This petition needs your grit to get the government to notice Lifeline's crucial needs
Lives disappear because of this lack of funding
**Financial Appeals Linked to Wait-Time Mitigation
The direct evidence that calls still drop or go unanswered is highlighted in Lifeline's ongoing public fundraising targets. The organization operates under a fixed per-call formula where every $39 raised ensures one more call does not go unanswered. They actively state that current high-demand levels strain the network to its absolute limit, meaning call capacity is explicitly capped by the funding required to onboard and sustain new crisis supporters.
Referencing https://lifelinedirect.org.au/northernnsw/events/lifeline-christmas-appeal-2024
Overflows to Alternative Queues
Because wait times in the phone queue fluctuate during peak hours, Lifeline has heavily shifted resources into the Lifeline Crisis Text Service to catch overflow. This text queue allows people who encounter a busy phone line or high wait times to transition to a non-verbal channel.