Building a more resilient, suicide-free community. Annual Report 2016—2017 With thanks to our sponsors Lifeline Canberra Incorporated ABN 14 207 094 003 www.act.lifeline.org.au 02 6171 6300 GPO Box 583 Level 1, 71 Northbourne Avenue Canberra ACT 2601 Cover photo by Jeslyn Chanchaleune on Unsplash, 2017 Contents Our story 2 What drives us 4 Our achievements 5 Our Board of Directors 7 President’s message 10 CEO’s message 12 Our progress 14 Our outlook for 2017–18 16 Our supporters 17 A message from our crisis support team 18 A message from our training team 22 Our courses 25 A message from our engagement team 26 A message from our ambassadors 28 Our events 30 Our volunteers 37 A message from our Treasurer 43 Financial Report 45 Our story Lifeline Canberra exists to support people in crisis and save the lives of those experiencing thoughts of suicide. For over 46 years, Lifeline Canberra has provided the Canberra community with 24/7 crisis support via our local 13 11 14 service. Lifeline Canberra telephone crisis supporters are passionate and highly skilled volunteers who listen with care and acceptance, whatever the circumstance, and provide support and information to people in need. Through our community events and our engagement with the local and federal governments, as well as corporate and community organisations, we also raise awareness of mental health support and suicide prevention. In our efforts, we provide a voice in the community and government discussions on crisis support and suicide prevention, including utilising international research and experience to influence policy and programs. Changing lives for the better. 2 Lifeline Canberra Annual Report 2016–2017 Our vision, purpose & core values Our vision is to be the first organisation people turn to when they seek crisis support. Our purpose is to support Australians in times of crisis and equip individuals to be resilient and suicide safe—changing lives for the better. We have a specific focus on supporting the Canberra community, and continue to support all other jurisdictions across Australia in times of need. Our core values are integrity, respect, compassion and professionalism. Integrity • We are transparent in an environment of confidentiality. • We focus on positive workplace behaviours, encouraging a healthy work-life balance. • We seek opportunities to learn, grow and improve. Respect • We respect different opinions and strive to learn from our mistakes. • We work collaboratively and acknowledge individual contributions and efforts. • We recognise and value diversity. Compassion • We are inclusive of others. • Communicating openly, we show compassion for each other and recognise the contribution of paid and unpaid staff (volunteers). Professionalism • As our purpose is to support others, we work for client-focused outcomes. • We seek and provide feedback constructively. • We pride ourselves on being reliable and accountable. Lifeline Canberra Annual Report 2016–2017 3 What drives us Our number one priority at Lifeline Canberra is to be the first organisation the local community Whatturns todrives when they need us crisis . support. We have 275 volunteers working in our crisis support centre. WeWhat are here for drivesour community us every . minute . of the day. Our volunteers are the backbone of Lifeline Canberra; whether it is on the end of a phone, at our Bookfairs, or helping at our annual Fun Run, each and every volunteer works to our core values of integrity, respect, compassion and professionalism. 8 people die by suicide With the prevalence of suicide 8 people die by suicide With the prevalence of suicide each day in Australia. 8 peopleeach die day by insuicide Australia. rapidlyrapidly increasing, increasing, each each day day each day in Australia. awareness and demand for our awareness and demand for our Hello this is 3,027 Australians3,027 took Australians their own tooklife intheir 2015. own life in 2015. Hello this is life-savinglife-saving 13 1113 1411 14service service rises. rises. 2,866 Australians took their own life Lifeline,Lifeline, may may we we Suicide remains theSuicide leading remains cause the ofleading preventable cause of preventable in 2016. death for Australiansdeath aged for Australians 15 to 44. aged 15 to 44. helphelp you? you? Suicide remains the leading cause of preventable death EachEach day dayour ourtelephone telephone crisis crisis support support in AustraliansIn agedCanberra, 15 to 44. we lose on person to suicide each week. In Canberra, we lose on person to suicide each week. volunteersvolunteers speak speak with with almost almost 100 100 callers. callers. In Canberra,For every we death lose by suicide,one person it is estimated to suicide that as many each as 30week. people attempt For every death byto endsuicide, their lives.it is estimated That is approximately that as many 90,810 as 30 suicide people attempts attempt each year. to end their lives. That is approximately 90,810 suicide attempts each year. For every death by suicide, it is estimated that as many as 30 people attempt to end their lives. That is approximately 90,810 suicide attempts each year. 45 per cent45% ofof AustraliansAustralians will will experience mental illness in their lifetime. 45% of Australiansexperience will mental illness experienceApproximately mentalin their 1 in 5 Australianslifetime.illness will experience a 45% in theirmental lifetime. illness each year—that’s 20 per cent of us— yet this topic is still misunderstood and still stigmatised. Approximately 1 in 5 Australians will experience a 45% Mental mentalillness illness is the each main year - that's risk 20% factor of us for- yet suicide. this Approximately 1 topicin 5 Australiansis still misunderstood will experience and often a stigmatised. mental Eachillness day each our telephoneyear - that's crisis 20% support of us volunteers- yet this speak with approximately 100 callers. topic is still misunderstood and often stigmatised. Lifeline CanberraMental had illness a momentous is the year main with riskmany factorgoals achieved for suicide. and much support extended to our Canberra community. Mental illness is the main risk factor for suicide. 4 Lifeline Canberra Annual ReportData reflects 2016–2017 the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Catalogue 3303.0 Cause of Death Australia, 2015 Data reflects the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Catalogue 3303.0 Cause of Death Australia, 2015 6 Lifeline Canberra Annual Report 2015 - 2016 6 Lifeline Canberra Annual Report 2015 - 2016 OurOur achievementsachievements fromfrom thethe yearyear .. .. .. OurOur achievementsachievements fromfrom thethe yearyear .. .. .. Our achievements WeWe also also . 34,91134,911 4,2804,280 WeWe also also . .. .. 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