Gerald Lynch
Craigieburn university student Reema Elalfy is volunteering with Lifeline Australia to help make a difference to people in need.
Ms Elalfy is undertaking a psychology degree at Victoria University and has been volunteering at Lifeline’s Crisis Call Centre on the university’s St Albans Campus.
It is the first Lifeline Crisis Call Centre in the state to operate from a university campus.
The crisis call centre opened in June, 2023, and has 14 volunteers answering calls to support Victorians in need, with more than 1000 calls answered so far.
The centre provides real-world placements and opportunities for VU students studying youth work, psychology, counselling, community services and social work to train as Lifeline crisis-support volunteers.
Ms Elalfy said it has been made achievable to balance all her studies and commit to volunteering at the crisis centre due to the VU block model.
“The block structure has allowed me to manage my schedule very well,” she said.
She said the experiences afforded to her through the program have been invaluable, and it has been rewarding to be able to make a real difference on people’s mental health and wellbeing.
“I’ve been given the opportunity to gain extensive training on crisis intervention techniques and work on good communication skills, building connections with people who call lifeline,” she said.
“My passion for supporting and advocating for mental health stems deeply from a personal place.
“The ability to build a genuine connection with an individual and make a positive difference in their life is extremely rewarding.
“I’ve witnessed first-hand the impacts of mental health challenges and the barriers individuals can face in accessing care within the community, and I’m passionate about addressing these barriers and working towards dismantling stigma… feelings of shame, fear, and judgement are often what deter people from seeking help, and I think it’s so important to strive towards a world here mental health is prioritised and people are empowered to seek help.”
Ms Elafly is also completing The Push-Up Challenge, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and funds for mental health services.
From June 5 to June 28, participants are completing 3249 push-ups, with different daily targets each day which correlate to key mental health statistics.
Donate and learn more: www.thepushupchallenge.com.au/main-donate-page
If you or someone you know is in need of support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
