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New 24/7 Indigenous suicide prevention and crisis support helpline

Published 02 February 2022

A new 24/7 Crisis Support Line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is seeking registrations and expressions of interest from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services to list as referral pathways for Lifeline Australia’s new services finder directory.

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Lifeline Australia are currently seeking services interested in registering with their helpline prior to going live on Thursday 24 February 2022. The current service finder will be updated in March this year and will provide a clear referral pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people seeking services. The service finder directory will assist Crisis Support Operators to send relevant services contact information and service delivery details to a person requesting assistance.

This will be a culturally safe and appropriate service. Lifeline Australia are currently training Crisis Supporter Operators (CSO) who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as well as, having both cultural and mental health supports for CSO’s utilising team leaders, In Shift Support (ISS), and mentors to provide additional support during shifts.

The crisis helpline has been co-designed with a number of mental health professionals through Institutes such as NACCHO, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia, Black Dog Institute Aboriginal Lived Experience Team as well as, The Centre for Excellence in Suicide Prevention and more.

This service has been developed and delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander People of all ages for crisis support. This new line is supported by Lifeline Australia and Gayaa Dhuwi (Strong spirit). The areas included in the soft launch will be only:

New South Wales

  • Nowra
  • Dubbo

Queensland

  • Cairns
  • Townsville
  • Bundaberg
  • Ipswich

These areas will be used to monitor, assess, and improve this service prior to further national expansion in mid-2022.

To register expression of interest to be added to the service and added to service finder directory click here.

Last updated: 15 March 2022