Ballarat
“There’s always more beneath the surface”
Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung Country
Ballarat is the first regional city to implement Live4Life.
Ballarat’s population is over 120,000, making it the third-largest urban inland city in Australia and the third-largest city in Victoria.
Live4Life Ballarat launched in March 2023 and engages the whole Ballarat community — twelve secondary schools, health provider networks and local community organisations.
The Lead Agency is the City of Ballarat.
…have undertaken mental health education since Live4Life Ballarat was launched in 2023.
Youth Mental Health First Aid® training for adults in Ballarat
One of the most important ways adults can support young people in rural and regional areas is to undertake Youth Mental Health First Aid® training. It’s suitable for school staff and all other adults in the community, such as parents, grandparents, coaches, instructors etc.
Live4Life Ballarat offers subsidised Youth Mental Health First Aid® training opportunities for the Ballarat community. In 2025, 87 adults in Ballarat completed YMHFA®, and a further 41 did refresher courses.
Please register your interest here to undertake YMHFA® training.
The Crew
The Live4Life Ballarat Crew is made up of students from each of the twelve participating secondary schools. Members of the Crew design, plan and deliver mental health promotion activities throughout the year.
To find out more or to get involved with the Crew contact Jaymee Ellis on jaymeeellis@ballarat.vic.gov.au.
“When we work collaboratively and provide support to each other as organisations, we model something really powerful for young people — that is, that being a part of this community is something special. When we work in the service of young people to support them to care for themselves and their friends, we strengthen our community, the Ballarat community.
Live4Life is becoming a springboard for a range of other collaborative initiatives to occur to support the young people in our community. Ballarat is only a great place to live if it is a safe and supportive environment for all members of the community. Live4Life is taking huge steps to make this a reality and is bringing parts of the community together who have never really collaborated before. Born out of tragedy, it is building an exciting and positive future.”
Dean Griffin, Head of Student Wellbeing at Ballarat Clarendon College
2025 Crew theme
‘There’s always more beneath the surface’
Every year, the Crew creates a theme to capture the mental health messages they believe will connect with their peers and wider community. The Live4Life Ballarat Crew's theme for 2025 was 'There’s always more beneath the surface’.
The poster depicts our 2025 community mascot, ‘Pete the Polar Bear’. Pete can be seen providing peer-support to a friend. While the weather seems fine up top, the slogan reminds us that what’s visible is only ‘the tip of the iceberg’.
Thankfully, Pete has done Teen MHFA and knows that he needs to ASK and LISTEN to his mate, so they can tell him what it’s like for them below the surface. Pete’s a good mate. Be like Pete!
Download the 2025 Ballarat Crew Poster here.
2023 Impact Report
The City of Ballarat 2023 report provides a snapshot of the reach and impact that was achieved in the first year of implementation of the Live4Life program in Ballarat.
Live4Life Ballarat was established in response to a reported increase from schools and agencies in young people experiencing depression, anxiety, cyber-bullying and self-harm, which led to a coordinated response to address our young people’s mental health.
Read the City of Ballarat Live4Life Impact Report below.
Where to go in Ballarat for help
There are a number of services and resources available to support young people in the Ballarat community. Follow the link below to access this directory.
Our partners and supporters
Latest news from Ballarat
World Mental Health Day — a day to raise awareness around the world and mobilise our efforts in support of mental health. This year, Mental Health Australia’s theme for 10 October is ‘Connect with your community’ and reminds us that our communities – the people and places where we feel safe, seen and heard – can help us feel cared for and supported, which is good for our mental health.