Telecom New Zealand Gives $30,000 To Lifeline

TELECOM NEW ZEALAND GIVES $30,000 TO LIFELINE

Telecom has donated $30,000 to telephone counselling organisation Lifeline as part of its Festive Cheer programme for staff.

Telecom’s Chief Executive Officer, Theresa Gattung, said Lifeline was selected by Telecom’s New Zealand employees as the charity of choice in an internal online poll. Adding to this, Telecom has also donated A$30,000 to St Vincent de Paul in Australia, as voted by staff at Telecom’s Australian operations, including AAPT and TCNZA.

Ms Gattung said each year Telecom staff choose a community group to receive a major donation.

“Helping Lifeline in its work with New Zealanders is Telecom people’s way of thanking them for the work they do for those who are isolated or in need,” she said.

“It was a hard choice because there are so many worthy organisations in Australia and New Zealand doing wonderful work for our communities,” said Ms Gattung.

Lifeline’s Chief Executive Officer, Bryan Wilshire, said they were just chuffed to receive the money.

“Lifeline volunteers and staff work so very hard for everyone and we are all thrilled to get this recognition.”

“The money will be put towards both the training of the Lifeline volunteers and the provision of the Lifeline counselling services (24 hour telephone counselling, Face to face, Kidsline, Mensline and Chinese Lifeline). All volunteer counsellors undertake a rigorous training course to enable them to offer the quality service that Lifeline provides. The organisation maintains the highest standard in their work and is a registered Private Training Establishment offering NZQA qualifications to its volunteers.”

Lifeline is a voluntary welfare agency offering free professional and confidential 24 hour X 7 day telephone counselling, support and information services. It deals with many kinds of personal problems; psychological, emotional, marriage and family and with people who are lonely, ill or depressed.

Telecom invested more than $NZ15 million in the last year to provide community aid for groups like the Citizens Advice Bureau and Victim Support.

ENDS

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