Leopold’s Teagan Stotz speaks to Luke Voogt about several years at Lifeline Geelong and managing the centre’s 100 – and growing – selfless crisis supporters helping our most vulnerable.
Tell us about you…
I’m 29, single and ready to mingle! I went to uni straight after high school and completed a bachelor of psychology with honours. I started volunteering as a crisis supporter at Lifeline Geelong in 2013. I went on to manage a youth refuge where we supported people aged 16 to 22 experiencing homelessness. While studying my master of teaching in 2017, I moved to Spain for a year as an English teacher. Upon returning I came back to Lifeline while teaching community services and youth work at The Gordon. I also taught dance in Melbourne and Geelong for about 10 years. I only finished up dance recently now that I have begun studying a PhD focussing on women’s sexual health and wellbeing.
How have you been involved with Lifeline Geelong?
Lifeline Geelong has been a massive part of my adult life. I began volunteering to get some practical experience and ensure that psychology was the right path for me. Being a crisis supporter involves being on the frontline and answering the calls that come through. After less than a year I became a centre supervisor, checking in on other crisis supporters’ wellbeing, debriefing them after particularly heavy shifts and managing emergency situations. I have also taken on state level roles within Lifeline training crisis supporters in suicide intervention, responding to domestic violence and other skillsets. In January I began managing Lifeline Geelong, which has since grown from a small centre to one of Australia’s largest. I have the utmost respect for our growing team of 100 staff and volunteers and it’s an absolute pleasure to work alongside them. It’s also a privilege to have strangers confide in me when they’re in crisis; people are so open and often grateful for the support, so the role is extremely rewarding.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
Even after so many years at Lifeline, it can still be nerve-racking to answer the phone and not know what the next call will be about. We hear some confronting stories about trauma and suicide but the most challenging are often the ‘unwelcome’ or ‘prank’ calls. Unfortunately, we have people abuse our service and call to say some pretty horrible things to our crisis supporters. This is the type of call our team most often need support after. We have ample support for crisis supporters before, during and after their shift.
We can’t prepare for every possible situation but the training is excellent in preparing crisis supporters for the types of the calls they might get and how to manage them.
What are your favourite things to do locally?
I have a strong connection to the You Yangs because we used to go there for walks when I was a child. I often go for bike rides along Bellarine Rail Trail, or walk along the waterfront or in Ocean Grove. Every year I go to Carols on the Waterfront and Carols by Candlelight at Johnstone Park, and events like Pako Festa, Run Geelong and Gala Day. I grew up in Geelong, go for Geelong Cats and have performed many times at Geelong Arts Centre since I was little. I enjoy going to Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie, Wharf Shed, Empire Grill, 63 Degrees and Moorabool Valley Chocolates. I miss the Salty the Seal shows at the old Smorgys!
How are you coping with COVID-19?
Living alone during COVID has definitely been isolating but I’m lucky to have my mum nearby. I have an amazing support network of friends and family who I’ve spoken to a lot and gone on walks with. I’ve enjoyed reading, cooking, having baths, gardening, exercise, and the odd glass of red wine. I’d be very happy if COVID would go away by January so I can go on the cruise I’ve booked! I have friends and family, including my dad interstate, and I’m eager to travel so that I can see them and get away from the cold Geelong weather. It will be lovely to hug my friends and family, go to events like Christmas carols, see my team rather than work from home and just be relaxed at the supermarket!
What’s something people might not know about you?
I’ve been to 29 countries and had planned to travel to two more this year.
For help phone 13 11 14. To donate visit geelonglifeline.org.au
