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Baw Baw Live4Life Youth Crew plans school mental health activities, free training offered to support young people

Over 30 Baw Baw youth ambassadors met to plan school mental health activities. Free Youth Mental Health First Aid training is available for local adults this September in Trafalgar.

By news@gippsland - 7th August 2025 - Back to News

Over 30 Baw Baw Youth Mental Health Ambassadors, known as the Crew, came together on Tuesday at the Bellbird Park East Pavillion in Drouin as part of the Live4Life Baw Baw program. Making the most of the opportunity to build their capacity as leaders and develop their event management skills, the Crew focused on plans for mental health awareness activities set to run in local schools later this year.

This free 14-hour course teaches adults to support adolescents facing mental health issues, with practical tools, resources, and accreditation provided upon completion. Training runs 2 - 3 September in Trafalgar

Empowering youth leadership

As part of the day, the Crew also had the opportunity to understand their individual strengths and communication styles, explore different leadership types and brainstorm ideas to deliver activities in their schools to promote safe conversations and positive mental health messaging.

Councillor Ben Lucas says Baw Baw Shire Council is proud to support Live4Life Baw Baw. "Raising awareness of mental health, especially for young people, is so important. This program is a wonderful way for young people to get involved, grow their skills and support one another."

The Live4Life Baw Baw Crew includes students from secondary schools across Drouin, Warragul, Trafalgar and Neerim South. Since the inception of Live4Life Baw Baw in 2020, more than 3,500 students and community members have participated in the program, and almost 200 students have volunteered to be Live4Life crew members.

Support youth wellbeing

One of the most important things adults can do to support young people in rural and regional areas is to undertake Youth Mental Health First Aid training. Live4Life Baw Baw is offering subsidised Youth Mental Health First Aid training opportunities for the Baw Baw Shire community.

This Youth Mental Health First Aid course, run over two days, is available to any adult (18 years and over) who would like to learn more about adolescent development, the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems in young people, where and how to get help and how to provide first aid in crisis situations. Youth Mental Health First Aid training details:

• When: 9am - 5pm on Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 September 2025
• Where: McGregor Park Hall, Trafalgar

This training is subsidised for the community by Live4Life Baw Baw. Tickets are available via Humanitix website. For more information about this program, visit council's website at Live4Life page.

Pictures from Baw Baw Shire Council website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com