Youth Live4Life

If you need help, support is available. If you are experiencing a tough time, need someone to talk to, or are in a crisis, here is a list of services designed to support both young people and adults who are experiencing mental ill-health. These resources are also available for friends, parents and carers who would like some guidance and support. Lifeline Australia 📞 13 11 14 Kids Helpline Official 📞 1800 55 1800 headspace (including Yarn Safe) 📞 1800 650 890 Beyond Blue 📞 1300 22 4636 ReachOut Australia Suicide Call Back Service 📞 1300 659 467 Butterfly Foundation 📞 1800 33 4673 (8am-9pm) QLife Australia 📞 1800 184 527 (LGBTIQA+ service 3 pm - 12 am) Rainbow Door 📞 1800 729 367 (Victorian LGBTIQA+ Service 10am - 5pm) Switchboard Victoria Minus18 Foundation If life is in danger, please call Triple Zero 000. You can find a full list of services on the Live4Life website https://lnkd.in/e8jeycAu

This time of year, many of us look forward to relaxed holiday time with family and friends. But December can be a real struggle for some. Did you know, the annual prevalence of mental ill health in young people aged 16–24 years has increased by more than 50% in the last 15 years? DONATE TODAY https://lnkd.in/gt2kk4P2 [LINK IN BIO] Live4Life is the only prevention model designed specifically for rural and regional communities — where 60% of young people are unable to access mental health services when they need them. A donation from you can make a huge difference! By supporting Live4Life, you are helping rural communities protect their young people before a crisis occurs. This festive season, make your gift one that has a lasting impact on the lives of young people. Image description: Red Christmas paper background with image of a present and photograph of two young people chatting and smiling. The caption reads " Make a life-changing gift this festive season. #festiveseason #festiveseasongift #protectyounglives #live4life #festiveseasondonation #yourgift

That's a wrap for 2024! And what a fantastic year from Live4Life communities all around Victoria and Tasmania! A HUGE thanks to: 💛 Young people who volunteer in the Live4Life Crews 💛 Members of Crew4Life who continue to advocate for young people's mental health post-school 💛 Members of Live4Life School and Community Partnership Groups 💛 Live4Life Coordinators and Crew Support Workers 💛 Teen and Youth MHFA® Instructors 💛 School staff 💛 Donors and funders 💛 Board and Sub-Committee members 💛 And the Live4Life staff Live4Life is an enormous collaborative effort involving 14 rural and regional communities across wide and diverse geographical areas. It's such a pleasure working together and a privilege to support young people in their leadership and advocacy. The Live4Life team wishes you a festive season full of good company and joyful celebration. If you are taking a break like us, may it be restful and rejuvenating. See you in the New Year! We also acknowledge that this time of year can be difficult for many in our community. If you are experiencing a tough time, need someone to talk to, or are in a crisis, we recommend the #kidshelpline 1800 55 1800, Lifeline Australia 13 11 14, #beyondblue 1300 22 4636, or @headspaceAustralia / headspace Australia 1800 650 890. If life is in danger, please call Triple Zero 000. You can find more services on the Live4Life website. [LINK https://lnkd.in/e8jeycAu] The Live4Life office closes for the year on 20 December and reopens on 2 January 2025. Image Description: A series of photographs showing young people and adults involved with Live4Life in different community settings.

Live4Life is bidding the fondest of farewells to our longest-serving staff member. Deputy CEO / Director of Strategy and Impact Rebecca Morecroft has been an integral part of Youth Live4Life from the very beginning in 2016, when we first trialled the model outside of the Macedon Ranges. She has played a crucial, foundational role in defining our culture and helping build us into a maturing, successful organisation. With over 20 years’ experience leading youth policy, advocacy and social programs, Rebecca has dedicated her working life to supporting and improving young people’s lives. We will miss her thoughtfulness, consideration, kindness and wisdom. She means a lot to all of us at Live4Life and leaves with our best wishes for happiness and success as she embarks upon a new chapter. Thank you, Rebecca. Go well!

Welcome to LAURA CROZIER, who is joining the Live4Life team as a Crew Champion! Drawing from her own experience of mental ill-health, Laura is a passionate advocate for empowering and educating other young people when it comes to navigating struggles with mental health, especially in a rural and regional setting. She has been a regular speaker at Live4Life events this year and continues her advocacy work more broadly with Youth Affairs Council Victoria and as co-host of the podcast Growing Up Clueless. Crew Champions are adults on the Live4Life team who have experienced the Live4Life model as participants and are able to provide a unique perspective of progressing through the stages of the program from the inside, including being part of the Crew at school and volunteering with Crew4Life after school. Specially trained in child safe public speaking, they are vital communicators at schools, Live4Life events, and in speaking to the media. You can read more about Live4Life Speakers here https://lnkd.in/gfPDFRJm [LINK IN BIO] IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Headshot of young adult looking at the camera, wearing a white top. Surrounded by a purple frame and text: Welcome Laura Crozier, Crew Champion +Live4Life logo.

Welcome to TALON GOSTELOW, who is joining the Live4Life team as a Crew Champion! Talon has been a guest speaker and MC at a number of Life4Life events, where his experience of life challenges has offered an opportunity to share a story of resilience and self-determination. Talon describes Crew4Life as an environment where you can “support those around you so that everyone grows together.” Meanwhile, he combines Live4Life duties with uni, employment at the Shire Council as a youth worker, and pursuing modelling, acting and public speaking. Driven by his five core values: Authentic, Empathetic, Communicative, Respectful, & by Design, he knows that young people are shaped by realistic role models leading by example. Crew Champions are adults on the Live4Life team who have experienced the Live4Life model as participants and are able to provide a unique perspective of progressing through the stages of the program from the inside, including being part of the Crew at school and volunteering with Crew4Life after school. Specially trained in child safe public speaking, they are vital communicators at schools, Live4Life events, and in speaking to the media. You can read more about Live4Life Speakers here https://lnkd.in/gfPDFRJm [LINK IN BIO] IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Headshot of young adult looking at the camera, wearing a yellow hoodie, with blurred brickwork in the background. Surrounded by a yellow frame and text: Welcome Talon Gostelow, Crew Champion +Live4Life logo.

Welcome to MINA BEVERLEY, who is joining the Live4Life team as a Crew Champion! Mina joined the Macedon Ranges Crew in 2018 and became one of Crew4Life's foundation members at the beginning of 2024. He is passionate about queer-related issues and representation, and advocating for better mental health — especially from the perspective of someone with lived experience. He loves exploring creative ideas and has made leading contributions to video presentations on behalf of Live4Life. Mina is focused on reducing stigma and suicide rates, and improving the capacity of under-resourced communities to provide better education on different mental ill-health issues. Crew Champions are adults on the Live4Life team who have experienced the Live4Life model as participants. They are able to provide a unique perspective of progressing through the stages of the program from the inside, including being part of the Crew at school and volunteering with Crew4Life after school. Specially trained in child-safe public speaking, they are vital communicators at schools, Live4Life events, and to the media. You can read more about Live4Life Speakers here https://lnkd.in/gfPDFRJm [LINK IN BIO]

Live4Life Ballarat held a well-earned end of year Celebration at RACV Goldfields Resort in Creswick as special guests of RACV on November 25. Crew members from across Ballarat came together for a packed program (and delicious lunch!) in the resort's Hepburn Room, where Ballarat City Council Cr Des Hudson gave a stirring address to the students and assembled guests about Live4Life's impact in Ballarat and warmly congratulated the Crew on their achievements for the year. Terrific to hear from Crew members Zara, Logan, Alice, Rita, Coco, Ella, Ajihthaa, Kherington, Simone, Austin, Yolanda & Sebastian, who spoke of the activities they've been involved with. And everyone had loads of fun participating in some filming for RACV, including some sit down interviews. RACV a is a great supporter of Live4Life and their film gives Crew members a fantastic opportunity to speak to a wider audience about what Live4Life means to them. We can't wait to see the final edit! Huge thanks to Megan and Nerissa and the team from RACV, as well as Sharelle, Matt, Dean and of course Stacey and Ashlee, who did a huge amount on the day. Congrats to all schools involved with Live4Life Ballarat in 2024. It's been a fabulous first year of full implementation! #live4life #live4lifeballarat #live4life2024 #live4lifecrew #ballaratcrew #live4lifecrew2024 #ballaratcrew2024 Ballarat High School Damascus College Ballarat Mount Clear College Ballarat Clarendon College #WoodmansHillSecondaryCollege #MountRowanSecondaryCollege #BallaratChristianCollege / #BallaratChristianCollegeP12 #ballaratyouthservices

A warm welcome to MEG CAPURSO, joining the team as a Live4Life Adviser for Gippsland! Meg brings great breadth of experience from a career spanning numerous locations around Australia, with roles in education, community health, parenting, community and youth development. Most recently, she worked as the Youth Liaison Coordinator at Wellington Shire Council — a role she loved and which allowed her to develop skills in youth participation and community-building. It was in this role that Meg became an advocate for Live4Life, and she is excited to be working now to support communities to implement and sustain Live4Life's holistic model of mental health education and suicide prevention. "Working alongside young people and community to determine and achieve their goals is a privilege," Meg says. "It gives me energy." #live4life #live4lifecommunity #life4lifeteam #live4lifegippsland #live4lifewellington

Live4Life Bass Coast and South Gippsland has wrapped up the year with five events across October and November. Crew led ‘Check-in Days’ at Mary MacKillop College, Mirboo North Secondary, Foster Secondary College, Korumburra Secondary College, and Leongatha Secondary College. The Check-ins have offered the opportunity for Crew to celebrate the Year 8 students completing Teen Mental Health First Aid® training. Crew have also taken the time to reiterate the important mental health message of the 2024 Theme "Check in and Reach Out". This year’s theme encourages young people to support each other and reminds everyone that recovery and mental health are not linear, but an ongoing process. At each event, the Crew has run a range of activities, including a spinning wheel, face painting, photobooth and other mental health-focused games — while also enjoying a delicious BBQ cooked by some incredible teachers! Congratulations on a terrific year, Bass Coast and South Gippsland Crew! #MaryMacKillopCollege #mirboo_north_secondary #fostersecondarycollege #korumburrasc #LeongathaSecondaryCollege.