Hands Up! Volunteer Newsletter
If you are a current UnitingCare Community or Lifeline volunteer and do not receive our volunteer newsletter, please email your details to talkingtogether [at] uccommunity [dot] org [dot] au. 
 

Did you know that more than 5 million Australians volunteer in their community every year? More than 4,500 of these volunteer with UnitingCare Community.

We have many volunteering opportunities for people who want to help make a positive difference to their local community. You can help by:

• Volunteering at a Lifeline retail store,
• Becoming a volunteer Telephone Counsellor, or
• Volunteering at Lifeline events.

By becoming a volunteer, you will develop unique skills that will help you in everyday life as well as meet new people and form new friendships.

For more information or to express your interest in becoming a volunteer, please email volunteer [at] lccq [dot] org [dot] au (Lifeline's Volunteer Management team).

Volunteering at a Lifeline retail store

Our Stores
Lifeline has over 150 shops in Queensland with each store providing the community with quality products including clothing, toys, appliances and furniture at an affordable price. All proceeds go towards the continued support of Lifeline’s 24-hour Crisis Counselling Line, free face-to-face counselling services, and support programs for children and families.

What we need
UnitingCare Community needs volunteers to help provide assistance at each retail store. To become a retail volunteer, we require a commitment of four hours of your time per week to ensure consistent rostering and smooth operation of your chosen store.

What's in it for you?
Becoming a volunteer at a Lifeline Shop offers you a chance to:

• Make a difference in the community
• Meet new people
• Gain experience in the retail industry
• Use your current knowledge and skills
• Have lots of fun!

Visit the Lifeline Shops page for more information about our stores as well as to find your nearest shop.

Telephone counselling volunteers

Who are we looking for?
Lifeline is looking for people from all walks of life who are prepared to:

• Undertake our training
• Fulfil shifts on a regular fortnightly basis
• Make a two year commitment to Lifeline as a volunteer
• Work within the vision and values of Lifeline
• Work with callers and their issues from a non judgmental position within the Lifeline counselling framework

Training
While the training offered to telephone counsellors is challenging in terms of time commitment and willingness to work openly and respectully in large and small groups, it is also very rewarding.

Lifeline is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and offers a course developed in line with accredited standards, including practical components which involve supervised telephone counselling shifts and support.

Given the diverse nature of our calls, telephone counsellors are expected to commit not only to the basic training but also to regular shift work, ongoing supervision and professional development.

Information sessions
Information sessions are held prior to the commencement of counselling training courses. For information on session times, course dates, costs or any other enquiries please contact your nearest Lifeline Centre.

Volunteering at Lifeline events

Lifeline Bookfests
Though its origins date back some 20 years ago in Brisbane, there are now several Lifeline Bookfests held throughout Queensland every year, needing hundreds of volunteers annually to help make each event a success. Below is a list of dates and contact numbers for each location:

• Brisbane - held in January and June each year. It is usually held around the Australia Day weekend in January, and the Queen’s Birthday weekend in June. To volunteer at this event, call 07 3250 1900.
• Bundaberg - held in late March. To volunteer at this event, call 07 4153 8400.
• Gold Coast - held in early July. To volunteer at this event, call 07 5510 4503.
• Ipswich - held every August. To volunteer at this event, call 07 3816 9633.
• Mackay - held late in April. To volunteer at this event, call 07 4944 2314.
• Rockhampton - held late in May. To volunteer at this event, call 07 4922 7035.
• Sunshine Coast (Caboolture) - held in September. To volunteer at this event, call 07 5443 5366.
• Sunshine Coast (Gympie) - held around April/May. To volunteer at this event, call 07 5443 5366.
• Toowoomba - held in the first weekend of March. To volunteer at this event, call 07 4699 1600.
• Warwick - held in the first weekend in September. To volunteer at this event, call 07 4699 1600.

Christmas Gift Wrap
Christmas is all about giving and what better way to get into the spirit than by lending a hand to raise money that will support the continuation of Lifeline’s services.

Each year, volunteers join in the Christmas festivities by donating their time to wrap presents and raise much needed funds for Lifeline’s counselling services and support programs.

The Christmas Gift Wrap will be held in the month leading up to Christmas at various shopping centres throughout Queensland. To get involved and/or to find out which shopping centre is participating in the Lifeline Christmas Gift Wrap in your area, contact your local Lifeline Centre. Some Lifeline Centres also organise Mother's Day and Father's Day gift wrap activities, so be sure to enquire about these, too.

Other events
Each Lifeline Centre hosts additional events in their local area that require volunteers (e.g. clothing sales, concerts, family fun days etc.). Please visit our Events page for regular updates on other volunteering opportunities or contact volunteer [at] lccq [dot] org [dot] au (Lifeline's Volunteer Management team) to be included in our volunteer mailing list.

Other volunteering opportunities

Many of our programs have volunteer opportunities all around Queensland, including community visiting, project work, administration, disability support work, warehouse, English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers and case management. For more information, please contact volunteer [at] lccq [dot] org [dot] au (Lifeline's Volunteer Management team).