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Train to become a voluntary Telephone Counsellor.

The next course commences February 2009.

The course is experiential, with group work, and practising counselling skills in Triads. Upon selection to become telephone counsellors, there are 6 (or more) closely supervised shifts, until you and your trainers feel you are competent.

Telephone counsellors enjoy monthly on-going training with outside speakers, and there is a residential weekend offered each year.

Becoming a Telephone Counsellor is a great way to help your community, build your own skills and knowledge, and belong to a committed and fun team.
Phone 9949 5522 during business hours to apply, any time during the year. An application form will be posted to you prior to the commencement of the next course. Applicants will be interviewed prior to commencing the course.

TELEPHONE COUNSELLING COURSE

WHERE: 310 Sydney Rd Balgowlah (walk down the brick paved plaza next to the Raaj Indian restaurant and enter through the double glass doors.


WHEN: Wednesday night 6.45pm (for 7.00pm start) – 10.00pm

Plus:
2 Saturdays and 1 two day workshop.

Successful trainees will have 2 additional nights dates to be advised

COST: The cost of the course is Module 1 $250.00: Module 2 $145.00: Module 3 no cost  Module 4 $300.00. Module 4 is the Certificate IV in Telephone Counselling. This fee covers a comprehensive set of notes and other printed material plus refreshments. Fees are to be paid at the office by cash, cheque or credit card - in person, by mail or over the phone. Module 1, 2 & 3 are essential to be an accredited Lifeline telephone counsellor.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

It is a requirement that you do not miss more than two sessions
The office must be notified by 5pm if you are unable to attend.                   (Ph 9949 5522).
All Saturday sessions are compulsory components of the course

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

By the third week, we need you to have completed:

  1. at least one substantial page about how you developed as a person.You should include things like your family and other relationships, your education and work and any traumatic experiences that have shaped your life
  2. brief comment on your impression of the work of Lifeline

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

  1. No previous counselling experience or qualifications are necessary
  2. Minimum age 20 years
  3. Participants should have the capacity and willingness to respond to all people in a non- judgemental and accepting manner
  4. Have the time available to commit to regular fortnightly shifts and a number of overnight shifts annually
  5. Agree to a background check

ABOUT THE COURSE

The course will focus on the basic skills you need to become a competent telephone Counsellor.
These include:

Along with these skills, you will learn the theory behind the non-directive form of counselling used at Lifeline and how it differs from other forms of counselling. Informal lectures, group work and role-plays in the form of simulated counselling calls will be the main methods of learning. The latter part of the course focuses on some of the issues, which we regularly deal with on the Lifeline phones. These include suicide, mental health, sexual callers, regular callers, angry callers as well as grief and loss.

Because Lifeline deals with many personal aspects of people’s lives, we ask at the beginning of the course that you sign a Declaration of Confidentiality. This states that you will hold inconfidence all information obtained throughout the duration of the course.

SIT INS:

Those who successfully complete the course and wish to continue to become Telephone Counsellors will proceed to “sit-ins”. On these shifts you will familiarise yourself with the phone room procedures. At completion of sit-ins you will be asked to make a twelve-month commitment requiring a minimum of 50 hours counselling including 4 overnight shifts. (exemption from these is only permitted on medical grounds)and attendance at some in-service training.

ASSESSMENT

There are three forms of assessment during the course:

  1. participation in group work
  2. simulated counselling calls
  3. course attendance

The training team will consider your performance on each of these in order to decide your suitability for telephone counselling. Feedback will be given throughout the course.

Course topics

About Lifeline & Getting Acquainted
Communication Skills/Communication in Counselling
The Counsellor's Values
Sensitivity/Introduction to Counselling
Self Esteem/Self Awareness
Counselling Skills and Practice I, II, and III
The Sexual Caller/Practice skills
Addictions/Practice Skills
Mental Health Issues I, II/Practice Skills
Grief & Loss/Practice Skills
The Angry Caller/Practice Skills
The Recurrent Caller/Practice Skills
Suicide Intervention
Practice Skills (2 sessions)
Followed by interviews, then 4 other sessions for those selected to become Telephone Counsellors.
Phone us on 99495522 to enrol.

If you want to help Lifeline but feel the telephone counselling course is not for you there are other areas where help is always needed.  These services provide the funds to operate the telephone counselling service. 

Volunteer in one of our Op shops or warehouse

Our volunteers work with donated goods. Sorting, pricing, selling, tidying as part of a team, with a co-ordinator to orient and support you. We also have volunteers helping as truck off-siders, handymen mending, painting etc and retired electricians checking goods. Contact the office on 99495522.

Become a volunteer visitor with one of our services for older people

Our Community Visitors (CVS), visit the lonely in nursing homes. The co-ordinator, Helen Pook interviews new volunteers and matches them to a person in a nursing home. Helen is there for orientation and support and there is a monthly morning meeting with the other CVS volunteers

Our Senior Volunteer Service (SVS) visit the housebound, and are supported by their Co-ordinator, Honore Troy. Honore matches the new volunteer to the housebound person, and they also have a monthly meeting to enable the volunteers to get together, for support and learning.
Donate your unwanted, saleable goods, or become a financial donor (see Donations )

Become a book fair volunteer

Book volunteers sort and price books throughout the year in preparation for the bookfairs held 4 times a year in March, June, September and December.

Visit our shops and Warehouse for your bargains and to help us financially (see Business Services )

For more information please:
Phone: 02 9949 5522
Email: lifelinenb.org.au