NEW COMMUNITY SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT CALLS FOR UNDERSTANDING

Kids Help Line and Optus has released a new Community Service Announcement to air tonight on free-to-air television.

Kids Help Line is Australia's only free professional telephone and internet counselling service for young people aged five to 18. The service is secure, anonymous and confidential.

The new Community Service Announcement was created to raise awareness of the issues children face such as mental health, relationship difficulties and abuse.

Trevor Carolyn, Kids Help Line Executive Director said every child has the right to receive help if they have an issue they can't deal with or are in a crisis situation and need assistance to manage their feelings. Now by working with Optus, children have a real choice in how they talk to a counsellor via phone or online.

"Traditionally children used the telephone counselling service to contact Kids Help Line, but online contacts have increased by 25 per cent in 2002, with more than 8,000 counselling sessions via e-mail or web counselling."

Stephen Cameron, Marketing Director for Optus said, "As Australia's leading integrated service provider Optus has used innovative technology to assist young Australians in being heard.

Kids Help Line's toll free number is available 24 hours a day - 1800 55 1800.
The website is www.kidshelp.com.au.

Optus is Kids Help Line's major sponsor and has been helping kids connect since 1999.

For more information:

Heather Reid
Kids Help Line
Tel (07) 3369 1588

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