About Lifeline Top End

In October 1975 it was felt that there was a need for a telephone counselling service to help Darwin residents through the first Wet Season after Cyclone Tracey.

In order to start up quickly, trained counsellors already working in the Welfare field were utilized.  It soon became apparent from the demand that far more telephone workers were required and so in 1976 a public meeting was held to attract volunteers with the first training course starting. This was the beginning of Crisis Line which served the NT community for 30 years.

In July 2006 preliminary discussions were held with Lifeline Australia to see how the Crisis Line could become part of the national organisation so that it could provide an improved service to its volunteers and the NT community.

Through those discussions Lifeline Top End became the 43rd Lifeline Centre to operate within Australia – the first Lifeline Centre to operate in Darwin. There is a Lifeline Centre in Alice Springs with whom we work closely.

Lifeline Top End is proudly supported and funded by the Northern Terrtory Government through the Department of Children and Families.

The People of Lifeline Top End

A Board of Governance comprising volunteers from local business and the community provide advice and support to the Executive and Staff as required.

Lifeline Top End could not function without the assistance and support of its volunteers, who have committed financially to develop their skills through Lifeline Training and thereafter committed their time as telephone counsellors.