Media & Advocacy Toolkit
A collection of resources to assist you in talking to the media or advocating on your own behalf for better mental health outcomes for young people growing up in rural and regional Australia.
Welcome!
These advocacy and media resources have been co-designed by Crew Champions, Laura, Mina and Talon. Their purpose is to help you lead conversations, talk about youth mental health and communicate your experience of Live4Life in the media with confidence and safety.
The toolkit includes video tips and downloadable how-to guides. So dive in! And remember… you have the power. It’s your voice and your message.
Being an Advocate
There are lots of ways you can use your voice to raise awareness and drive positive change!
Lived Experience
Lived experience is important…but it’s also sensitive. We recommend you refer those questions to someone who is trained to speak on that.
How to be an Advocate
Advocacy is about using your voice to create positive change. It can take many different forms, and everyone can contribute in a way that feels right for them.
The guide covers the following topics:
Types of advocacy
Before you start advocating
Staying safe
Communicating your message
Online advocacy
Self-advocacy
Speaking to leaders and decision makers
You don’t have to answer that specific question
Take the conversation where you want it to go. The aim is to get your message out there.
You can’t break it!
We aren’t robots, thankfully! Be the excellent human you are. Speak your truth.
Your Voice
Improving mental health outcomes for young people growing up in rural and regional communities is vital. We know that education, prevention and speaking up all help to reduce stigma associated with mental health, show us how to seek help for ourselves, and offer appropriate help for someone who may be struggling.
So, who do we need to hear from? You! Young people are the most important voices in leading conversations about their own mental health.
As Crew4Life mental health ambassadors, you can be powerful advocates and media spokespeople for rural and regional youth mental health.
What does that look like practically? And how you will be supported if you are offered a Media or Advocacy opportunity? It’s all in this step-by-step guide!
Media Process Guide
Taking care of you
Live4Life will support you before, during and after engagements.
Managing nerves
It’s different for everyone. So take some time to think about what makes you feel relaxed.
So you’re going to do an interview ? Great! Here’s an example of the info you will receive from Live4Life — the how, what, when and where.
Media Brief & Backgrounder
Navigating tricky questions
Don’t panic if you don’t know an answer. It’s perfectly okay to move onto what you’re comfortable talking about.
Meeting with your local MP
Three simple things to remember which will help guide your conversation.
What to wear
You don’t need to dress up. Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and confident.
“The amount of people that have stopped me in the street, the hallways at uni, or at social events and told me they remember me from the Live4Life program, and the way it has helped them, is staggering…It helped me develop my skills as a leader, an involved community member and a mental health advocate, exceeding all my expectations.”
Matty
Meet the Crew Champions
Crew Champions are Crew4Life members and official employees of Live4Life, trained to discuss:
Child safety
Public speaking
Lived experience
Youth participation and engagement
Youth mental health advocacy
Live4Life Child Safe Officers
Jeremy Wiggins
Chief Executive Officer
jeremy.wiggins@live4life.org.au
0484 299 885
Sara Cogo
Community Engagement Manager
sara.cogo@live4life.org.au
0429 609 078
