The Lifeline Connect Centre is so important to our community! I fully support the South Australian Government contributing funding to ensure the service can remain operating in the region.

MEDIA RELEASE - Friday 14 March 2025

Chris Picton MP -Minister for Health & Wellbeing
Nadia Clancy MP - Premier’s Advocate for Suicide Prevention

Funding supports essential Lifeline mental health services in Clare and Port Pirie

The Malinauskas Government is providing critical funding to support Lifeline Connect Centres in Clare and Port Pirie to continue providing essential mental health services in regional communities.

The local Lifeline Connect Centres will receive $250,000 in funding to continue existing services over the next 18 months that help connect people with support and improve their wellbeing. This funding will help increase number of people the Lifeline Connect Centres can support.

Lifeline Connect Centres work within communities to increase awareness of mental health concerns and provide support to people in distress or who are impacted by suicide loss.

People who visit Lifeline Connect Centres can access free counselling without needing a referral or a mental health diagnosis. Within the centres, people can access face-to-face counselling with trained professionals, engage in inclusive and supportive environments, and receive quality training.

In 2024, the Clare and Port Pirie centres provided vital support to up to 1,393 people through 1,115 non-clinical services and 1,086 clinical counselling sessions. On average, each centre provided 1,100 sessions.

Between July and December last year, they also provided 141 clients with counselling and had contact with another 559 people to provide support, including to drop-in clients.

In addition, trained volunteers at Lifeline Connect Centres can provide people with information on a range of mental health support options and how to access additional services. Volunteers can also assist with everyday tasks such as completing forms and accessing the internet.

Lifeline Regional SA and Far West NSW also receives funding from Country SA Primary Health Network.

If you or someone you know needs mental health support, there are services available. You can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Mental Health Triage on 13 14 65
• Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
• Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Quotes attributable to Chris Picton

Lifeline Connect Centres provide vital support in our local communities, including walk-in services, crisis support and access to workers with lived experience.

We want to ensure people in rural and regional areas have access to essential mental health services and providing the crucial funding to the Lifeline Connect Centres already on-the-ground in these communities is an effective way to tap into local skills, knowledge and community awareness. The Malinauskas Government is supporting Lifeline Regional SA and Far West NSW to continue their excellent work.

Quotes attributable to Nadia Clancy

Suicide is a tragedy that touches every community, and we know it’s more prevalent in regional areas where it’s harder to access support.

Lifeline Connect Centres play an important role in providing support to people who are in distress or struggling with their mental health.

Quotes attributable to Tony Piccolo MP, Labor candidate for Ngadjuri

The Lifeline Connect Centre in Clare provides crucial support and counselling to the local community. It’s an imperative the service remains in the area, which is why the State Government is stepping in to provide this important funding.

Quotes attributable to Geoff Brock MP, Member for Stuart

Residents I speak to in Port Pirie tell me how important the Lifeline Connect Centre is to our city. I fully support the State Government contributing this funding to ensure the service can remain operating in the region.

Quotes attributable to Dr Robert Martin CEO Lifeline Regional SA and Far West NSW

Lifeline Regional SA and Far West NSW is committed to an Australia free of suicide.
Our services include free drop-in counselling and psychotherapy and support services for people who are either in crisis or approaching suicidal crisis.

Often people in remote rural areas don't have places to turn to when they're feeling unwell or on edge about issues in their lives that might be causing suicidal ideation — that's why we've established connect centres in regional parts of South Australia.

The funding will allow us to increase our service delivery and the number of people who we can support over the next 18 months.