Published 09 Sept 2026
Being a young person in a regional community can come with challenges which extend well beyond the teenage years — from knowing where to turn for help to having access to the right support close to home.
Now, Ballarat is gaining another person equipped to help bridge that gap, with a new Teen Mental Health First Aid instructor to be trained through a $5,000 charitable gift from GMHBA Ballarat to Live4Life.
Live4Life is a youth mental health program which empowers rural and regional communities with the skills and knowledge to improve wellbeing, protect young lives and reduce suicide. Live4Life communities deliver evidence-based mental health education in schools and the wider community, create local partnerships to lead conversations about mental health that reduce stigma, and train young leaders as Mental Health Ambassadors.
GMHBA’s Charitable Gifts program gives local teams the opportunity to direct $5,000 towards an initiative that matters to their community. The Ballarat Branch chose to support Live4Life Ballarat’s delivery of Teen Mental Health First Aid training, helping build the skills and confidence of young people to provide initial support to a friend or classmate experiencing a mental health problem or crisis.
GMHBA Ballarat Location Manager Lisa Antonio said that building mental health capability within local communities was an important part of supporting better health and wellbeing.
“When it comes to mental health, knowing what to say, and knowing when to act, can make all the difference,” she said.
“By helping train another Teen Mental Health First Aid instructor here in Ballarat, we’re helping the Ballarat community to reach more young people with vital life-changing mental health education.”
“As a not-for-profit health insurer with a long history of supporting the communities we’re part of, we’re proud to work alongside Live4Life Ballarat to invest in the health and wellbeing of Ballarat’s young people.”
Live4Life CEO, Jeremy Wiggins said, “Improving youth mental health in regional communities is something everyone can be a part of. GMHBA Ballarat’s generous support helps extend the reach of Teen Mental Health First Aid training in the local community. It’s a great example of corporate social responsibility in action, backing an evidence-based prevention system which protects young people before a crisis occurs.”
“Teen Mental Health First Aid instructors are vital contributors in building whole-of-community capacity to equip young people and the adults in their lives with practical skills to recognise when someone may be struggling, have confidence to start a conversation about mental health, and know how to connect them with further support. All of that builds a culture of early intervention and it addresses a significant gap in regional mental health.”
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves, said supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Ballarat’s youth must be a shared commitment.
“Recent engagement for our Youth Strategy 2027-2030 identified mental health as the biggest health concern for Ballarat’s young people, with 28 per cent reporting they feel lonely all or most of the time,” she said.
“As the Lead Agency for Live4Life Ballarat, the City of Ballarat continues to work alongside schools, community organisations and health partners to improve mental health outcomes for our young people. We thank GMHBA for its contribution, which will help strengthen this important work in our community.”
The announcement comes as communities across Australia mark World Suicide Prevention Day, an annual day focused on raising awareness of suicide prevention, reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations about mental health and suicide.
For GMHBA, the contribution reflects its broader commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of the communities in which it operates.
GMHBA’s Ballarat branch recently celebrated 10 years in its current location on Sturt Street, with the team providing eye care and private health insurance services for members and patients.
From left: Live4Life Program participants Charlie (Clarendon College), Taliah (Mount Clear College) and Georgia (Loreto College) with GMHBA Ballarat Location Manager Lisa Antonio
