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.

How Can You Help?

If you would like to help Lifeline Top End there are opportunities available for your participation

Here are some ways we would value your help…..

• Become a Volunteer Telephone Counsellor
  
  
• Make a Financial Donation
  
  
• Become a Corporate Sponsor

For those interested in volunteering, our centre for this region is located in Darwin, so it would be useful if you are within easy access.  However, if you would like to make a financial donation or become a corporate sponsor, location is no limitation!

By donating your time in your area of interest or professional expertise, just a couple of hours of your time each week makes a difference to the community. If you would like to participate, please call our centre on (08) 8941 2365.

For more information on any of the above ways of assisting Lifeline Top End please email us at:  admin@lifelinetopend.org.au

Your next call could change your life......
Telephone Counselling Course

To find out about our next course, please contact Lifeline Top End on

(08) 8941 2365 or email us at admin@lifelinetopend.org.au.

You can make a difference.  Lifeline Top End is seeking volunteers from the local community who are interested in becoming volunteer Telephone Counselors.

As you may be aware, Lifeline Top End provides an invaluable service to Darwin and surrounding communities. Every year Lifeline volunteers help people who need a caring person to speak with.  Each year suicides are prevented in our communities due to the dedication and generosity of volunteers, who also deal with may other important issues that trouble people such as depression, loneliness, relationship problems, financial and family issues.

In order to provide this vital service Lifeline Top End is recruiting additional Telephone Counselors and holds regular training courses.

Becoming a Telephone Counselor not only supports those in need, but also offers our volunteers the opportunity to:

• Develop practical counselling skills;
• Enhance personal growth and development;
• Improve communication and relationship skills;
• Enhance self awareness;
• Improve career opportunities;
• Increase ability to support family friends and work colleagues; and
• Belong to the lifeline community

Who are we looking for?

• People from all walks of life interested in becoming volunteer Telephone Counsellors;
• People who can commit to 1 five hour shift per fortnight;
• People who are prepared to undertake the intensive 16 week training program;
• People who have an interest in helping others;
• People with good communication skills and an open mind.

What Does the Training Involve?

• One night a week for sixteen weeks and one weekend; and
• Supervised practical telephone counselling.

The following story illustrates very well the reasons for becoming a volunteer telephone counsellor and its impact.

For more information please contact:
Lifeline Top End on:  (08) 8941 2365 or Email: admin@lifelinetopend.org.au

Donate

To make a donation contact us.

Lifeline Top End Services

24 Hour Telephone Counselling.

The Lifeline Top End 131114 service is staffed by trained volunteer telephone counsellors who are ready to take calls 24 hours a day in a confidential and caring environment.

Anyone can call Lifeline Top End

Lifeline counsellors are ready to 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 experiencing relationship issues, mental health concerns, loneliness, violence, abuse or are troubled in any way.

Lifeline Top End telephone counsellors are able to provide callers with referrals to other services where appropriate

Sometimes it helps to just know that someone is listening, that you never have to be alone

 What to expect when you call Lifeline

Lifeline is a fully confidential service.  You can tell a telephone counsellor as much or as little as you want to.  Volunteer telephone counsellors will listen, support and guide you.  It may help to remember that Lifeline volunteer telephone counsellors are everyday people who are volunteering because they believe in supporting others who might be going through troubled times.

Lifeline Top End Financial Counselling

Financial Counselling is a free and confidential service available to those experiencing some form of financial difficulty.

We are able to negotiate with creditors on behalf of clients to assist with developing an agreed repayment plan. We can also assist and support individuals in areas such as creating a budget that meets an individual's everyday needs and commitments, as well as providing options and information on issues such as bankruptcy, consumer rights and creditor harassment.

Lifeline Top End offers face to face counselling and referrals to this and other appropriate services can be made through the financial counsellor.

Counselling

Face to Face counselling

• Loss and Grief
• Relationships
• Domestic and family violence
• Addiction
• Mental Health
• Suicide Bereavement

Support Groups

• Weekly Suicide Bereavement Support Group "COPES"
• Weekly Mum's Group
• Monthly Men's Group

Training Courses:

Lifeline Top End offers a range of learning programs in the following areas:

• Certificate IV Telephone Counselling
• The Accidental Counsellor Workshop
• Conflict Resolution Workshop
• Stress in the Workplace Workshop
• Communication Skills
• ASIST Suicide Prevention Training
• Living Works Suicide Prevention Training
• Psychological First Aid/ Community Recovery

For more information please call:

Administration

Tel: (08) 8941 2365

Fax: (08) 8981 8278

admin@lifelinetopend.org.au

4/14 Shepherd St, Darwin, NT, 0800 or GPO Box 1363, Darwin, NT, 0801

Sponsors 

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.