Live4Life Glenelg going from strength to strength across the community

Published on 21 December 2023

Now in its seventh year of implementation, the last 12 months of Live4Life Glenelg has seen a significant increase in community interest in supporting positive mental health as a result of the increased uptake of Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) courses.

YMHFA equips adults who teach, care for, or support young people with knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognise, understand and respond to a young person experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis.

This increased demand has kept local champion YMHFA Instructors, Nicky Grayson (Department of Education), and Tiana Richardson (Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network) very busy. Between the two instructors they have delivered six 14-hour accredited courses across Portland and Casterton this year, which has resulted in more than 120 adults completing the course.

Both the Department of Education, and the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network are long standing partner agencies to the Live4Life Glenelg initiative, supporting delivery since L4L’s inception back in 2017. Over this time, Tiana and Nicky have collectively trained more than 500 adults.

Recently, the two joined forces to deliver YMHFA to the largest cohort of teachers that they have ever instructed, resulting in more than 50 Portland Secondary College teachers (pictured) gaining their Youth Mental Health First Aid qualification.

With a minimum requirement of 10 percent of Secondary School staff at each participating high school in the Live4Life program needed, Portland Secondary College is well placed to support the mental health and wellbeing of their students.

The 14-hour accredited YMHFA training is offered at a low cost of $33 per person over the age of 18 years and is perfect for anyone who has a young person in their life.

The initial 2024 dates have been set for 20 February, 10 May, 5 June, and 9 December in Portland, and 5 August 5 in Heywood.

You can book your place by accessing the Live4Life Glenelg website – look for the Book in for Mental Health First Aid Courses in Glenelg tab or phone 5522 2137 for more information.