Lifeline (crisis support service) facts for kids
 |
|
| Founded | 16 March 1963 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Reverend Dr Sir Alan Walker |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Registration no. | 84081031263 |
| Legal status | Charity |
| Focus | Mental health |
| Location |
|
|
Region served
|
Australia |
| Product | Telephone and online crisis support |
|
Members
|
17 |
| Owner | Wesley Mission |
|
Key people
|
CEO: Colin Seery Chairperson: Jacinta Munro |
| Subsidiaries | Lifeline Direct |
|
Revenue (2024)
|
$116,078,706 |
| Expenses (2024) | $114,647,217 |
|
Employees
|
256 |
|
Volunteers
|
10,000 |
Lifeline is a charity in Australia that offers a free, 24-hour phone service for anyone who needs emotional support. It helps people who are feeling sad, worried, or are going through a very difficult time.
Trained volunteers, called "crisis supporters," are there to listen and help. They offer support over the phone, online, and sometimes in person. Anyone in Australia can call the service for free by dialing 13 11 14.
The service is run by a network of Lifeline Centres all across the country. These centers are operated by trained volunteers and some paid staff. As of 2022, there were 41 Lifeline Centres in 60 different locations, covering every state and territory in Australia.
Contents
How Lifeline Began
Lifeline was started in Sydney in 1963 by a man named Reverend Alan Walker. He was inspired to create the service after a sad event. A man who was feeling very lonely and distressed called him for help. Three days later, the man took his own life.
Reverend Walker was determined to prevent this from happening to others. He wanted to create a place where people could call for help whenever they felt lonely or anxious. He launched a crisis phone line from the Methodist Central Mission, which is now known as Wesley Mission.
It took two years of planning to get Lifeline started. A group of 150 people completed a nine-month training course to become the first crisis supporters. An old building in Sydney was fixed up to become the first Lifeline Centre.
The service officially opened in March 1963 and was an instant success. On its very first day, the volunteers answered over 100 calls for help.
Growth and New Technology
News about Lifeline spread quickly. In 1964, an article in the American magazine Time helped similar services start in other countries around the world.
In 1994, Lifeline made it easier for people to call by creating a single national phone number: 13 11 14. This meant anyone in Australia could use the same number to get help.
In 2007, Lifeline upgraded its technology. This allowed calls to be sent to the next available volunteer anywhere in the country. This meant people could get help faster, no matter where they were calling from.
More recently, in 2018, Lifeline launched Australia's first crisis support service using text messages. This gave people another way to reach out for help.
How Many People Use Lifeline?
Lifeline is a very busy service. It receives about one million requests for help every year. During the 2023–2024 financial year, Lifeline answered over one million calls and more than 127,000 online chat requests.
The service saw a huge increase in calls during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, Lifeline received about 2,400 calls a day. During the pandemic, this number often jumped to 3,400 calls a day. August 2021 was the busiest month in Lifeline's history.
How Lifeline Is Funded
As a charity, Lifeline relies on donations and support from the community. It also runs over 250 retail stores across Australia. These shops sell second-hand clothes, furniture, and other items to raise money for the service.
Most of the money Lifeline receives comes from government grants and fundraising. This money is used to run the support services, pay for staff, and cover administrative costs.
Is Calling Lifeline Private?
When someone calls Lifeline, they do not have to give their name. The service is anonymous, which means callers can keep their identity private.
However, Lifeline's main goal is to keep people safe. If a volunteer believes a caller is in immediate danger of harming themselves, they may contact emergency services like the police or an ambulance to help. This is only done in very serious situations to protect the person's life.
See also
- Crisis hotline
- Beyond Blue
- Kids Helpline
