Crisis Supporter Volunteering

View video here

If you’re looking to give back to your community, perform a rewarding role and receive a recognised qualification, Lifeline Gippsland provides training required to become an accredited Telephone Crisis Supporter. Visit this page to find out more or contact Lifeline Gippsland for more information.

About the 13 11 14 Crisis Support line

The Lifeline telephone crisis support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Call the Lifeline phone number on 13 11 14 to get through to a trained volunteer.

The Lifeline phone service offers confidential crisis support and respects everyone’s right to be heard, understood, and cared for. We also provide information about other crisis support and support services available in the Gippsland community and around Australia.

Our volunteer crisis supporters are ready to talk and listen, no matter how big or small the problem might seem. They are experienced in telephone crisis support and trained to offer emotional support in times of crisis or when callers might be feeling down.

Why volunteer?

Every day Lifeline Gippsland’s Crisis Support volunteers answer calls to our 13 11 14 Crisis Support Line from people in crisis. By becoming a Crisis Supporter you can offer hope to people in their darkest moments and help us achieve our vision of an Australia free of suicide.

Volunteering to answer calls to our 13 11 14 Crisis Support Line gives you the opportunity to:

  • Develop your practical crisis support skills.
  • Experience personal growth and development.
  • Improve your communication skills.
  • Increase your self-awareness.
  • Give back to the community, make new connections and broaden your networks.
  • Pursue further career opportunities in this area.

Without volunteer crisis supporters, Lifeline Gippsland would not be able to provide its 13 11 14 service. The training that our telephone crisis support volunteers undertake delivers a wide range of benefits, including practical support skills, personal growth and development, improved communication and relationship skills, and can open up career opportunities. But most importantly, by training with Lifeline Gippsland, you would be volunteering to make a difference.

What does the training involve?

You will need to complete our nationally recognised Lifeline Crisis Supporter Training program to become a qualified Crisis Support volunteer. Volunteers learn telephone crisis support skills to cover a range of crisis situations, making the training program a rigorous one. The initial training takes about 70 hours. Trainees then become probationary telephone crisis supporters and receive ongoing training, group supervisions and workshops.

Lifeline Gippsland delivers the training on behalf of Lifeline Australia RTO 88036.

The Lifeline Crisis Supporter Workplace Training (CSWT) offers a nationally recognised qualification CHCSS00113 Crisis Support Skill Set which includes the following 3 units of competency:

    • CHCCCS003 Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide
    • CHCCCS019 Recognise and respond to crisis situations
    • CHCCCS028 Provide client-centred support to people in crisis

Do I need any qualifications to train as a volunteer telephone crisis supporter?

No, you don’t need any previous experience or qualifications to undertake the training. However, you will need to demonstrate that you have good communication and listening skills and a non-judgmental attitude.

You will also need to successfully pass a Police Check and a Working With Children Check.

Where is the training conducted?

The training is held in at the Lifeline Gippsland office in Morwell.  It is generally held after hours on an agreed weeknight.

Where will I complete my phone shifts?

Shifts will be completed at one of two Lifeline Gippsland phone rooms, located in Traralgon and Drouin.

Next steps to becoming a Crisis Supporter with Lifeline Gippsland

Download a copy of the Volunteer Application Form, Pre-Enrolment Course Information and Lifeline Australia RTO Compliance Manual or fill in your details below & we’ll send you a copy.  The course information provides an overview of the course structure and gives you an idea of the time commitment required to attain and maintain accreditation.

Call the Lifeline Gippsland office on 03 5136 3500 to find out about the next training intake.