Lifeline volunteer Jenny Binovec to speak at Albury information session

"I love stepping away from my world and giving myself to other people," the 39-year-old says.

It's a three-hour round trip from Wagga to Lifeline Albury Wodonga where Ms Binovec has volunteered as a crisis support worker for more than two years.

When you combine that travel time with a six-hour shift on the phones supporting people in crisis, that makes for a mighty commitment from this busy musician and teacher.

But Ms Binovec wouldn't have it any other way.

"I have always wanted to engage in community and connection," she explains.

"I wanted a volunteering opportunity that was meaningful and really contributing to people's lives .. and I've always been curious about people and their experiences."

At first, Ms Binovec was surprised by the extensiveness of the Lifeline training program.

"At the time I thought, 'Oh wow'," she says of a 12-month commitment that begins with training every Saturday for three months, e-learning modules and on-the-job training.

But the result of that thoroughness is feeling equipped and supported to speak with people facing some of their darkest times.

Ms Binovec feels "a little bit of me goes into every call".

She has tuned her "listening ear" and sees her role as working to build connection with help-seekers as she "steps into their lives" for a brief moment.

"It's a beautiful thing to help lead them along in their journey ...

"The thing that stands out to me is people's bravery - the courage of the human spirit is uplifting."

There are many desperate, devastating calls.

"There is a lot of disconnection and pain in the community," Ms Binovec reflects.

"In some calls, people tell us they literally have no one, or the supports that do exist - whether that be professional or family - are not in fact supportive.

"So many times the mental health system doesn't get it right.

"One mother described trying to get her son, who was suicidal, into emergency and being told to go home.

"If we had a system that worked really well, we wouldn't be taking these calls.

"There is still so much further to go."

Lifeline doesn't like setting records, says its chairman John Brogden.

But during the 2019/2020 bushfires and the worst of COVID, figures show Lifeline was there for people, he said during a recent visit to the Border.

On average the national crisis support service receives about 2500 calls a day.

During the bushfires that increased to 2700 calls per day and to 3300 calls per day during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, he told a mental health lunch at The Albury Club on June 18.

"It means people were reaching out," he said.

Interestingly, he pointed out that during the worst of COVID-19, the suicide rate dropped by 6 per cent in NSW and 2 per cent in Victoria.

"We were there for people and the government wrapped its arm around them with the JobKeeper payment, rental laws and moves to take the homeless off the street," Mr Brogden said.

... "But what will the next 12 months look like I wonder?"

From time to time, Ms Binovec wonders what the continuing journey has been for those she spoke to.

"Even though I will probably never speak to them again, I feel connected to their journey," she reflects.

"I feel I've made a positive difference.

"And I also feel so incredibly grateful for my own life."

She compares Lifeline's role, which provides support to 1 million Australians each year, to the Japanese practice of "kintsukuroi".

The ancient art form beautifies broken pottery and translates to "repairing the cracks with gold".

"In a society that is fractured by so many issues - people's pain and isolation, suicide, mental illness and domestic violence - LIfeline is helping to repair the cracks with gold," Ms Binovec says.

"And somehow it stands out as more beautiful."