Call is out for mental health advocates

Australia’s largest mental health and fitness event, The Push-Up Challenge, is calling on students passionate about mental health to apply for its 2025 Student Ambassador program.

Student Ambassadors will lead their school friends, teachers and school community in The Push-Up Challenge by cheering them on to get active, have fun and learn about mental health.

Students completing Year 10, 11 and Year 12 in 2025 anywhere in Australia can apply to be a Student Ambassador and make a difference to the mental health of their school community.

And Mount Gambier High School student Alisha Cram highly recommends getting involved after she signed up this year.

“i heard about the push up challenge through an ad on facebook and i wanted to get involved to help improve the talk of mental health around my school, whether it’s students talking about it or teachers trying to help students,” Alisha said.

“I would encourage someone to apply as not only do you have a chance to support your school and to connect to people, you also get to connect with other ambassadors around Australia through online workshops and zoom calls. You will also get the chance to learn about mental health from mental health professionals.

“The role of a school ambassador is to safely help students in their school learn about mental health and the effects that mental health can have on a person by using exercise as exercise is a very important part on improving your own mental health.”

The Push-Up Challenge founder Nick Hudson said the Student Ambassador Program was one of the organisation’s proudest achievements to date.

“Watching students from around the country bring their communities together through fun and fitness is such a special thing,” he said. “Students and school groups are some of our most passionate participants because they care wholeheartedly about learning about mental health and coming together to achieve a common goal.”

Ambassadors benefit by developing skills to have conversations about mental health with confidence, learning more about mental wellbeing, and bringing their school community together to push for a good cause.

The program offers successful applicants Mental Health Awareness training facilitated by a clinical psychologist, practical strategies to boost their own mental fitness, exclusive merchandise, workshops and event resources to support mental health education at their school.

“Young people are those least likely of any age group in Australia to seek professional help for mental health issues,” Nick said. “Reducing the stigma attached to mental health challenges and seeking help is crucial, as the more we can educate young people about it, the more they will think proactively about their mental wellbeing.

“ The Student Ambassador program provides tools to increase mental health knowledge and build confidence in encouraging conversations about mental fitness with their peers and community.”.

In 2024, there were more than 640 Student Ambassadors leading more than 33,000 students around the country in completing millions of push-ups.

“We can’t wait to engage even more students and their communities in 2025 through an even bigger Student Ambassador Program, helping students, teachers and parents Australia-wide look after their mental health, foster a sense of connection and ultimately reduce stigma associated with mental illness,” he said.

Alisha also believes the Push-Up Challenge can have a huge influence on mental health discussions among teenagers.

“Some effects that the push up challenge can have in assisting the mental health space are helping people learn better coping strategies when it comes to working through what mental health can do to a person, teaching people that exercising can help improve people’s mental health and also connecting with those around them,” she said.

In 2024, 218,000 Australians took part in The Push-Up Challenge, collectively completing a staggering 317 million push-ups in 24 days and raising more than $12 million for mental health charities Lifeline, headspace and The Push For Better Foundation.

In 2025 The Push-Up Challenge will take place in June and see participants complete a set number of push-ups across three weeks to raise awareness and funds for mental health charities.

To learn more about The Push-Up Challenge’s 2025 Student Ambassador program and apply to take part, visit www.thepushupchallenge.com.au