Live4Life: Educations Sessions

Live4Life: Educations Sessions

The Live4Life program has been a great success so far within the 5 secondary schools so far this term! We have covered an Introduction session in which Markus a young man involved with our partnership organisation WayOut came to shed some light into what it was like growing up and “being different” he did a great job of engaging and motivating the year 8’s, they all had plenty of questions for Markus. 

We then jumped into session 1: What’s Up! Taking a closer look at what mental health is? What are mental health problems? How do we know if we need help! Students did a great job negotiating some group work takes and they all got involved with the games! Lots of laughter and learning!

Session 2: In your Head! Takes a closer look at how our thoughts, feelings and actions are all connected. Students participated in a range of interactive activities and a group work task which encouraged them to interpret and act out a range of different scenarios focusing on common issues impacting young people.

We would like to formally welcome the Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School’s Bullengarook campus into the Live4Life family! We have been running our term 2 programs and really enjoying working with the students at Bullengarook campus and hope to continue our program with them into the future. 

We are very proud of our Crew members who have all stepped up to help educate the year 8’s! They have given up their own time both within school hours and after school hours and are doing a fantastic job! So we’d like to thank all the schools for continuing to encourage and support the Crew as they learn more about mental health issues and lead the year 8’s in de-stigmatizing issues surrounding mental illness. Well done guys! 

Live4Life has launched for 2013!

Live4Life's Top News Items:

The Live4Life Launch 2013

Live4LIfe 2013 has been launched!  Over 600 year 8 students from Braemar College, Macedon Grammar, Kyneton Secondary College, Gisborne Secondary College and the host school Sacred Heart Catholic College all come together to promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma in the Macedon Ranges. The crowds entered to pumping beats provided by local DJ peter DeVos as they  got settled for a great morning!

The fantastic Live4Life Crew hosted the day, they have been working really hard to make the day a success. This year we were really lucky to have some very talented local young people perform from all over the shire. The day kicked off with an original song written by Sam Hasell AKA Mumblr  especially  for Live4Life!  Sam rocked the morning and then closed the show with his hip hop beats....all 600 young people were up and dancing!

Next our Crew lead us through a Mythbusters activity outlining some of the common myths surrounding mental health! As many young people don’t really understand what mental health is! They often think ‘mental health’ has something to do with not being very smart or being a little strange...This is NOT TRUE! The truth is we all have mental health just like we have physical health so our Crew gave us an very insightful lesson.

Then we were lucky to hear a very real and moving story from a young man named Lachie Korvin, he is a member of CanTeen “The Australian Organisation for Young People Living with Cancer”  and he sits board of directors at CanTeen and has been through some very tough times but gave a great speech about how we can all look for good in any situation and how important it is to seek help.  

Local girls Yasmin and Yolanda  make up pop group FLAXXON, they wowed us with their moves and great songs- again everyone was up dancing away!! We then had a bit of insight from the Zaque Drama group as they acted out some great real life scenarios, encouraging the year 8’s to think how they can make change...and treat each other better!

All this is making me hungry! A big thanks to the wonderful team at Romsey Fresh Wholesale, Brumbies Gisborne and Bakers Delight Kyneton for such hard work and generously donating all the morning tea goodies for over 600 people a massive effort!! Morning tea was great, loads of food and lots to do! Thanks to our EXPO participants: CanTeen, St Luke’s, Cobaw Youth Services, WayOut, The Red Cross, Headspace, Vic Police, Sane and Reach for setting up some great stalls and providing support, information and goodies for all the year 8’s!

Next, Hannah, Isaac and James  year 11 students from  GSC were fantastic, singing whilst playing guitar and really connecting with the audience. The Crew educated us about respectful relationships, through a great local (Bendigo) film called Photograph,  the film really outlines how one seemingly small action can dramatically change lives and ultimately effect the mental health of many people.

We were then really lucky to have Sam back on stage singing some original hip hop beats...what a great morning of entertainment and more importantly we are out there in our community talking about mental health and why it’s so important, thanks to all involved in making today such a great success!

Jacqui Carter

Live4Life Coordinator

Check out the two videos below from the day. The first is our own Live4Life song written and performed by the very talented Sam Hasell and the second is a slideshow of some photos taken by students on the day.

Youth Mental Health First Aid - 2013 Course Dates

The dates for the 2013 courses are as follows. Please go to the Youth Mental Health First Aid page for more details here

2013 Course Dates:

Romsey

Feb 18 & 25

9am - 4:30pm

Gisborne

April 23 & 30 May 7 & 14

6 - 9:30pm

Woodend

July 30 & Aug 6, 13, 20

6 - 9:30pm

Lancefield

Oct 17 & 18

9am - 4:30pm

Kyneton

Nov 12, 19, 26 & Dec 3

6 - 9:30pm

New Live4Life e-Newsletter is online now

You can read and subscribe to it here

Want to join the Live4Life Crew in 2013?

Join the 2013 Crew! 

Are you going to be in year 9 in 2013?

Did you enjoy being a part of Live4Life this year?

Would you like to join in a great group of enthusiastic Young People and help us promote positive mental health messages within your school and community?

YES....Then join the Live4Life Crew in 2013 

As we say good bye to our fabulous year 10 Crew Members, we make way for new Crew Members who will be commencing year 9 in 2013. It’s recruitment time! Crew Members will be chosen from across all 5 Live4Life schools and successful applicants will be taking a very active role in the work of Live4Life in 2013.  

The Crew are an integral part of Live4Life; we need our local young people to be meaningfully involved in the decision making, activities and development of this mental health initiative. The crew is supported by a team of professionals within the Macedon Ranges Shire Youth Unit.

This is the job for a motivated young person who has a particular interest in making a difference in their school and community in regards to youth mental health. The Live4Life Crew has developed a great reputation within the community and schools.

As a Crew member you will be supported and mentored through a variety of learning and participatory opportunities including developing leadership and advocacy skills in the area of youth mental health.

How do I Join?

• Be willing and able to attend regular meetings after school and or during school holidays in the Youth Space Kyneton.
• Be willing to get involved in the presentation of the Launch, Competition and Celebration Events.
• Participate in Leadership Training.
• Be in year 9 in 2013.
• Attend one of the 5 Live4Life schools.
• Have an interest in positive Mental Health Promotion.
• Complete the application form.

Click here to download an application form!