01 Oct 2018 Lifeline WA is planning an urgently needed expansion of its WA operations so that it can answer more of the tens of thousands of calls it receives every year. Currently, Lifeline WA has 178 telephone crisis support volunteers, and has set a bold target of reaching 288 volunteers in the next 18 months. To achieve the expansion, the not-for-profit is planning an intake of 40 volunteers in January next year. Lifeline WA is set to launch its Lights for Lifeline campaign on October 1st to raise funds for the expansion, with a goal of $160,000. Lifeline WA Chief Executive Officer Lorna MacGregor said it was seeking corporate donations of at least $4,000, which is the cost of training one telephone crisis support volunteer. “Our crisis support volunteers have to undergo more than 170 hours of training before they can become accredited,” she said. “They go through a rigorous process including e-learning, workshops, role-playing, supervised shifts and assessments. “Lifeline WA answered more calls for help in the last financial year, an increase of 11.3% on the previous year. “We want to be able to answer even more calls, and help more people, and the only way to do that is to have additional volunteers to answer the phones.” Ms MacGregor said new figures released by the ABS this week that showed 409 people died by suicide in WA in 2017, which highlighted the need to raise funds for the expansion. An important part of the Lights for Lifeline campaign is the installation of the Lifeline WA Christmas tree, which will be put up in Yagan Square early November. It will be lit with more than 46,000 lights to symbolise the number of West Australians who called Lifeline’s telephone crisis support service in 2016/17. Oil and Gas company Quadrant Energy is a strong supporter of Lifeline WA and their Lights for Lifeline campaign.. Quadrant CEO Brett Darley said Lifeline provided an invaluable service that was available to anyone, anytime of day, no matter where they lived. “We are very proud to be associated with Lifeline WA and to help them expand their services across the state. Community TAB is supporting the campaign for the fifth year, and Racing and Wagering WA Chairman Jeff Ovens said the organisation was pleased to continue such a successful affiliation. “We firmly believe that Lifeline WA provides an essential service to the community in their hour of need,” he said. “We are very proud of the fact that our support over the years has gone towards training more than 55 volunteers, and that the money we donate this year will help Lifeline WA achieve its expansion plans.” All of Lifeline WA’s corporate donors will be recognised at the Christmas tree in Yagan square. Back To News Stories