The 2026 Daylesford College Live4Life members have officially joined the Blue Tree project, a movement that encourages communities to paint trees blue as striking visual reminders to speak up and help reduce mental health stigma.
Mayor, Cr Tony Clark, said the blue tree now standing at Daylesford College serves as a symbol of hope and connection, prompting conversations about mental health and reminding young people and our community that they are not alone.
“Council and Central Highlands Rural Health have collaborated on Live4Life delivery since 2024, supporting members as they engage with peers, promoting help-seeking behaviours, and contributing to healthier, more connected youth communities across the region,” said Cr Clark.
As part of the Live4Life induction, the new members met with Council and discussed inclusion, mental health, and the importance of applying an intersectional lens when supporting the diverse needs of young people in the community. The workshop encouraged students to consider how overlapping identities, such as culture, gender, ability, or lived experience, shape an individual’s access to support and sense of belonging.
Live4Life Hepburn represents the Hepburn Shire’s local implementation of the award winning Live4Life youth mental health and suicide prevention model, the only program in Australia designed specifically for rural and regional communities. The model empowers young people through leadership opportunities, reduces stigma, and strengthens communitywide mental health literacy.
For further information on Defying the Drift Program, contact rotarydaylesford@gmail.com
