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Are you looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity? Help save lives by becoming a volunteer
Lifeline Crisis Supporter. We will train you! Lifeline's national Crisis Support Line (13 11 14) and Lifeline's national Text and Chat Crisis Support Service (0477 131 114) receive approximately 3,750 requests for help a day, every day of the year. That's almost 1.4 million requests for help each year.
The service provides 24-hour confidential support for anyone in crisis, or those supporting someone experiencing crisis. People from all backgrounds contact us about all kinds of life problems. Whatever their crisis, we are there for those needing our support. The types of crises include loneliness, suicide, homelessness, domestic violence, financial hardship, family breakdown, assault and grief.
Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury Sydney (H2HS) is currently recruiting for the next intake of Volunteer Telephone Crisis Supporters (TCS) who will begin training in February 2025. After completing the Lifeline training, volunteer Crisis Supporters (TCS’s) undertake one 4-hour fortnightly shift at our telephone centre at Gordon, answering calls, listening to a caller’s situation and providing support.
Most young people use their phones for texting and social media, they seldom use a phone for talking and may not be comfortable talking to a stranger over the phone. Typically, the younger generation find it much more comfortable to access help utilising text or online chat.
The Text and Chat Crisis Support Service allows our help seekers to reach out via text or an online chat function to seek support. For some it is hard to talk on the phone and for others it is impossible to speak when their safety may be threatened e.g domestic violence situations. Volunteer Digital Crisis Supporters (DCS), after completing the Lifeline online training course, commit to volunteering for two 4-hour sessions per month from their homes – with recruitment opportunities all year round. Both Telephone and Digital Crisis Supporters provide skilled support, assist in clarifying options, facilitate safety plans if needed, and provide referral information for other services in the help seeker’s local area if appropriate.
Lifeline H2HS are looking for people who have compassion, empathy, respect, self-awareness, time, good listening skills as well as computer literacy for this important volunteer community service.
Volunteers give time, energy and expertise to work towards the Lifeline vision of an ‘Australia free of suicide’. Individuals must be over the age of 18 and be an Australian or New Zealand citizen/resident. Volunteers do not need to have any prior experience to volunteer, as all training is provided.
As a Crisis Supporter, you will be there for someone in their moment of need and could help to make a real difference to their future. Lifeline H2HS exists so that no person has to face their darkest moments alone and we are truly grateful for each and every volunteer who takes on this critical role.
Lifeline Crisis Supporters are part of our amazing volunteer team of generous, caring and like-minded people, all with a common goal of wanting to help those who are struggling and in need of support within our community. Lifeline H2HS provides a friendly, nurturing and supportive environment, in which many volunteers make lifelong friendships.
Here are some words from our Lifeline Crisis Supporters:
"The training was fantastic! It has changed my life and has taught me many new skills to use, not only with our callers but in everyday situations. I look forward to my fortnightly shift knowing that I can make a difference to someone's life." “I was looking for a way to volunteer but my uni schedule is really full on, I wasn’t sure I’d have the time. I love the flexibility I get from Lifeline’s text volunteer program, and the feeling that I am giving back to the community."
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