About Youth Live4Life
Youth Live4Life Ltd. is a registered health promotion charity, which implements the Live4Life model.
Youth Live4Life empowers rural communities to support, improve and invest in young people’s mental health and wellbeing through the implementation of the Live4Life model.
Youth Live4Life was established in 2015 to independently facilitate and govern the expansion of the Live4Life youth suicide prevention and mental health education model, operating in the Macedon Ranges since 2010. In 2017, Youth Live4Life piloted the Live4Life model in the Rural City of Benalla and in the Glenelg Shire (in South West Victoria). The Live4Life model is now being implemented in nine rural communities with more than twenty rural communities keen to implement the model.
Live4Life has been independently evaluated.
Findings highlight the value of a whole-community response to youth mental health, its impact and social return on investment, a clear proof of concept and the transferability of the model. Evaluation reports can be found here.
An award-winning model
In 2018 Youth Live4Life won VicHealth’s Improving Mental Wellbeing Award and the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria’s Rural Award for Most Innovative Rural Youth Program.
In 2017, Macedon Ranges Live4Life was awarded the national LiFE Award in Community Development (Organisation) at the National Suicide Prevention Conference for its groundbreaking work.
In 2020, Youth Live4Life and the Live4Life communities of Glenelg, Benalla and Macedon Ranges received a High Commendation at the 2020 Local Government Pro-Awards.
The Live4Life journey so far…
Live4Life starts in the Macedon Ranges Shire.
Youth Live4Life Inc is incorporated to take the model beyond the Macedon Ranges.
Glenelg Shire and Benalla began implementing Live4Life.
Orygen evaluation of Glenelg Shire and Benalla finds Live4Life provides an effective community engagement platform and aligns well with state and national suicide prevention policies.
Youth Live4Life Ltd becomes a company limited by guarantee in order to expand nationally.
Baw Baw, Southern Grampians and Moira begin implementation of Live4Life, with funding secured for 2021.
A two-year independent evaluation of Live4Life in Glenelg Shire and Benalla demonstrates strong implementation and outcome results.
Youth Live4Life Ltd finalises their business plan to scale Live4Life over the next 10 years.
Live4Life is highlighted as a case study in the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System's Final Report illustrating "an example of a local organisation driving change in young people’s lives
Live4Life Bass Coast, South Gippsland and Central Goldfields start planing to launch in 2022
The Live4Life team grows with the recruitment of a Community Engagement Coordinator for Gippsland a Communications Coordinator
Live4Life launches in Bass Coast, South Gippsland and Central Goldfields
Live4Life launches in Ballarat, our first regional city
Live4Life launches in Break O'Day Tasmania, our first interstate community funded by the Federal Government’s National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program
Youth Live4Life receives accreditation from the Suicide Prevention Accreditation Program.
Live4Life launches new branding co-designed with young people. Youth Live4Life has grown to an organisation of 18 permanant staff