Who we are
Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland
How it started
The calls that birth Lifeline
Lifeline was established by the former Superintendent of Wesley Mission (known then as the Central Methodist Mission), Rev Alan Walker in response to the number of crisis calls he was taking at his home, including a desperate call from Roy, who later tragically ended his life.
Lifeline movement begins
A special meeting was called and 30 people came along to pray together. At that meeting a 24-hour counselling team was suggested, which prompted the start of the Lifeline movement.
“Sydney has become a poor, big, rich, city,” said Rev Alan Walker at the time, but Lifeline discovered the power of the telephone to connect.
First telephone crisis centre
The Central Methodist Mission (now Wesley Mission) completely refurbished a Wesleyan property on Flinders Street in Darlinghurst, which was named the Lifeline Centre. The tagline for the new service was to be, ‘Help is as close as the telephone’. Within just a few weeks, 150 people put up their hands to volunteer at Lifeline Centre.
First Lifeline Centre launches
The Darlinghurst call centre was opened on 16 March 1963 by the Lord Mayor, H.F. Jensen, who spoke to the 2,500 strong crowd, saying, “Now another concept bold and brave seeks to provide with Christian motivation a service not now available in Sydney, though greatly needed”. On Lifeline's opening night, we took 100 calls.
Lifeline’s ‘Trouble team’
The Darlinghurst centre features a ‘two-way radio’ link that connected a team of cars, known as the ‘Trouble Team’, who would travel to people’s homes across the city to offer support to people in crisis. At the end of Lifeline’s first year, telephone crisis supporters at the Darlinghurst centre had taken 11,664 calls and cars had attended 100 homes across the city.
Lifeline gains momentum
In January 1964, Lifeline was featured in an article in Time magazine titled, ‘Evangelism: Throwing Out the Life Line’, which helped lead to establishing similar services around the world.
By 1966, centres were operating as far and wide as New Zealand and the United States. With the service expanding at a rate even he found surprising, Rev Alan Walker decided to form Lifeline International: an organisation designed to ensure that the service’s high standards be protected.
Rev Alan Walker said, “An Australian experiment has become worldwide. Fifteen Lifeline centres have been set up in eight countries, all patterned on the Sydney centre.”
Lifeline Darlinghurst damaged in fire
In 1967, the Lifeline Centre in Darlinghurst is extensively damaged in a fire. Phones were only out of action for 25 minutes as calls switched to the Wesley Centre on Pitt Street until they were restored the next morning. The damaged sections of the building were rebuilt and reopened in 1968.
A global phenomenon
By 1973, Lifeline had become truly global, with centres operating in almost every capital city of Australia, and 100 cities globally operating telephone services affiliated with the organisation. In its first year the New York centre alone received 80,000 calls for help.
More than a call centre
Lifeline launches a drop-in service for people who are unemployed. And Roger Climpson hosts the first Lifeline Doorknock campaign, supported by 12,000 collectors.
Youthline launches
In 1976, David Walker began Youthline, a youth counselling service run by young people aged 18-25 years.
A permanent home
In 1979, Sydney Lifeline centre moved from Darlinghurst, where it operated as an independent unit into Wesley Centre in Pitt Street. Not long after, the centre reaches 60,000 calls annually.
Expanding to save lives
Lifeline hits a significant milestone, celebrating 20 years since the birth of the first telephone crisis centre.
13 11 14 launches
In 1994, Lifeline transitioned the 24-hour telephone crisis support line to a single national priority 13 number, and 13 11 14 has remained ever since.
Wesley LifeForce begins
Wesley Mission launches Wesley LifeForce, with local networks across Australia working to prevent suicide. Training to empower people to save lives and Wesley LifeForce Aftercare services were also added over time.
Rev Alan Walker’s 92-year legacy
Rev Dr Sir Alan Walker, KB OBE
4 June 1911 – 29 January 2003
Tributes flow following Walker’s passing from the then Premier The Hon. Bob Carr MP, the then Prime Minister The Hon. John Howard OM AC, Rev Dr Billy Graham and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
Lifeline launches call flow
Lifeline introduces call flow to the 24-hour phone service. This allows calls to be answered by centres across Australia by the next available operator, so more people in crisis can access support.
Lifeline reaches new heights
In 2012, Lifeline centres across Australia answered 541,450 calls.
Lifeline Text reaches a new audience
Lifeline introduces Australia’s first SMS support service, Lifeline Text and reaches a new audience. In 2022, Lifeline Online Chat becomes a 24-hour chat service under the banner of Lifeline Digital.
Highest number of calls in history
Natural disasters like the Black Summer bushfires and COVID-19 took call volumes to new heights due to high levels of community distress. The highest number of calls in Lifeline’s history was received on 19 August 2021, totalling 3,505 calls in a single day.
Our legacy continues
Today, Wesley Mission continues to run Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland. Our teams answered more than 50,000 calls in 2022 to support people in crisis.
Watch Lifeline's 60-year celebration
Interested in volunteering?
We rely on the continued support of our dedicated volunteer Crisis Supporters to achieve our vision of an Australia free from suicide.
Photo has been changed to protect privacy.
“The second call I ever answered for Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland was from a young girl who was in the process of ending her life. I believe she was saved that day because someone was there to help her when she needed it the most.”
Tess
Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland volunteer Crisis Supporter
