The Woodend-based health promotion charity Youth Live4Life has secured a $871,163 Federal Government grant to expand its award-winning youth mental health and suicide prevention program Live4Life interstate.

Federal Minister for Health, The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, today visited Woodend in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges to announce the grant recipients from the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program.

“We are thrilled to have secured funding to pilot Live4Life in one interstate region in 2023, and to activate our first interstate partnership by 2024” said CEO Bernard Galbally.

“This grant will enable us to both trial the award-winning Live4Life program and complete a thorough evaluation of its impact on the local community” explained Mr Galbally.

Live4Life is a youth mental health and suicide prevention initiative designed specifically for rural and regional communities.

The evidence-based model builds both young people, and the local rural community’s capacity to recognise mental health concerns and seek and offer help.

Born in the Macedon Ranges in 2010, Live4Life currently operates in nine Victorian Communities; Bass Coast Baw Baw, Benalla, Central Goldfields, Glenelg, Macedon Ranges, Moira, South Gippsland Southern Grampians.

“More than 20 rural and regional LGAs across Australia have already expressed interest in implementing our model. We hope to reach 92 Australian communities by 2030 and this is a significant step towards this goal” commented Bernard Galbally.

Live4Life is featured in the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System’s final report as a case study ‘highlighting innovation in community-led mental health solutions for young people’.

ENDS