Live4Life Crew launched

News Story from The Carisbrook Mercury published July 4 2024

The Central Goldfields Live4Life first ever crew was held on Wednesday, June 26, at Highview College.

In front of an audience of Year 8 students, four upstanding crew members were presented with their honorary Live4Life hoodies.

They then interviewed guest speaker teacher Patrick Jenes to unveil their mental health theme and poster for 2024.

The year’s theme, ‘Listen Up, Stand Up’, encourages people to be an upstander and not a bystander, to listen up for people who are having a hard time and to stand up for what’s right for mental health.

The poster displays the old Maryborough Fire Brigade Bell Tower, chosen by the crew, to represent a tower of strength, with the bell symbolising that it is ok to ‘call for help’ when you need it.

Crew play an important role as mental health ambassadors within their school and the broader community, using their voices and passion, and their theme, to promote mental health awareness.

Representatives from Headspace, the Anglicare KIT (Keep In Touch) Van and local council celebrated with the Year 8s the event launch, through a range of activities, from badgemaking to hoola hooping, which are physical and fun, promoting good mental health.

“It’s inspiring to see young people heeding the call to become mental health ambassadors in our community,” Central GoldfieldsShire Mayor Councillor Liesbeth Long said. “They are setting the example of what it means to be an ‘upstander’ instead of a ’bystander’.”

The Youth Live4Life model, of which the Live4Life Crew is a core component, is about improving the mental health of young people in rural and regional communities.

Central Goldfields Shire was chosen to be a Live4Life Community in 2012 due to the collective efforts of council, local schools and local services who recognised the need for more mental health support for young people.