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 on 02 66224133 to register to receive an information pack which will be available from late May 2012. We are very grateful for the financial support for this training that has been provided by Essential Energy.
What is a Lifeline Crisis Supporter?
Lifeline’s 13 11 14 crisis support line provides immediate support and assistance to all Australians, whatever their need. People call Lifeline for a variety of reasons, including:
• Suicidal thoughts or behaviour in themselves or others
• Relationship issues – partner, family, parenting
• Stress
• Loneliness and isolation
• Mental and physical health issues
• Domestic and family violence
• Loss and grief.
• Addictions.
• Sexual assault.
• Referrals to community and health services.
Lifeline’s crisis supporter training equips volunteer crisis supporters to provide immediate and short term support to people in crisis. This includes helping the caller to relieve emotional distress, enable their coping skills, increase their safety and make decisions. Crisis supporters also provide callers with a pathway to further care.
What are the benefits of becoming a crisis supporter with Lifeline?
Becoming one of Lifeline’s 3500 crisis supporters provides you with an opportunity to make a real difference in communities all around Australia. In return for the time and support you give to others, you will receive the following personal benefits:
• High quality, nationally accredited training, up to the level of CHC42208 Certificate IV in Telephone Counselling Skills if you require. Many of the skills and competencies in this qualification transfer into other community services and health qualifications.
• Practical experience in the field of crisis support and referrals, with ongoing quality supervision and support in your work, as well as the opportunity to enhance your skills and learn new skills.
• Career opportunities within and beyond Lifeline.
• Meeting new people and having rewarding experiences.
• Having a sense of belonging and being valued within the Lifeline community.
• The real sense of satisfaction that comes from being able to give something positive back to your community.
Training overview
The pathway to becoming an accredited crisis supporter with Lifeline has 3 components:
• A core training course which is paced over 4 months. Delivery is via blended learning involving an on-line learning component, face-to-face classes and written workbook activities. There are lots of opportunities to practice and reinforce new skills and concepts via role plays and small group work.
Core training involves learning counselling micro-skills within Lifeline’s practice model, developing self-awareness appropriate to the crisis supporter role, understanding caller issues and offering referrals, and grounding in Lifelines policies and procedures.
Most face to face modules are evening classes from 5:45 to 9:15pm. Module 3 – ASIST is a 2 day suicide intervention skills intensive workshop. Module 7 is a whole day domestic/family violence and sexual assault response training workshop. Practice clinics are 3 hours long with a choice of day or evening sessions.
• Student placement in the 13 11 14 phone room where you make the transition from training to practice, eventually taking actual calls with the support of an experienced CS mentor. This part of the training is self-paced and usually lasts 1 to 2 months.
• Probationary crisis supporter. This phase lasts 12 months. During this time you will take up a regular slot on our telephone crisis support roster, while you round out your training and development in the role of crisis supporter.
You should note that you will start to answer real calls and begin to provide real support to people in need during your student placement. At the end of probation, you will have logged a minimum of 108 hours practice on the 13 11 14 service, with corresponding supervision and professional development.
When and where is the next training course with Lifeline Northern Rivers?
LLNR’s next crisis supporter training course starts in mid-July. Core training will finish in mid-November with successful participants being invited into student placement from this time onwards, as shown below. All training, student placement and probation will take place in Lismore.
Lifeline Northern Rivers National Crisis Supporter Training Course – Semester II, 2012.
Week Commencing
Monday M T W T F S S
1 18/0712 Modules 1 and 2
2 27/07/2012 and 28/07/2012 Module 3 - ASIST
3 01/08/2012 Module 4
4 8/08/2012 Module 5
5 Week beginning 13/08/2012 Practice and Assessment Clinics
6 22/08/2012 Module 6
7 01/09/2012 Module 7
8 05/09/2012 Module 8
9 Week beginning 10/09/2012 Practice and Assessment Clinics
10 19/09/2012 Module 9
Week beginning 24/09/2012 to 05/10/2012 School Holidays
11 10/10/2012 Module 10
12 Week beginning 15/10/2012 Practice and Assessment Clinics
13 24/10/2012 Module 11
14 31/10/12 Module 12
15 6/11/2012 Module 13
16 Week beginning 12/11/2012 Final Practice and Assessment Clinics
17 Week beginnning19/11/2012 Student Placement Intensive
18 Week beginning26/11/2012 Student Placement Continues (self-paced from here) →
How much does it cost?
The training course costs $500.00. You are welcome to discuss a staged payment plan with us, depending on your financial situation. Alternatively, job placement agencies are sometimes able to assist with the costs of this training.
Please note that the full cost of training a crisis supporter to accreditation is over $2000.00. This cost is heavily subsidised by the work of the volunteers working in Lifeline’s retail outlets. While Lifeline is an accredited registered training organisation, our primary reason for providing training is to maintain our crisis support service volunteer workforce. Therefore, before you undertake this training, you will be asked to carefully consider your ability to commit to both completing the training and then volunteering as a Lifeline crisis supporter for a minimum of two years.
Ok, I’m interested. What do I do next?
The next step is apply on-line through Lifeline’s eRecruit service at http://lifeline.mercury.com.au
• then click on the link to Volunteer Crisis Supporter, Lifeline Northern Rivers.
• At the bottom of the Position Details page under Application Guide, you will find links to a number of documents giving you more detailed information on the training course. There is also a detailed guide to help you complete your application.
• If you would like to continue with your application, then click on the Apply Now link on the Position Details page.
• If this is the first time you have used the eRecruit system, you will be asked to register. You will then be able to use your username and password subsequently to track, update or withdraw your application.
• Fill out the on-line application form and attach a short resume and written response to the position selection criteria as shown on the Position Description page. The application guide document provides you with a template for both these documents.
• If you have any difficulties with the on-line application process then please contact us on 02 66224133 or at lifeline@lis.net.au
We will process your application and advise you if your application has been accepted. Please note that your acceptance is subject to a standard National Criminal Record Check.
If accepted, you will be invited to an information night and personal interview with us at our counselling centre in Lismore. This will provide a further opportunity for you to ask questions and to decide, working with us, if you are ready to become a Lifeline volunteer crisis supporter at this stage in your life.
Successful applicants will then be invited to complete their enrolment and receive the course training materials.