Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (right) caught up with Lifeline Broken Hill Country to Coast CEO Scott Hammond recently.

Lifeline Broken Hill Country to Coast volunteers will be able to undertake important suicide prevention training thanks to a $5,000 grant provided under the latest round of the Federal Government’s Volunteer Grants program.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton recently visited Lifeline Broken Hill to find out how the organisation is benefitting from the funding.

“Lifeline Broken Hill provides a critical service to communities throughout the Far West, delivering suicide prevention, awareness and training, counselling and other vital programs,” Mr Coulton said.

“Volunteers are essential to the organisation, giving countless hours of their time to help others. This grant will help equip them with the skills they need to recognise and help anyone at risk suicide.”

Lifeline Broken Hill Country to Coast CEO Scott Hammond said this grant will be used to train about 80 volunteers.

“As an organisation, our focus is to be able to build capability within our workforce to be able to recognise and respond to those at risk of suicide and refer to the appropriate service,” Mr Hammond said.

“The national Volunteer Grants provides an opportunity to further support our amazing volunteers through important suicide prevention training.”

The 2021 Volunteer Grants provide organisations with grants of $1,000 to $5,000 to help purchase equipment, training and background screening checks for their volunteers.

Volunteers are integral to many Australian organisations, with more than 8.7 million volunteers across the country giving their time freely to support their communities.