Australian netballer and Melbourne Vixen Madi Robinson appeared with former Fremantle and St Kilda footballer Heath Black to speak to young people at the Ballarat Netball Association.

Mr Black said he tried to relate mental health issues back to a lived experience, like the anxiety he had before football. 

“It’s important to break down those stigmas around mental health and open up communication passages,” Mr Black said.

“The earlier we can educate young people the better. We don’t want them to have any stigma.”

V/Line Life Training has recruited football and netball stars to deliver messages to young people about responsible behaviour and making the right decisions in life since 2007.

The program aims to increase teenagers’ access to services that can help them make the right decisions and cope with challenges.