Lifeline finds a home at La Trobe Mildura

Lifeline is a crisis support hotline that provides 24-hour assistance for suicide prevention with the call centre servicing people in need from across Australia.

La Trobe Mildura's head of campus Sandy Connor said she has always admired charity's work.

When space became available at the University, she knew they had to offer the organisation a place on campus.

"I have worked with Stephen Hedgus from Lifeline in the past and was aware of the fundraising efforts he has been doing in the community actually to bring Lifeline to Mildura," she said.

"More recently, I heard that they had arrived and that they needed a more permanent place to work from.

"As luck would have it, we just happened to have some empty space that we were trying to think what to do with, so it was kind of just fortuitous that all of those things came together."

Ms Connor said she believes students will benefit greatly from having a well-trusted mental health support organisation on campus.

"From a professional building perspective, it’s absolutely fantastic for our students," she said.

"The greater majority of our students are in nursing, social work, and education, and all three of those professions can benefit greatly from learning the skills and taking part in the work of Lifeline."

"The awareness of having that service around for nurses and social workers and educators as they move into their professional careers, will be so beneficial for them and our community."