People interested in enhancing their own self-awareness; personal and professional growth through their genuine care for people are invited to train as telephone crisis supporters.

Lifeline Mid Coast provides care and support to callers in their time of personal crisis. Volunteers are people with a strong sense of self awareness and the ability to express empathy and respect for others without judgement.

Training to become a volunteer telephone crisis supporter is both challenging and rewarding and carries with it many benefits which include obtaining a nationally recognised qualification and providing an essential service for the community.

Volunteers are well prepared to go on the phones and well supported during and following each shift.

Lifeline Mid Coast answered 17,430 calls this year – an increase of 1,074 since 2016 – and provided 100 interventions for imminent suicides (suicides in progress).

Lifeline has 85 telephone crisis supporters who have the opportunity to access world’s best training practice in suicide intervention.

Lifeline Mid Coast is hosting an information session on January 16 at Westport Bowling Club at 6pm.

Head trainer Di Bannister is inviting any interested members of the public to attend.

“We would like people interested in volunteering to come and speak to a trained telephone crisis supporter and see if it’s for them,” she said.

“It will be a place to share information and see what Lifeline Mid Coast offers and how together we build resilient communities – come along and see how we do that.”

Lifeline Mid Coast commences the training in February. Interested people should contact Maria 6581 2800 or email admin@lifelinemidcoast.org.au.