Telephone crisis support is provided via a network of Lifeline Centres maintained by trained volunteers and some paid staff.

[citation needed] Lifeline was founded in Sydney, in 1963 by the late Sir Alan Walker after a call from a distressed man who three days later took his own life.

Lifeline Sydney was two years in planning and preparation, with 150 people attending a nine-month training course to work at the centre.

A century old, dilapidated building owned by the Mission, on the fringes of downtown Sydney was renovated for the purposes of this new support centre.

In January 1964, Lifeline was featured in an article in Time magazine,[3] which helped lead to the establishment of similar services around the world.

This allowed Lifeline to begin flowing calls nationally over a wide area network, to be answered by the next available telephone support volunteer, anywhere in the country.

[7] Despite allowing for anonymity, Lifeline will contact authorities and identify the caller in cases where they believe the person may be serious in taking their own life.