New cohort of students tackle mental health program

LIVE4LIFE Glenelg officially launched its 2026 program through four in-school Launch Days held across Glenelg Shire in May, bringing together 62 Live4Life Crew members and more than 180 Year 8 students from across the region.

Year 9 and 10 students in the Live4Life Crew led sessions alongside guest MC Kate Wilde, Founder, Educator, Counsellor, and Community Development worker from The Human Development Workshop company. Supported by the Glenelg Shire Youth Team and members of the Live4Life Glenelg partnership group highlighting the strong community commitment to improving youth mental health outcomes across Glenelg Shire.

Year 8 students from Bayview College, Portland Secondary College, Heywood and District Secondary College, and Casterton Secondary College participated in interactive workshops designed to build mental health knowledge, encourage help-seeking behaviours and reduce stigma around mental health conversations.

Throughout the Launch Days, students worked alongside Crew members to begin co-designing activities for the 2026 Live4Life Glenelg Celebration Event scheduled for later in the year. Ideas focused on creating fun, inclusive experiences that encourage connection, wellbeing and positive mental health conversations amongst young people.

The 2026 Crew theme, “Different isn’t wrong when everyone belongs,” promotes acceptance, inclusion and celebrates diversity within schools and communities. The theme encourages young people to recognise the value in individuality, support one another, and create environments where everyone feels they belong.

“We are incredibly proud of the Live4Life program and how it continues to go from strength to strength across our communities. What makes this initiative so powerful is the way it empowers young people to become genuine mental health ambassadors,” said Glenelg Shire Mayor Cr Karen Stephens.

“I congratulate our next cohort of crew members for stepping up to this important role. Their leadership is creating a lasting, generational shift in how we talk about and support mental health in our region.”

The success of Live4Life Glenelg continues to be strengthened through community partnerships and ongoing investment in youth wellbeing. The program is proudly supported through funding from Engage! and Portland Aluminium, these continued commitments help create opportunities for young people to build leadership skills, strengthen connections, and improve mental health outcomes.

“Seeing these young people step up as passionate mental health ambassadors is incredibly inspiring and really cements our commitment to supporting Live4Life and the Live4Life Crew – because when young people lead, the whole community benefits,” said Anna Impey, Community Relations Advisor at Portland Aluminium.