Volunteering for Lifeline is an opportunity to make a difference in communities all around Australia. Lifeline’s dedicated volunteers are the backbone of our organisation, and they work tirelessly to provide support 24/7. Our volunteers give their time, energy and expertise to help us achieve our vision of an ‘Australia Free of Suicide’.
Here are some of the benefits of working for Lifeline as a Crisis Supporter:
Belonging to the Lifeline community
Giving back to community
Making a difference
Meeting new people
New experiences
Learning new skills or enhancing existing skills
Practical experience in the field of crisis support and referral work
Personal and professional growth and development
Register your interest in becoming a crisis support worker here
How do I become a volunteer crisis supporter?
Once accepted into the program, you will complete extensive training to become an accredited Crisis Supporter. Extensive training is provided to all our Crisis Supporters through Lifeline’s Crisis Support Workplace Training (CSWT).
This training equips you with the skills and knowledge to provide short-term one-off support to people in crisis when they contact Lifeline and increase their safety when thoughts of suicide are present, including providing pathways to further care and support as necessary.
Do I need training to become a 13 11 14 telephone Volunteer Crisis Supporter?
Yes. To become a telephone Volunteer Crisis Supporter for Lifeline, you'll need to undertake extensive training, commit to shifts, and meet further selection criteria.
Our training ensures you'll be confident, skilled, and able to support Lifeline's callers in times of emotional distress and crisis.
For more information, you can read the Pre-enrolment Course Information Booklet.
Do I need counselling or mental health-related qualifications to volunteer at Lifeline?
No previous training or counselling experience is required – just the desire to help others and to give back to your community.
The training provided to our Volunteer Crisis Supporters will ensure you are qualified to offer a high standard of crisis support that keeps people safe.
Is there a cost to the training to become a Crisis Supporter?
Yes, the cost of providing training across the three stages of the Crisis Support Worker training is high. However, we recognise the value of the time commitment volunteers provide to Lifeline and to help seekers, and we provide the training at a substantially subsidised cost. The subsidised training will only cost you $550 and includes a $175 non-refundable deposit to secure your place. All of the cost details are outlined in the Pre-enrolment course information booklet
How long do I have to commit to volunteering?
We find most people who volunteer with Lifeline as Volunteer Crisis Supporters find it very rewarding, knowing they are contributing to saving lives. Most of our volunteers have contributed to the Lifeline community for years. We ask our Volunteer Crisis Supporters to commit to a minimum of 4 hours per fortnight and a two-year commitment due to the reduced cost of training.
Do I need a police clearance to be a Crisis Supporter?
Yes, all volunteer roles require a National Police History Check (through our provider).
Do I need to be vaccinated to be a Crisis Supporter at Lifeline?
Yes, as mandated by NSW Health & Health VIC, to be a Crisis Support Worker:
In New South Wales, you need to be double vaccinated and;
In Victoria, you will need to be triple vaccinated
Find out more about being a Crisis Support Volunteer in our blog series:
Volunteering with Lifeline as a Crisis Supporter - An Introduction