The kindness of people like you makes sure Crisis Supporters like Marguerite are there for Queenslanders in their darkest moments. Through grief, depression, and thoughts of suicide, they are the ones who listen and help people find hope.
Marguerite first joined Lifeline as a volunteer Crisis Supporter in 2008. She was completing a Master’s in Guidance and Counselling and wanted some practical experience to support her studies.
Like every new Crisis Supporter, she underwent hours of rigorous training to prepare her for her first call.
“The practical training and experience that I got at Lifeline was equal to the theoretical experience I was getting through my master’s,” she recalls.
When she finished her training and started on the phones, Marguerite remembers being amazed at the courage and strength of people who reached out for help.
“There were always difficult stories but I was just in awe of the resources that people have despite what’s going on in their lives,” she says.
“I’m not a rescuer, I don’t have any special knowledge or power to solve people’s problems. My training taught me that my role is to walk beside people and provide them the connection they need in that moment of crisis.”
Your kind donations help:
- Fund the training staff and resources for each trainee’s initial three months of face-to-face and online training.
- Equip trainers and student mentors with the skills to supervise trainees during their two months of student placement in a Crisis Support Centre.
- Provide the ongoing training, supervision and assessment for each trainee to complete an 80-hour internship as the final stage of their training.
- Fund ongoing coaching and supervision to ensure every Crisis Supporter gets the support they need through every life-saving shift.
It is essential, life-saving work that can be difficult and confronting. Without the right training and support, there is a very real risk that they can carry the burden of calls, long after their shift has ended. And every new Crisis Supporter requires 170 hours of initial training and ongoing supervision and support for every shift.
We simply can’t do it without your help. Thank you for making sure our Crisis Support Centres are fully equipped and ready to save lives – 24/7.
