Member for Gembrook Brad Battin has announced that funding of $3,500 has been provided to Beaconhills College to support their proposed ‘Stride for Life’ walk.

With this year’s National Youth Week running from 5-14 April 2013, Mr Battin said Beaconhills College was among 92 organisations across the state to receive funding to run local events celebrating young Victorians.
Funding has been provided thanks to a partnership between the Victorian Coalition Government, the Australian Government and beyondblue.

Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith said the event was currently being planned and would see young people and the wider community, walk through the City of Casey to raise awareness of mental health issues for young people.

“The Victorian Coalition Government has committed funds to support this exciting youth-led initiative as part of National Youth Week,” Mr Smith said.

“The event is also being supported with funding from beyondblue to raise awareness of positive youth mental messages such as ‘Look. Talk. Listen. Seek Help’.

“That’s what makes ‘Stride for Life,’ so important – it’s an idea that has come from young people in the Casey area, in an attempt to reach out to their mates, to let them know that they’re not alone and that help is available,” Mr Smith said.

The planned walk will be a public show of support and awareness, with information about local mental health service providers provided to the young people taking part.

Mr Battin said he was excited by the passion young people from Beaconhills College had shown in planning the “Stride for Life”

“I know that Beaconhills College has pledged its full support for this activity as its students feel strongly that something must be done to make the community more aware of the issue of youth suicide,” Mr Battin said,

“I’d also like to thank the Coalition Government and beyondblue for their financial support for this event.”

To see a list of National Youth Week events, go to www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au or the national website www.youthweek.com.