Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland milestones
The origins 1961 - 62
The concept of Lifeline is conceived at a special meeting called by then Superintendent of Wesley Mission (known then as the Central Methodist Mission) Rev. Sir Alan Walker in response to rising numbers of crisis calls. Planning begins.
The launch
The Lifeline Centre, Darlinghurst opens 16 March 1963, taking 50 calls in the first night and 11,664 in the first year. A ‘trouble team’ car fleet visited 100 Sydney homes to offer in-person support.
The early years 1964 - 69
Lifeline features in a Time magazine article that leads to similar services being established overseas. Rev. Sir Alan Walker forms Lifeline International to ensure high standards of practice are protected.
A global phenomenon 1970 - 79
Lifeline becomes truly global with affiliated centres in 100 cities internationally. In 1976, David Walker launches youth counselling service, Youthline. The Lifeline centre moves to Pitt Street, Sydney in 1979.
Expanding and adapting to save lives 1989 - 2019
Wesley Lifeforce community suicide prevention program begins in 1994. Lifeline transitions to a single national priority number in 1994 with SMS support launching in 2018. In 2003, tributes flow following the sad passing of Alan Walker.
Responding to crises 2020 - 2023
Natural disasters including bushfires and COVID-19 took call volumes to new heights. Lifeline received the highest number of calls in its history on 19 August 2021 (3505 calls). In this last year, Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland has seen an increase in calls of 67 per cent.