Fortescue teams up with Lifeline

Fortescue Metals Group has pledged $750,000 to provide training, professional development and support for telephone crisis supporters under a three-year partnership with Lifeline WA.

The partnership will also seek to support mental health and wellbeing initiatives for fly-in, fly-out workers by equipping selected team members on Fortescue sites with skills to support colleagues.

Lifeline WA says it received unprecedented demand for its services in 2021.

It estimates 64,000 Western Australians used their services during the year, a 21 per cent increase on 2021.

Outgoing Fortescue chief executive Elizabeth Gaines said Lifeline provided an essential service in the state.  

“Safety and family are at the core of our values and this extends to the mental health and wellbeing of all our team members,” Ms Gaines said in a statement.

“This has been especially important through the COVID-19 pandemic as the Fortescue family has faced unprecedented disruptions.

“As we look forward to spending the festive season with family and friends, we also acknowledge that for many this can be a particularly isolating and stressful period and Lifeline WA often provides a critical path to reach out for help.”

FMG offered a nod of support for its regional FIFO workers last month, commencing a 12-month weekly flight service from the South West to its Eliwana and Solomon iron-ore mining hubs.

Lifeline WA chief executive Lorna MacGregor said Western Australia’s mining sector faced unique challenges.

“We are thrilled with this partnership with Fortescue, which will enable Lifeline WA to train more  telephone crisis supporters to answer more calls for help and save more lives,” Ms MacGregor said.

“We know that by working together, we can spread the message that suicide is preventable, and help is always available.”

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