Our impact
Measurable and evidence-based, Live4Life makes positive changes to mental health in rural and regional communities
…have undertaken mental health education and there’s an ever-growing Crew of awesome mental health ambassadors.
Proven positive change in rural and regional communities
Impact data-gathering and independent evaluations have been a Live4Life priority from the very first implementation in the Macedon Ranges in 2010. Five years of programmatic evaluations by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council were conducted with the support of Dr Krystal Bowers, Clinical Psychologist, DPsych, MAPS.
As Live4Life expanded beyond the Macedon Ranges, we worked with Ludowyk Evaluation and Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health to independently evaluate the communities of Benalla Rural City and Glenelg Shire, demonstrating proof of concept, impact, transferability and social return on investment.
In 2023-24, a research team from Melbourne University’s Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing conducted an evaluation of former Crew members over 18. Titled ‘Catching Up With The Crew’, the project explored how experiences of community connection, leadership and mental health shaped the developmental transition from secondary school to further education, social life and employment.
Today, having extended our reach to 14 rural and regional LGAs across Victoria and Tasmania, Live4Life is committed to building our evidence base year by year and is currently undertaking four evaluations:
a two year evaluation of the program in Break O’Day in collaboration with the University of Tasmania
a multi-year, multi-community study with the University of Melbourne
impact measurement and analysis as a Social Impact Partner of Future Generation Global (FGG) and partnering with Seer Data
internal multi-community surveys supported by funding from State Trustees Australia Foundation and William Buckland Foundation
You can read all our evaluation reports, and if you have any questions please get in touch.
“Live4Life is driving conversations about mental health amongst young people and their families.”
Ludowyk Evaluation Report 2018-2019
“I can easily say that Live4Life changed my life.”
Matty
Live4Life has worked with over 175 organisations across fourteen rural communities reaching over 33,500 young people.
1800 young people have engaged as mental health ambassadors in the Live4Life Crew within their schools and communities. And an active alumni group Crew4Life share their stories at Live4Life events, as well as promote the work we do.
With over 20 communities keen to implement Live4Life, we’re expanding our reach to empower more rural and regional communities to implement Live4Life.
"Projects such as Live4Life are so important to our region and provide vital assistance for schools and young people navigating an increasingly complex society. The grouping of key support services, which promote positive adolescent mental and emotional health outcomes, makes a real difference in supporting our young people to become resilient, robust and active participants in their developmental journey.”
Secondary school principal, Latrobe Valley
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“Live4Life has taught me how to look out for myself, and it teaches you how to look out for others. It’s about how you treat yourself and others, and it’s had a big impact.”
Charlie, Crew member