Lifeline has received a critical injection of funding to sustain the organisation’s voice and digital services, says Lifeline Chief Executive Officer Colin Seery.
The $52.3 million Government investment is on top of the core annual funding of $15.5 million, which will help strengthen Lifeline in its role in suicide prevention.
“It is absolutely essential that we ensure our services have the resources they need to help all Australians who need us,” says Mr Seery. “In ensuring that, this contribution from the Morrison Government will save lives.”
“Calls to Lifeline reached historic highs during the peaks of the pandemic and continue to remain high compared to where we were two years ago,” says Mr Seery.
“But that doesn’t just mean that more people are finding themselves in crisis, it also means that more people are reaching out for and getting the help they need, when they need it, and that’s the crucial first step that can make all the difference.”
Lifeline’s focus is on “ensuring people have the support they need”, which Mr Seery says is why the organisation offers “around the clock crisis support via phone, text and webchat”.
“This funding means we can keep building on the help we offer, it means we can continue to be innovative, like with our rollout of remote working solutions so more people in more places around Australia can volunteer for Lifeline from their own home,” says Mr Seery.
