Lifeline Direct (LLD) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lifeline Australia, delivering the suite of Lifeline’s services across six geographical regions in both NSW and Victoria. LLD works as a collaborative of local Lifeline Centres sharing administrative and other support services, which not only delivers efficiency in administration, but enables the Centres to work together in areas that were not previously possible. This, all while maintaining a sense of ‘localness’ to operate and serve local communities. LLD encompasses the Hunter Region, Central Coast, New England, Northern NSW, Geelong and South West Victoria.
- An opportunity to use your skills in mental health
- Support people in their time of need
- Work with one of Australia’s most trusted organisations
About the Position
The 13 11 14 Telephone Crisis Support service offers support to people in crisis and emotional distress.
We have the opportunity available to be fully trained as a Crisis Supporter. These positions are available ONLY for our night time service. Shifts are 4 + hours and are completed between the hours of 10pm to 7am.
Located on-site in our Newcastle call centre, you will play an integral role in keeping callers safe by assessing suicide risk and situations of distress and intervening and assisting accordingly. Our Crisis Supporters are pivotal in being the first point of contact for people seeking help and immediate relief from emotional distress.
While Lifeline Direct’s service is built on the back of our amazing Volunteers, we are seeking applications for multiple paid roles.
About you
You are a passionate, empathetic and open-minded person. You may have a background in social work, counselling or equivalent and possible experience in suicide intervention. Your strong communication skills along with your ability to work with a diverse range of people, families and carers, will be an asset for the role. You are driven to make a difference in people’s lives whilst supporting at-risk people to stay safe, you yourself may have lived experience.
What the position requires
• Ideally you will have previous work experience in supporting people through a personal crisis – this may be (but not limited to) through mental health nursing, counselling, social work or psychology background.
• Willing to undertake training and practice in, the Lifeline Telephone Crisis Supporter CARE Practice Model of crisis support.
• Sound computing skills including the ability to record call data during calls.
• Strong verbal and written English communication skills.
• Crisis intervention skills.
• An ability to express empathy and respect for others.
• A strong sense of self-awareness and willingness to personally develop through both individual and group supervision.
• A willingness to accept feedback and to respond reflectively.
• A capacity to understand and help others while maintaining clear boundaries of responsibility.
• Flexibility and openness to change and diversity.
• Emotional resilience/sound mental health.
• Enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
• Ability to assert oneself and willingness to speak up.
• An ability to work effectively with other team members, Centre management and National Office staff as required.
Training Dates – commence January 2023;
A commitment to all training dates is a requirement to successfully become a Crisis Supporter. The cost of training is included and your hours for training are paid. The training is conducted via Zoom and will be commencing in January 2023.
Additional eLearning is required to be successfully completed as allocated between these dates. Final observation shifts of 4 hours are required to apply the skills you have learnt in training
In return we will offer
• Salary packaging benefits at the highest not-for-profit amount means you pay less tax!
• Knowledge that you will be part of a team helping to make a difference to your community.
Sound interesting……..we would love to hear from you!
Candidates wishing to apply for this position should provide a current resume and cover letter outlining their ability to meet the position requirements.
The successful candidates may be required to satisfactorily provide a Working with Children’s Check and agree to a National Criminal History Record Check.
Applications Close Friday 16 December 2022