NEW Lifeline training programs targeting women on the land will be rolled out across the Central West later this year.
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Lifeline Central West has been granted $41,000 from the Newcastle Permanent Foundation to fund the program, which will be run in conjunction with the Country Women’s Association.
Chief executive Alex Ferguson the training would focus on mental health, domestic violence and elder abuse.
“We’re writing the program and conducting the training but we’re working very closely with the CWA which has very strong ties to these issues,” Mr Ferguson said.
“The CWA will put together a list of possible candidates but the course will also be advertised in each area in advance of our arrival.”
Mr Ferguson said the course would be run in 12 centres including Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Lithgow, Parkes, Cowra and Mudgee.
He said it would be a three-hour course aimed at supporting women who were often best placed to help the men in their lives who might be struggling.
Mr Ferguson said the training had come at a good time.
“Calls to Lifeline are up with a real focus on drought issues and farm issues at the moment,” he said.
“We hear pretty quickly of self-harm issues and they’re up as well.
“We would believe there’s a long way to go on this and we need as a community to be talking about it.
“These are difficult conversations but we have to stump up and start having them. We have to start looking over the fence.”
Lifeline hopes to run the first of the new courses in September.
