Sir William Deane, former Governor General of Australia, today launched a range of world leading, interactive visual tools for the Kids Help Line webcounselling service.

According to Trevor Carlyon, Kids Help Line Executive Director, being able to communicate with counsellors visually, in addition to text, means young people have more ways to express themselves.

"With access to shared web pages and other information, our counsellors now have more scope to understand the issues young people are trying to convey and to help them work toward solutions.

"Young people are telling us they want new and easier ways to connect and we are pleased to work with Optus to deliver them. Our shared vision is to improve communication and life outcomes for young Australians," Mr. Carlyon said.

Paul Fletcher, Optus Director Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, said Optus was happy to partner Kids Help Line to find innovative online solutions to help young people.

"Optus values working with Kids Help Line to provide technical, marketing and financial support with the energy and commitment of our staff. The partnership fits very well with Optus' goals of innovation and communication."

QUT Creative Industries developed the visual tools with Kids Help Line under an Australian Research Council grant. The counselling tools are contained in the new kidshelponline website, which features new navigation, branding and features.

Web counselling was launched by Kids Help Line and Optus in 1999. Last year counsellors responded to almost 8,300 online counselling sessions, representing an increase of 25 per cent over 2001.

"For some people issues may be too difficult, or too personal to discuss and text is a more comfortable alternative. Online counselling provides young people with a safe option to seek help for serious problems, like mental health and child abuse," Mr Carlyon said.

Real-time webcounselling is similar to a chat room except that the interaction is solely between the young person and the counsellor.

Kids Help Line provides free professional counselling to young people aged 5 to 18 years. The telephone counselling service is available 24 hours a day from anywhere in Australia. The live webcounselling service operates between 3pm and 9pm Monday to Friday.

For more information visit www.kidshelponline.com.au. Telephone counselling is available on 1800 55 1800.

For more information:
Simone Bergholcs
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 9342 7850