifeline Northern Rivers is inviting members of the local community to become part of its lifesaving cause.

In 2011 Lifeline Northern Rivers' Volunteer Telephone Counsellors answered 8239 calls made to Lifeline's 13 11 14 number.

Lifeline Northern Rivers offers annual training courses for people wishing to become Volunteer Telephone Counsellors. Our next intake will be in mid-May 2012. For further information call Kate on 02 6622 4133.

By Donating Goods or Volunteering in Lifeline Stores

If you wish to donate goods for sale in Lifeline stores please remember that we are only able to accept goods which are in good condition and saleable. Non-saleable donations need to be sorted, stored and taken to a council rubbish tip which is a considerable cost to Lifeline Northern Rivers.

If you are interested in volunteering in our retail division please call Alicia on 02 6621 8516.

More information on how you can support Lifeline through our retail outlets can be found on the Business Services page of this website.

Recruitment

2012 Telephone Crisis Supporter Training Course

Intake for the 2012 Telephone Crisis Supporter Training Course will begin in mid-May 2012 and the course proper will begin in early July 2012. If you are interested in becoming a  Telephone Crisis Supporter email us at lifeline@lis.net.au or call us on 02 66224133 to register to receive an information pack which will be available from late May 2012.

For more details on the course contents and application process go to www.lifeline.org.au/About-Lifeline/Lifeline-Locations/Northern-Rivers-NSW/News-Articles/Telephone-Crisis-Supporter-Training-Course---starts-mid-July-2012/blog.aspx

We are very grateful for the financial support for this training that has been provided by Essential Energy.

Business Services

Sustainability

Lifeline plays a significant role in encouraging sustainability in the community. We help to renew people’s lives through our life saving services. Often we are the only organisation available to encourage this renewal and help people move forward with their lives.

Through our shops we encourage people to donate to us clothes, books and other merchandise we can re-sell. All material that is donated to Lifeline is sorted into high grade material which can be re-sold while other lower grade material is made into rags to use in Australian manufacturing and other industries.

Lifeline tries to recycle as much material as possible to reduce landfill and to help keep communities vital, vibrant and sustainable.

Retail

The Trading Division at Lifeline Northern Rivers operates 6 retail outlets which are predominantly staffed by volunteers. These volunteers work in a range of operational positions, including truck driving, working in the distribution centre, or sorting, cleaning and pricing clothing, furniture and bric-a-brac. Volunteers also work shifts in the shops as sales staff.

We are currently seeking committed volunteers to meet the growing demands of our business division. Volunteering can be enjoyable and rewarding. If you are interested in working with Lifeline please call the Distribution Centre Office on 6621 8516 and ask for Alicia.

If you wish to donate goods to Lifeline please remember that we are only able to accept goods which are in good condition and saleable. Non-saleable donations need to be sorted, stored and taken to a council rubbish tip which is a considerable cost to Lifeline Northern Rivers. Please note that in some instances, because of government regulations, we are unable to accept some items. Please call 6621 8516 to check with us if you are unsure.

Donations of furniture or other bulky goods can be delivered to the Distribution Centre between 8.30am and 3.30pm on weekdays.

Ballina

212 River St

Phone: (02) 6686 7027



Mon-Fri 10am-4pm + Saturday 9am-12noon

Byron Bay

Marvel St

Phone: (02) 6685 6324



Mon-Fri 10am-5pm + Saturday 10am-1pm

Casino

Shop 16/17, Woolworths Plaza, Canterbury St

Phone: (02) 6662 1323



Mon-Fri 10am-4pm + Saturday 9am-1pm

Lismore

71 Magellan St

Phone: (02) 6622 0089



Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm + Saturday 9am-1pm

Lismore Sth

18 Casino St

Phone: (02) 6621 9185



Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm + Saturday 9am-1pm



The Sth Lismore store carries a wide range of second-hand books and vinyl. On the 1st Saturday of each month, between 8.30am and 12pm, this store has a Super Saturday Sell-Out with books at greatly reduced prices. All priced books (except collectibles) at half marked prices. All unpriced books at the low everyday price of 3 for $2.

Lifeline Northern Rivers Distribution Centre

23 Three Chain Rd. Sth Lismore

Phone: (02) 6621 8516



Mon-Fri 8.30am-4pm + Saturday 9am-1pm



The Distribution Centre sells used-furniture, homewares and clothing.

Facts about Lifeline Northern Rivers

• Lifeline Northern Rivers’ volunteer counsellors answered 8239 calls in 2011.
• More than 350 of these calls were from people at high risk of suicide.
• Many of these calls are literally life-saving.
• Each year Lifeline Northern Rivers’ training equips over 100 local community members with the skills to recognise somebody at risk of suicide and to work with them to increase their immediate safety and get further help.
• Lifeline Northern Rivers is responsible for generating over 70% of its own operational costs through its retail stores and community fundraising.
• Every call we answer costs us $28.00 in operational expenses related to training, mentoring and supporting our volunteers.

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.

Lifeline Services

24 Hour Telephone Counselling 131114 and Personal Counselling 1300 525084

Lifeline Northern Rivers offers a telephone counselling service that respects everyone's right to be heard, understood and cared for. The crisis line 13 11 14  is staffed by trained volunteers on a rostered shift basis. The calls are confidential and anonymous, and some of the issues regularly dealt with include mental illness; grief; loneliness and isolation; domestic violence; men's issues and suicide.

This valuable community service supports anybody whose ability to cope is being overwhelmed by events or circumstances. Lifeline counsellors have excellent listening skills and are trained to respond to all people in a non-judgemental and accepting manner. While the counselling is not directive or intrusive, the counsellor is trained to encourage the client to explore possible problem-solving options.

Lifeline counsellors have access to detailed resource files that assist them to refer clients with specific issues on to other local services that may be able to help. For example, suggested services could be agencies specialising in housing; health; drug and alcohol support; legal or women's organisations.

Lifeline’s 13 11 14 service is staffed by trained volunteer telephone counsellors who are ready to take calls from anywhere in Australia. Lifeline Northern Rivers has approximately 70 trained volunteer telephone counsellors who respond to the many and varied needs of our community, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Somewhere in Australia there is a new call to Lifeline every minute. The Northern Rivers region alone generates more than 7800 calls to Lifeline per year. In the 12 months to December 2011, Lifeline Northern Rivers' volunteer telephone counsellors answered 8239 calls.

Lifeline counsellors are ready to talk and listen no matter how big or how small the problem might seem. They are trained to offer emotional support in times of crisis or when callers may be feeling down.

Lifeline provides an ideal opportunity for people to anonymously seek out help without leaving their home and for the cost of a local call. They simply need to pick up the phone and dial 13 11 14.

Personal Counselling

Lifeline Northern Rivers offers a Personal Counselling Program staffed by qualified therapists. A sliding scale of fees based on your income means that you will not be asked to pay more than you can afford.

Call 1300 525084 to make an appintment.

Donate

What does Lifeline Northern Rivers do?

• Places services that support living and wellbeing within everyone’s reach
• Offers 24/7 access to crisis telephone counselling
• Trains, supports and mentors 70 volunteer telephone counsellors
• Offers community training in suicide prevention and intervention
• Offers low cost face to face counselling
• Operates 6 retail outlets in the Northern Rivers

About Lifeline Northern Rivers

Lifeline Northern Rivers is proud to acknowledge that we are on Bunjulung land and pay our respects and give thanks to the Bunjulung community.

Lifeline Northern Rivers services a population of approximately 233,000 people living on or close to the Far North Coast of New South Wales. Its area of operation runs from Murwillumbah in the north towards Casino in the south and west from the ocean to Kyogle and the Great Dividing Range. The region includes the shires of Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Lismore City and Richmond Valley.

Lifeline's Northern Rivers' counselling centre is located in Lismore. Lifeline Northern Rivers also has six retail outlets, three in Lismore and one each in Casino, Ballina and Byron Bay.

Counselling Centre: 02 6622 4133
Retail Administration: 02 66221166

Email: lifeline@lis.net.au