Lifeline WA is one of three essential Western Australian community organisations to receive part of the $9.1 million in funding from WA resources companies, as part of the COVID-19 Community Support Initiative set up by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.
Lifeline WA’s crisis support workers are always available to assist the community.
Lifeline WA provides a wide range of vital services for the Western Australian community, including phone and online crisis support, suicide prevention initiatives and face-to-face counselling programs.
Lifeline WA recorded its highest ever call volume in March 2020, and midway through April are already expecting this will be surpassed again. They have also recorded a substantial 25% increase in calls since the announcement of the pandemic, with 39% of calls focusing on COVID-19 - this equates to more than three times the calls received about the bush fire emergencies for the entire summer.
CEO Lorna Macgregor advised that Lifeline WA’s current dedicated team of Telephone Crisis Support Volunteers have largely increased their volunteer hours to deal with the increased call levels, however this will not be sustainable long-term.
She said Lifeline WA is using the funds donated by WA resources companies to adapt the traditional classroom training model to a digital platform.
“Each Telephone Crisis Support Volunteer undergoes a minimum of 170 hours of training in year 1 to ensure the best care is available for help-seekers. This training is nationally accredited and evidence-based, drawing on 50 years of Australian and international research on crisis intervention techniques.
“It is vital that we maintain this level of rigour when we move the training to a digital platform. With the current cohort halfway through their training, we hope that we can accredit them as quickly but safely as possible to support our fantastic existing Telephone Crisis Support Volunteers,” Ms Macgregor explained.
The funding has also been used to develop a remote business continuity planning system that will allow current Crisis Support Volunteers to work from home if Western Australia goes into complete lockdown.
In addition, the funding has been used to support Lifeline WA’s current Telephone Crisis Supporters with their own well-being, whether working from home or from the call centre. Lifeline WA has recruited Well-being Coordinators to follow up and support Telephone Crisis Supporters who have taken difficult calls or may feel impacted by the work that they do.
“Our Well-being Coordinators have worked as Crisis Support Volunteers before, so understand the nature of the calls that our volunteers are taking. They provide an outreach when volunteers finish their shift and go home and provide useful safe online forums and training around self-care, wellbeing, working from home and information around COVID-19,” Ms Macgregor advised.
Lifeline WA’s services are becoming increasingly more essential to regional communities, where the closure of already limited local and government services have had a profound effect on those experiencing crisis and mental health concerns. The COVID-19 Community Support Initiative, supported by Gold Industry Group members AngloGold Ashanti Australia, Gold Fields, Gold Road Resources, Newcrest Mining, Newmont Australia, Ramelius Resources, Regis Resources and Saracen Mineral Holdings, has ensured that no Western Australian is alone during this pandemic and will have ultimately saved lives.
Lifeline WA will ensure that the 13 11 14 service is available to all Western Australians throughout the course of COVID-19 and are working hard to ensure they are prepared for anything the future might hold.
Get more advice and guidance on methods to cope through COVID-19 by visiting Lifeline WA’s website or following them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
SEEKING HELP
If you or someone you know is experiencing a personal crisis, know that Lifeline is always available. Their confidential telephone support service is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Call 000 (Emergency Services) if a life is in danger
Call Lifeline anytime on 13 11 14
Chat to Lifeline online, available 7 days a week from 7pm to 4am (AEST)
Find out how Australia’s gold industry is protecting its workers, their families and the wider public during the COVID-19 pandemic.