Lifeline Crisis Support available 24-hours during flood hardship and anxiety

Lifeline Crisis Support workers are on the ground throughout South West Queensland to provide immediate emotional support to people affected by the flood and to encourage those who are struggling to seek support.

Lifeline Crisis Support workers were at the RNA Showgrounds on Sunday February 5 to support those who flew in from the flooded evacuation centre in St George. Individuals and families will be housed at the showgrounds until it is safe to return to their homes.

“The St George community have experienced many floods. However this is the first time evacuees have had to leave the town all together,” Lifeline Community Recovery Coordinator Chris Lancaster said.

“The general anxiety of having to evacuate your home is increased when you have to evacuate your town – some support structures are broken and additional support may be required.

“This is the third year in a row that St George has flooded and although the St George community are resilient, three consecutive years of flooding is straining, exhausting and, for some, traumatising,” Mr Lancaster said.

“In these extraordinary circumstances, lives are turned upside down and people who aren’t used to asking for help may need additional support. We want to ensure that support is freely and easily accessible,” he said.

Lifeline Crisis Support workers are also stationed at the evacuation centres in Toowoomba and Dalby and are expecting up to 500 additional evacuees from St George today.

Lifeline is also providing support in Charleville and Mitchell.

“Lifeline Crisis Support workers are available throughout the state at evacuation and community recovery centres to talk to people affected by the floods,” Mr Lancaster said.

Lifeline Crisis Support workers are also available at the Mitchell and Roma evacuation centres, located at the local RSL halls and are providing support to the family of Jane Sheahan in Roma who tragically died in floodwaters.

“We encourage all those experiencing hardship from the floods – no matter their location – to get in contact with a Lifeline Crisis Support Worker through their local evacuation or community recovery centre or to call the Crisis Support line 13 11 14,” he said.

“During this time, emotions that such as fear, irritability and helplessness are normal.

“People may also feel withdrawn, confused, nervous, frustrated, angry and tired.
 
“If you feel you’re finding it difficult to cope and are unsure of what the future may bring, please reach out and share your feelings with family, friends or those in helping professions,” Mr Lancaster said.

Lifeline is encouraging those who are affected by the floods to:

• Share your feelings when you are ready
• Try to keep the rest of your life as normal as possible
• Accept support of people who care
• Take the time to be with your close family and friends
• Express your needs clearly and honestly to family, friends and those in helping professions.
• Look after yourself – eat well, sleep and take time out
• Let your children talk to you and others about their emotions
• Call Lifeline if necessary – a Lifeline Telephone Counsellor is available 24 hours a day – 13 11 14

Lifeline's Community Recovery program is committed to providing immediate to long-term support to those affected by disasters. Find out more about Lifeline's Community Recovery program.

The Brisbane Lifeline Bookfest raises $900,000 for community services

Our biggest fundraiser event, the Lifeline Bookfest closed it's doors on January 22 and after nine days of trading we're proud to announce we raised $900,000.

Funds raised from the Lifeline Bookfest support Lifeline’s 24-hour Crisis Support line, suicide prevention and bereavement programs and other community services in Brisbane and broadly throughout Queensland. Read more at www.lifelinebookfest.com.

Annual Report 2010-2011 now available

This year our work at UnitingCare Community was emcompassed into the UnitingCare Queensland Annual Report. This format provides a great snapshot of not only the work we do here in our organisation through UnitingCare Community and Lifeline services, but also how the work we do fits into the broader group of UnitingCare Queensland services. To view our 2010-2011 annual report please visit our resources and publications page.

Lifeline Community Care has changed its name to UnitingCare Community

Lifeline Community Care Queensland is changing its name to UnitingCare Community from August 15. However, our services that align with Lifeline’s national focus of suicide prevention will not change. They will stay as Lifeline services; services such as telephone counselling – the 24 hr Crisis Line, 13 11 14; our suicide bereavement services; and our suicide prevention programs will still stay the same, with the same people continuing to support those who need some help. Our Lifeline Shops will also continue to operate under the Lifeline name to support these and other UnitingCare Community programs.

It is our other services such as the work we do with families and children; refugees; foster carers; people with a disability or those affected by domestic violence, to name a few, which will move to UnitingCare Community.

We are not changing ownership; since 2002 Lifeline Community Care Queensland has been part of UnitingCare Queensland – the health and community services provider of the Uniting Church. As part of the UnitingCare Queensland service network, we share the values of compassion, justice, respect, leading through learning and working together. It is these values that form the basis of our work and guide us in how we work with our clients and their families and carers and all our stakeholders.

The name change will simply better reflect who we are as an organisation. Lifeline Community Care has developed a reputation for delivering professional and compassionate services to Queensland communities and we look forward to continue to grow and develop our services as UnitingCare Community to better meet the needs of the people we work with every day across the state.

If you would like more information about our name change or would like to meet up to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to stay in touch with your usual contact or send an email to rebranding [at] uccommunity [dot] org [dot] au.

UnitingCare Community (formerly Lifeline Community Care) launches indigenous-design shirt

UnitingCare Community is committed to closing the gap in life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We value the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our organisation and endeavour to create a future that is just, equitable and diverse.

Through our Reconciliation Action Plan we will build on the work of NAIDOC to bring about a culture of sensitivity in our organisation and better accessibility of our programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the state.

The indigenous-design shirt was developed as part of our state-wide NAIDOC Week activities. They are available for sale and the profits made will help fund our NAIDOC Week activities into the future. You can buy one right now from our online store. 

Update your listing in the Lifeline Queensland Community Directory

If you are a community services organisation based in Queensland, it's now time to add or update your listing in the Lifeline Queensland Community Directory in time for the next printing of the BIG BLUE BOOK. To list in, update or search the directory visit www.bigbluebook.com.au. Spread the word!

Donate your gold and make a difference!

UnitingCare Community has teamed up with Australia’s leading buyers of gold, The Gold Company, to offer a highly unique initiative that will allow Australians to donate the value of their unwanted gold items and broken jewellery to Lifeline.

The initiative, GoldforGood, allows Australians to donate their unwanted gold to UnitingCare Community. Instead of the traditional gold coin donation, why not donate a gold chain?

GoldforGood brings a whole new meaning to the value of gold that is not just measurable per ounce, but as a genuine positive change towards another person’s life.

Discover now how you can donate your gold and make a difference to your community.