Youth Live4Life

28/11/2025

Make a life-changing gift this festive season.

This time of year, many of us look forward to relaxing with family and friends. But December can be a real struggle for some. A donation from you can make a huge difference!

DONATE TODAY https://supportus.live4life.org.au/donate

Did you know that su***de is the leading cause of death in young Australians? And latest figures indicate that rates of su***de are now over 50% higher in rural and regional communities?

Live4Life is the only prevention model designed specifically for rural and regional communities — where 6 out of 10 young people are unable to access mental health services when they need them.

This festive season, make your gift one that has a lasting impact on the lives of young people.

***deprevention

27/11/2025

November's Crew4Life Kick Back was hosted by Crew Champion Talon!

Members engaged in interactive games designed to think about connection and understanding. Through these activities, Crew4Life discovered shared experiences and unique differences and explored their emotions in a fun, welcoming and supportive space. This Kick Back emphasised meaningful interaction, empathy, and personal reflection, allowing members to strengthen their connection with one another.

🏅 Our Crew4Life member of the month this month is Charlotte! Congrats Charlotte for being super engaged in all aspects of Crew4Life (and going above and beyond at last month's costume dress up 👊)!

Watch out for the last Kick Back for 2025: Wednesday 3 December 5.30pm-6.30pm

Crew4Life is a community of former Live4Life Crew members. To sign up, email bridie.johnstone@live4life.org.au or visit the website https://www.live4life.org.au/crew4life

26/11/2025

Live4Life is proud to announce the inauguration of the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC).

👏👏👏 Congratulations to the newly appointed YAC members: Alannah Sander, Laura Crozier, Jewel Burchell-Robins, Mina Beverley, Zinny Hunt, Zac Chu and Parker Tuckett!

The purpose of the YAC is to represent and embed the voices of young people within the Live4Life organisation, providing relevant feedback and expert advice to the Live4Life Board of Directors in relation to existing policies, procedures and other matters pertaining to the Live4Life model.

The first meeting of the YAC was held on Tuesday 25 November, attended by the the newly appointed members, Live4Life CEO Bernard Galbally, honorary member Board Director Pauline Neil, and Youth and Community Engagement Adviser Bridie Johnstone.

To learn more about the YAC visit - https://www.live4life.org.au/about-us/youth-advisory-committee

20/11/2025

🎉 Big cheers for youth mental health in Southern Grampians! 🎉
This week, we’re celebrating 9 incredible locals who have completed their Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training! 🙌

Every new MHFA graduate means a stronger, more supportive community for our young people. 💪Together, we’re building a future where mental health is understood, valued, and supported. 🌟

A huge thank you to everyone who stepped up to make a difference! 👏



Youth Live4Life

20/11/2025

20/11/2025

Very honoured to present at a Victorian Parliamentary Breakfast this morning.

Hosted by Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Hon Maree Edwards MP, the event took place in one of Spring St's beautiful Library rooms and was attended by Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt MP, Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas MP, and Cabinet Secretary Steve McGhie MP, along with several other Members of Parliament, funding bodies, sector partners and representatives of Live4Life communities.

Attendees heard from Live4Life CEO Bernard Galbally and then Dr Lakshmi Neelakantan, Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, who provided an overview of evaluation work being conducted across multiple Live4Life communities. The final speaker of the morning was Crew Champion Laura Crozier, whose moving speech left not a dry eye in the room as she spoke of the impact Live4Life had on her growing up and continues to be an important part of her life today.

Live4Life is very pleased to have this opportunity to visit the Parliament House of Victoria and highlight the mental health needs of young people in rural and regional communities — and we are grateful to the many people who came along to meet, converse and engage on this vital work. Huge thanks to Prevention United, Mental Health Victoria, Victorian Student Representative Council, Victorian Council of Social Service and RACV!

14/11/2025

🧠💙 Last chance to join Youth Mental Health First Aid training!

📯Live4Life Baw Baw is hosting their final Youth Mental Health First Aid training for the year on 19-20 November in Drouin.

📖 This two-day course equips adults who teach, care for, or support young people with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to recognise, understand, and respond to a young person experiencing a mental health problem or crisis.

👉 Thanks to heavy subsidisation from Live4Life Baw Baw, tickets are just $22 for both days.

🎟️ Secure your spot here:
https://events.humanitix.com/youth-mental-health-first-aid-dglse83f

Youth Live4Life

11/11/2025

At this year’s Rural Mental Health Conference in Hobart, Live4Life had the chance to showcase what community-led mental health promotion looks like when it’s built through deep partnership and local ownership. Live4Life's Deputy CEO/Director of Strategy and Impact Jeremy Wiggins joined three incredible leaders on as part of a panel discussion: Laura Crozier, one of Live4Life's Crew Champions bringing the lived voice and energy of young people; Casey Musicka, the Coordinator of the Break O’Day Live4Life program through Fingal Valley Neighbourhood House; and Dr Laura Grattidge from the University of Tasmania, who shared early findings from the evaluation of the federally funded Live4Life program in Break O’Day.

Together, they showed how Live4Life builds real capacity in rural communities by working alongside them over the long term, not flying in and out. Laura spoke powerfully about the impact of youth-led mental health promotion. Casey grounded the conversation in what it takes to deliver the program locally, highlighting the strength of community ownership and trusted local coordination. Dr Grattidge added an important evidence lens, outlining what is beginning to emerge from the evaluation of the Break O’Day program and how those early signals reflect community strengths and program impact.

The mix of youth voice, local implementation experience and early evaluation insights really resonated with the audience and sparked strong interest from other rural regions looking for practical, place-based approaches.

Outside the panel, it was energising to connect with so many organisations focused on regional and rural mental health. We also valued the opportunity to meet with representatives from both the Tasmanian and Australian Governments to discuss rural mental health priorities and areas where Live4Life can support future work.

Overall, the conference was a great reminder of the shared commitment across the sector to strengthening rural mental health, and it was wonderful to see young leaders, local partners and evidence all spotlighted together.

Thank you to the 2025 Rural Mental Health Conference in Hobart for the invitation to participate.

06/11/2025

🏆🏆🏆 A record-breaking LAP it UP!

This year, LAP it UP ran for four weeks, coinciding with the World Mental Health Month of October. In this fourth year of LAP it UP, participants all across Australia made a big splash for youth mental health!

Records tumbled across the board. An amazing 223,446 laps swum in 28 days! 🏊🏽🏊🏿🏊 And the final fundraising tally? $171,868!

Incredible effort — we’d like to THANK ALL OF YOU who participated with such commitment, enthusiasm and perseverance. Congratulations and well done!

Your efforts in and out of the pool have helped raise a record amount! You are champions for youth mental health, and we acknowledge and greatly appreciate the generosity of everyone who raised funds for Live4Life through their swimming this year.

You have all made a real difference for young people in rural and regional Australia! 💙💙💙

***deprevention ***deawareness Youth Live4Life

05/11/2025

"From one teenager to another - we are not alone"

Every message of kindness, every "are you ok?" and every smile makes a difference.

Let's keep showing up for each other.

Because together we are stronger 🩵💜💛❤️

29/10/2025

🏆🏆🏆 Congratulations to our 2025 LAP it UP CHAMPIONS!

Today we announce winners and prizes....But first, can we have a round of applause for the 1,216 who signed up this year? A new record! And how about the over 80 towns and cities across the country where swimmers were doing their laps? Amazing! And as for the 213,065 laps you all swam…that more than DOUBLED last year’s total! WELL DONE, EVERYONE! 👏👏👏

Incredibly, 79 participants achieved 1,000 laps or more. Wow.

🥁🥁🥁 Drumroll... and our 2025 LAP it UP champions are:

🏆 Most individual laps - MURRAY with an extraordinary 4,800 laps. That’s 1,200 laps per week!

🏆 Most individual laps by a young person - MILLIE who swam 4080 laps. What a champion!

🏆 Highest individual fundraiser - RHYTHM raised an outstanding $4,505. Shout out to 2nd place getter Adam on $3,383 and Christopher in 3rd with $3,147.

🏆 Highest team fundraiser - AIRLIE BEACH LAGOON LIFEGUARDS took the lead early and ended with an incredible $9,552! Second place-getters Bernard’s Different Strokes finished on $6,411, closely followed by Park Swimmers with $4,001.

Thank you so much! You have all made a real difference for young people in rural and regional Australia!

***deprevention ***deawareness

28/10/2025