OUTLine NZ is a nationwide, free and confidential telephone counselling and support service for the 'GLBTTIFQQ' community - i.e gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, takataapui, intersex, fa'afafine, queer and questioning.
The service is run by self-accepting members of the GLBTTIFQQ community. They are there to listen, provide information, and to help callers with their issues.
Callers do not need to be in crisis to call - OUTLine takes calls from all sorts of individuals for a huge variety of reasons that may include loneliness and isolation, sexuality and gender identity, sexual health, relationships and meeting people, STIs and HIV, legal and ethical issues, and many more.
Phone hours: 10am-9pm Mon-Fri, 6pm-9pm Sat and Sun.
What We Do
You may not know it, but OUTLineNZ Inc. have been around since 1972. We offer the only free nationwide phone counselling service to the Rainbow (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning) Community in New Zealand. Our 0800 number is staffed by trained volunteers, or as we call them Volunteer Helpline Operators. Our much valued VHOs provide a confidential and empathetic listening ear as well as offering information and advice around a wide variety of issues affecting our community.
We also offer face to face counselling by fully qualified Counsellors at reduced rates to meet the client’s financial situation. These sessions are held in our offices in St Mary's Bay, Auckland, and are now available nationwide via Skype. Our Counsellors are part of a strong clinical team, led by an experienced Clinical Supervisor. Face to face counselling is suitable for those needing more in-depth support, and we offer a brief intervention of 6 sessions, unless both client and the team agree more sessions would be beneficial. We have many clients receiving support from our services via WINZ.
Suicide
Unfortunately New Zealand has one of the highest suicide rates in the Western world, and the rates among LGBTIQ people are much higher than those in the general population. We also have higher instances of mental health issues, substance abuse and self-harm. Our VHO's and face to face Counsellors can journey alongside and guide clients in the best direction for their welfare. Furthermore, we are a vital link to the LGBTIQ community for those who need information about social networks around New Zealand, especially for those who live in isolated areas. Some people phone us so that they can talk to another LGBTIQ-identified person, which can help ease their loneliness. We have received lots of positive feedback from those who have used our services, both in and outside of the Rainbow Community.
Who We Work With
We receive phone calls from all over New Zealand: from the far North to the Deep South; from men, women, trans* men and women, and intersex souls; from Pakeha, Maori, Pacific Island, Asian and European communities; from people of all ages and from people from all walks of life. Last year we received over 4000 calls. We undertake 3 new volunteer telephone training intakes per year.
In addition, last year we ran a Men’s Workshop covering coming out, healthy relationships, safer sex, and self-esteem and we are planning additional peer support workshops this year, including All Thing Trans* and Emotional Balance, along with a general Coming Out Support Group.
We also work in community health and welfare, networking and working with other organisations providing support services, health and welfare for our Rainbow Community. We are currently working with the Government, the Mental Health Foundation and other Rainbow organisations on a “Suicide Prevention Plan”, which we discovered before writing there had been no consultation with our community. We have a duty to converse with, educate and empower those outside the Rainbow Community so that best possible care can be provided.
Last year we worked with Auckland City Council's Rainbow Door on the 100% OK campaign, which sent the powerful message that straight allies are 100% OK with Rainbow people being who they are. The campaign included the sale (by way of donation) of colourful wristbands which quickly sold out, and we had requests not only from people outside of Auckland but from around the world. We also worked with the Auckland University School of Nursing on their Silver Rainbow project which involves providing information to elderly care centres on how to appropriately look after our people in retirement care and their families.
Who We Are
OUTLineNZ Inc. is a registered non-profit organisation registered charity under the Charities Act 2005. Our registration number is CC29680. We are staffed predominately by volunteers who represent a broad range of our community. As members of the Rainbow Community, our VHO's understand the challenges our callers can encounter around sexual diversity and gender identity. We work with our callers to help them through their issues and to find a positive way forward. Our vision is to be the first port of call for anything and everything to do with keeping our community well, and to educate, encourage and empower New Zealanders around sexual orientation and gender identity.
Support
If you need support around your sexual orientation on gender identity, call us on 0800 688 5463 . Our phones are open from 9am - 9pm, Monday to Friday, and 6pm-9pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
If you would like to support us, please visit our web site to see how you can do that.