Break O’Day
Lutruwita Country
“Don't hide behind the mask — Break the chain, free the mind, take the time to unwind.”
Live4Life Break O’Day launched in 2023 and is the first community outside Victoria to implement the Live4Life model.
Break O’Day is a rural local government area situated in the northern part of Tasmania's east coast. It has a population of 6,770 and major towns of the region include St Helens, St Marys and Scamander.
Live4Life Break O’Day launched in April 2023. The first Live4Life Crew was inducted in 2024 from students attending St Marys and St Helens District secondary schools. The Lead Agency is the Fingal Valley Neighbourhood House.
Live4Life Break O’Day is funded by the Federal Government’s National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program (NSPLSP).
…have undertaken mental health education through Live4Life Break O’Day since 2023 and there’s an ever growing Crew of awesome Mental Health Ambassadors.
The Crew
The Live4Life Break O’Day Crew is made up of students from each of the 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 Casey Musicka on casey.musicka@fvnh.org.au.
2026 Crew theme
‘Don't hide behind the mask — Break the chain, free the mind, take the time to unwind’
Every year, the Crew creates a theme to capture the mental health messages they believe will connect with their peers and wider community.
Download a copy of the 2026 Break O’Day Crew Theme Poster.
2025 Reach for the stars and be who you are
2024 Life is like the pass - it’s winding, has it’s ups and downs, but it keeps us all connected’
Youth Mental Health First Aid® training for adults in Break O’Day
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 Break O’Day offers subsidised Youth Mental Health First Aid® training opportunities for the Ballarat community. In 2025, 18 adults in Break O’Day completed YMHFA®.
Evaluation of Break O’Day by the University of Tasmania
Funded by the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program (NSPLSP), the Centre for Rural Health at The University of Tasmania evaluated Live4Life model implementation in Break O’Day from 2023–2025.
Findings showed:
Students showed clear gains in recognising appropriate help pathways and supportive peer behaviours, indicating improved practical mental health literacy.
There was increased knowledge and confidence to act, as indicated by real-world actions after TMHFA:
42.1% helped someone seek support
40.4% accessed support for themselves
68.4% discussed TMHFA with friends
49.1% discussed TMHFA with family
What this means: Learning translated into behaviour, not just attitudes. Mental health knowledge spread beyond classrooms into peer and family networks.
Where to go in Break O’Day for help
The Break O’Day Partnership Group has developed an up-to-date localised directory of the services and resources that are available to support young people in the Break O’Day community. You can view this resource below.
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