Lifeline South Coast a hub for new 13YARN Aboriginal crisis line manned by First Nations crisis support workers

Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders now have access to a new 24-hour national crisis support telephone service where they can receive culturally safe and appropriate health services, Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt announced on April 1.

13YARN (13 92 76) was co-designed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the support of Lifeline Australia and the peak organisation for Indigenous suicide prevention, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia.

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A key component of the service is that it will be manned by designated crisis support workers from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

Lifeline South Coast offices in Wollongong and Nowra are among just three centres in NSW to offer the service.

Lifeline South Coast chief executive Renee Green said the service was launched quietly last month after a recruitment process.

"We have currently got about eight staff and they are doing a great job. All of the people that are answering the phone are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander," she said.

Ms Green said the south coast offices were chosen as the epicentres of the new service, along with Dubbo and a couple of sites in Queensland, due to the high population of Indigenous people.

She said the service had been operating for a couple of weeks prior to the federal government's announcement to iron out any issues and make sure the technology was working.

Ms Green said they had been able to find room in the two centres for the additional staff needed to run the service but joked it was a tight squeeze.

Things are expected to get even more crowded though as they attempt to fill even more positions.

"We are looking for another eight to 10 people to join our team," she said.

An information session will be held this this Wednesday, April 6, at 4pm, at the Woolgunyah Indigenous Centre at University of Wollongong and is open to First Nations people interested in becoming designated crisis support workers for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

Mr Hunt said the new service was part of a broader approach to address Indigenous suicide rates, which is about double that of the non-Indigenous population.

"Sadly, suicide accounts for 40 per cent of all deaths of Indigenous children, and the suicide death rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is approximately twice that for non-Indigenous people," Mr Hunt said.

"This vital service is about ensuring that all Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders have 24-hour access to culturally safe crisis support during the darkest times. It will save and protect lives.

"Every life lost to suicide is a national tragedy and has a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities."

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, said the service would support First Australians who were at risk of suicide, experiencing suicidal ideation or other mental health crises, or were recovering from a suicide attempt.

"Lifeline collaborated with Gayaa Dhuwi to develop this crisis telephone service so Indigenous Australians are able to access the help and support they need where and when they need it," he said.

"Research has shown a gap in mental health services designed and staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. With the launch of 13YARN we are ensuring culturally safe and appropriate support is a phone call away."

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