Neerim District Secondary College held a Wellbeing Expo on September 11, giving students and visitors the chance to learn more about mental health services and local support networks.
The event coincided with the annual R U OK? Day, a national initiative encouraging conversations about mental health and suicide prevention.
The day began with a presentation from former Essendon AFL player Will Hams, who shared his personal journey through professional sport, injury, and family tragedy. After leaving football, Hams founded Liminal, an organisation working with schools, workplaces, and sporting clubs to improve mental health outcomes through education, prevention, and strategy programs.
Following his talk, students visited a range of stalls hosted by mental and physical health support organisations. These included VACCA, Headspace, GCASA, Live4Life, Orange Door, Head2Health, Lifeline, and Anglicare, each offering information about local services and resources for young people and families.
Entertainment was provided by the Drouin Secondary College school band, while a free barbecue and donuts were provided to students.
School youth worker Josh Hasan, who co-ordinated the event, said the goal was to connect students with support services and encourage them to reach out if they needed help.
"Neerim District Secondary college is very grateful to all the organisations who made themselves available on the day. We had a great turnout and there was a lot of positive engagement from students, many of whom spoke directly with stallholders during the day.
"We are also very thankful for support from the Community Bank Neerim District and their contribution to the day," said Josh.
The Wellbeing Expo has become a regular feature on the school calendar, aiming to build awareness, reduce stigma, and promote positive mental health across the Neerim District community.