Meet Janessa - Crew4Life Member
Crew4Life Members are former Live4Life Crew members who are passionate about continuing to promote Live4Life, reducing the stigma around mental health and helping to reduce suicide.
Meet Janessa.
Janessa as a year 8 student in 2010 was part of the first Live4Life program run in the Macedon Ranges and became a Live4Life Crew member in 2011. She is currently studying a Masters of Social Work at La Trobe University and working part-time in Justice and Immigration.
When and where did you first become a Live4Life Crew member?
I first got involved with the Live4Life crew back in 2011 when I was in year 9. After being in the first group of year 8’s who participated in the Live4Life program in 2010. I was one of 3 crew members from Kyneton Secondary College in the Macedon Ranges crew which was the first crew and I stayed involved in the crew for 3 or 4 years and then stepped back to focus on VCE.
What is your favourite memory of being a Live4Life Crew member?
When I look back now at the great work that Live4Life has done I am so proud of what we achieved. We were getting people talking about mental health and educating our peers and our community trying to fight the stigma. But my favourite memory has to be when our crew got to have big fancy meetings in the Kyneton Town Hall in a big board room with fruit platters and cheese boards. As a little 15 year old, it was pretty special to be included in the process and really listened to. We were treated as a valued part of the organisation and our opinions and beliefs were always considered in the processes. Our voices were respected and heard and the connections that we made with each other were so strong because they were informed by the respect, integrity and empathy of those who were guiding us at Macedon Ranges Shire Council.
Why would you recommend someone to become a Live4Life Crew member?
Aside from learning about Mental Health and how you can help educate others on Mental Health, lived experience or suicide prevention, It’s so powerful to be a part of change. And it really connects you to your community. When I think about the Macedon Ranges community’s relationship with mental health awareness I can see how dramatically it has changed in the last 11 years since live4life was introduced into our schools. It wasn’t something that was openly talked about, especially in small rural towns and now it’s a part of our everyday vocabulary. There is a long way to go but it’s encouraging to know that I was a part of that change.
What does being Crew4Life member mean to you?
It’s an honour to have the opportunity to stay involved with such a great organisation. I think having people with all different experiences and knowledge is valuable in community organisations. To have governance from young people who are being supported by others who have been through the program and through the crew as well as professionals in the community will make for a really holistic approach to the program.
What are you doing now?
I am currently doing a Masters of Social Work at La Trobe University and working part-time in Justice and Immigration. And I have recently been working with RSL Victoria in Veteran Services for my university placement. I use the skills and knowledge that I gained from being a part of Live4Life every day. Live4Life was where I sparked my interest for Social Work and helping others.