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Australasia visit - 2000

Report of visit to

LifeLine Korea : 24 th . Sept. - 1 st . Oct. 2000
LifeLine Taiwan : 1 st . Oct. - 11 th . Oct. 2000
LifeLine Australia : 12 th . Oct. - 8 th . Nov. 2000
LifeLine New Zealand : 8 th . Nov. - 20 th . Nov. 2000

Introduction:

This trip was intended to serve as an introduction for me to the work in our member countries as well as the opportunity to share some of my expertise. My intention was to visit as many centres as possible, to spend time with National Boards. To assist in any way I could with workshops, facilitation, publicity and general liaison.

The financing of the trip was made possible by a very generous donation from Cathay Pacific, South Africa that covered my flight from Johannesburg to Hong Kong further to Sydney and then back to Johannesburg from Auckland via Hong Kong. Each member country covered most of the cost of my accomodation, internal travel and Conference fees etc. Other expenses were covered by the LifeLine International budget.

Korea:

I visited the LifeLine Centres in Seoul and Pusan including the Seoul Social Welfare Centre and a hospital complex for elderly dementia patients. The amount of 'community work' that LifeLine is involved in is remarkable and commendable. Such projects as a shelter for the homeless, soup kitchen, pre and after school care, mentally disadvantaged workshop and skills training in literacy - computer - hair dressing - sewing - bread baking facilities for young women are all offered by LifeLine as a compliment to their counselling work. These projects bring in a certain amount of State and Local funding but are also a way of making the counselling service known in the community.

Counsellors are well trained, selected and supervised and their dedication is amazing. The main centre in Seoul was being renovated during my visit to accommodate the staff more comfortably.

My attendance at the LifeLine National Conference in Taejon gave me an excellent opportunity to hear from many of the other centres and also to present 2 workshops and a key note address with the assistance of interpreters. The Conference was held at the Samsung Training Centre which proved to be an ideal venue for the event. The whole Conference was extremely well organised with excellent workshops being presented by top speakers. During the Conference I also gave an interview to the TV about what LifeLine is doing in Korea and specifically the benefits of the Conference and of my visit.

During the Conference I also met 10 ladies who had traveled through North Korea from China to be at the Conference. They represent a group of counsellors who are operating in the name of LifeLine and offering counselling in China. This was extraordinary news for me and I was able through an interpreter to explain to them that they need to keep in touch with LifeLine in Korea as they are not officially recognised by LifeLine International, at this stage.

After meeting with the National Board and discussing aspects of their work it seems that the greatest concern for LifeLine Korea is to find funding. There is no doubt that the service being provided is of great value, earns great respect and is in demand.

Taiwan:

This visit was a whirlwind marathon of visiting local and county centres as well as the National Office and State Office.

Much of my work was of a PR nature meeting with prominent members of the community such as the President and Vice President of the country, the local Mayors and provincial Governors. These visits were extremely engaging and on the whole very fruitful from the point of view of recognition for the work LifeLine is doing and also in the acquiring of financial backing. I was interested to find the number of student and qualified Social Workers who are employed in LifeLine centres to manage the community based services that are being offered. LifeLine in Taiwan through personal contacts supports many services similar to those being offered in Korea. One project that is unique is the contact that LifeLine has with a 'paramedic' emergency service.

There is a big move to develop web pages by some of the larger centres and I suggested that a National Page should be set up to link in all the centre pages and that this National web page can then be linked to the International Page.

The 30 th . Birthday celebration in Kaohsiung, of LifeLine Taiwan was extremely well attended and publicised with many dignitaries giving speeches. Throughout my trip I gave several speeches, TV interviews and Press Comments.

Together with the organising committee for the International Conference 2002, I visited the Grand Hotel in Kaohsiung and also the very modern down town Formosa Hotel. I gave the recommendation that the Grand Hotel would be the better venue as it is very traditional and also offers the opportunity for delegates to walk in the nearby park and participate in the activities of the nearby recreational centre. I further recommended that the Formosa Hotel could be used for the Formal Banquet at the Conference. The committee is well on track with all the preparations for 2002 and I urge all our member countries to encourage their centres to send representatives to this International Conference...it will be a very special experience and one to be remembered.

I presented several workshops during my stay in Taiwan and experienced a great deal of interest from counsellors about the Hiv / AIDS counselling being offered in South Africa. There is a concern in Taiwan that at present the public in general are not really taking the threat of AIDS too seriously and that organisations such as LifeLine need to be in the forefront of lobbying and offering supportive services.

One of the strengths of LifeLine in Taiwan is that the National Chairman and Board members are influential, business people. They are prepared not only to give of their own time and financial means to the running of the organisation but are also prepared to approach and involve their associates in a similar way. A lot of the official audiences and presentations that had been arranged for me were part of the lobbying process to gain support and financing for the National Conference 2001, the International Conference 2002 and the work in individual centres.

Australia:

During my time in Australia I was able to set my own pace as I was combining free time with work using a hire car. I visited centres in Queensland, New South Wales, Canberra and Victoria giving presentations and workshops at some of them.

I also participated in the National Conference in Canberra where I was invited to attend the National Board Meeting that was held prior to the official opening of the Conference. It was very special to experience the incredible energy and sense of focus that LifeLine Australia generated at this Conference. I believe that the establishment of the National Office in Canberra and the employment of well qualified National Office Staff is contributing to a sense of unity and focus.

During my visit to LifeLine Australia I was also able to visit Rev. Dr. Sir Alan Walker, Rev. Dr. Clyde Dominish and John Watt (the previous Treasurer to the International Board). These meetings were very meaningful for me as I was able to discuss my perceptions of the organisation and to get an over view of what has gone before. It seems that there is still a fair amount of paper work belonging to LifeLine International in Australia that needs to be sorted through and catalogued. I did not have time this visit but will certainly have to do something about it next time.

It is exciting to experience the professional approach that many centres in Australia are taking to the management and funding of the work they are doing. There is still the differences of centres that are managed through Church structures and those that have an independent management structure. The development of projects such as the Youth Suicide Prevention Line and the Men's Help Line are proactive initiatives that have come out of community needs. Research and training materials have developed around these specific courses that could be of great value to similar initiatives in other member countries. Perhaps we should consider the possibility of trainers and supervisors being used in different countries to establish similar services.

Many centres have developed 'outreach programmes' to smaller, outlying communities offering community based support and counselling. 'Thrift Shops' still supply much of the needed income for LifeLine centres in Australia although funding from Government is beginning to play a role as LifeLine begins to tender for specific projects that are being initiated by Provincial and Commonwealth Governments.

There is an inspiring energy in LifeLine Australia and a great deal that lies ahead for them.

New Zealand:

Here I was once again able to combine visits to several centres and meeting counsellors with some free time. LifeLine New Zealand is in the middle of some major decision making as to what the structure of the organisation in the future will be and how to use the resources that are available most effectively. Centres I visited were in Pukekohe, Hamilton, Auckland, Whangarei, Nelson and Dunedin.

Specific projects that I was interested to hear about that have been developed from Auckland are the Men's Line, Kids Line, Chinese Line and a Moari Line that has since become more of a community based service than a LifeLine Counselling Service.

I attended the National Board Meeting that was held over a weekend in Auckland. This afforded the members of the National Board time to take a good look at what is happening in the organisation and how they as a board can best facilitate the changes that are necessary. There is a 'Structuring Meeting' planned for March to be attended by all the centres and I have promised to try and be available to facilitate that meeting or to find an International change agent who might be available.

This is an exciting time for LifeLine New Zealand and time for creative thinking and focused vision.

Conclusion:

I was able to talk to National Boards about the content of the proposed Code of Ethic and Conduct. With some minor changes that need to be included it seems that there is an agreement on this document. Once this has finally been accepted then the International Board can go ahead with compiling the Accreditation Document and also the Constitution.

A very SPECIAL THANK YOU to the International Board Members who accommodated my visits by planning and organising my travel and 'stay overs' in the member countries. Thank you to Mrs. Chen in Taiwan, John & Barbara Watt in Australia, Alan & Barbara Bowyer, Ray Bowyer, Maryan & Anthony Hughes, Dorothy Hawley in New Zealand and Bryan & Anna Bryant in Hong Kong for opening their homes to me. Thank you to Mr Ha and Mr Kim for driving me around in Korea, Rev. Dr. Wu and Mr. Weng for driving me around Taiwan and to Fong Yee Leong from Malaysia for being such a support as my interpreter in Taiwan. There are so many special names that come to mind and it is impossible to list you all.

There were so many special 'cameos' that I personally will remember the rest of my life. It was a privilege to touch so many lives in so many ways and to share your world for a fleeting moment. Thank you for caring for me and for sharing with me.

General Observations:

  1. There are 2 strengths and 2 weaknesses that I have observed throughout the organisation.
    Strengths:
    1. That LifeLine nurtures 'Life Skills', which the UN is saying will be the education of the future.
    2. That we have incredible experience in the management of volunteers

    Weaknesses:

    1. That we do not 'hear' each other.
    2. That we are afraid of change - there is a sense of protecting our own for fear of losing autonomy and a fear of embracing change
  2. There has been reluctance to embrace International that comes from not knowing what International are doing or why centres should pay dues. I believe that my visits this year have been the first step in creating a sense of belonging. Personal visits and interaction with the exchange of ideas and experience are an essential part of my work. To maintain this availability requires commitment from members and a partnership with the International Office. This means that dues have to be paid to.
  3. The networking that I have participated in is invaluable to the organisation as a whole. Many benefits in the future can be gleaned from these contacts.
  4. There is an inspiring move by most member countries to introduce Management Skills for the running of Centres and National Structures.
  5. There is also a move to market the LifeLine skills to the corporate world and Govt. departments to enable the basic service to the public to be maintained.
  6. Specific issues that centres are addressing are Hiv/AIDS, teenage suicide and men's concerns. This means that LifeLine is being proactive and not just reactive which is a major shift in our thinking and is an essential part of moving in to the future.
  7. Funding the work of International from any donor source is impossible unless connected to a specific project. As I see it at the moment the only project that International can engage in is support and liaison with Member Country's National Structures.
  8. To maintain the momentum created by my visit requires follow ups from the International Office and also International Board Members.

Special Personal Memories:

  1. Time with special friends and family.
  2. Being served tea and eating a meal with the Buddhist Monks at the Pomosa Temple in Korea.
  3. Meeting the President and Vice President of Taiwan and attending the National Day celebrations.
  4. My visit to Bunan Cultural Village and the Hot Springs at Zhe Bern high in the Taiwanese Mountains.
  5. An evening at the Paraolympics in Sydney.
  6. Driving through the Snowy Mountains and Kangaroo Valley.
  7. Attending a very special friends wedding in Melbourne.
  8. Experiencing the beauty of New Zealand by road and from the air.
  9. Exploring Hong Kong on my own.

Sue Thönell

Exec. Director

LifeLine International 2000.12.06