Service Charter
Birthline Pregnancy Support Services Incorporated is a not-for-profit
volunteer organization established 30 years ago in South Australia.
The agency provides a variety of services (counselling, information,
material assistance and referrals) to women, their partners and their
families and for others seeking support regarding pregnancy related
issues. The Birthline office operates during normal office hours Monday
to Friday and staffs a 24 hour, 7 day a week telephone counselling line
which is also part of a 1300 Pregnancy Help Line.
| Vision
. . . . |
To
be a dynamic, compassionate organization committed to the provision
of professional services
for all pregnancy related issues. |
| |
To
provide counselling, information and support for women, their partners
and their families
when they are experiencing distress or hardship as the result of
pregnancy or any pregnancy loss. |
| Mission
. . . . Birthline
is dedicated to ensuring that quality pregnancy support services
are available to everyone. |
| We
provide: |
Free,
non-directive counselling 24 hours per day, 7 days a week for women,
their partners and their families when they are experiencing any
pregnancy issue,
including grief following pregnancy loss. |
| |
Support
offering positive choices for pregnant women, their partners and
their families
through non-directive counselling, education and services. |
Services
we provide
For pregnant women, their partners and their families,
and others seeking information
or support with pregnancy related issues:
| •
|
Counselling
(telephone and /or face to face, one-off or ongoing) |
| •
|
Decision
making counselling |
| •
|
Counselling
before and after an abortion |
| •
|
Abortion
grief counselling |
| •
|
Information
and referrals |
| •
|
Emotional
support |
| •
|
Material
assistance |
| •
|
Education
materials i.e. videos, brochures, foetal models |
For
counsellors, existing and new:
| •
|
We
conduct a free Counsellor Training Course annually, which introduces
counselling skills to prospective counsellors and provides the opportunity
for a refresher course to existing counsellors. This course is presented
over a 10-12 week period. |
| •
|
Opportunities
for regular professional development and in-service training as
provided by the AFPSS (Australian Federation of Pregnancy Support
Services Inc) including subsidized attendance at the biennial National
Counsellor Training |
| •
|
Accreditation
as a counsellor within our organization |
| •
|
The
opportunity to be part of a network of like-minded support workers
for mutual support, sharing and encouragement |
| •
|
A National
Professional Indemnity Insurance for counsellors accredited by the
Federation when they are working for Birthline or the 1300 Line |
| •
|
Quarterly
pregnancy support Newsletter |
| •
|
Ongoing
support and supervision |
For our members and supporters:
•
Quarterly bulletin is posted out to interested parties providing an
update of Birthline’s work over the previous 3 month period and
publishing interesting articles supporting our work
We are commited to maintaining in our
counselling…..
| •
|
Confidentiality |
| •
|
Consistent
quality of service |
| •
|
Ethical,
professional, compassionate, non-judemental service |
| •
|
Respect,
courtesy and genuine helpfulness and consideration |
| •
|
Accessibility
(24/7 Pregnancy Help Line, counselling and support available for
the cost of a local call from any area of Australia) |
| •
|
Provision
of accurate and consistent information |
We
will continue to improve our service through
| •
|
Ongoing
assessment of the services we offer in order to identify the needs
of our clients |
| •
|
Identification
of client needs resulting in more efficient and effective servicing
of those needs |
| •
|
Ongoing
professional development of counsellors |
| •
|
Ongoing
development in our knowledge of and use of all available technology
(media, IT, telecommunications)
to ensure information about our service is readily available to
all |
|
