headspace and Big Day Out launch national band competition

headspace and Big Day Out are giving young bands the chance to win the gig of a lifetime - to perform alongside some of the biggest bands in the world at the 2014 Big Day Out.

The headspace Big Day Out band competition launches today and is encouraging up and coming youth bands from across the country to enter online.

Four winners in each state will be invited to play on the headspace stage at the Big Day Out in their closest capital city.

After entries close on October 27, the public will have 3 weeks to vote for their favourite band and then winners will be chosen from that shortlist by an expert industry panel.

Adam Zammit, Big Day Out CEO, said it's exciting to be in the position to offer this opportunity to bands around Australia.

"When I was I 16 playing bad bass in a bad band I could have only dreamt of the opportunity to play alongside the world's biggest bands at the Big Day Out festival."

"Not only are we giving young musicians a chance to shine nationally and internationally, we are also driving attention to headspace centres and the critical the work they do for the state of youth mental health in this country," said Mr Zammit.

headspace CEO, Chris Tanti said these initiatives help put mental health on the agenda in a way that makes sense for young people.

"We know that music is a really important part of young people's lives, so extending our involvement with Big Day Out will help us reach thousands of young people."

"We want to improve the lives of young Australians, so we need to make sure they know there's youth friendly support available for them and their friends," said Mr Tanti.

The band competition builds on the existing partnership between headspace and Big Day Out which began with the inaugural Rock N Ride tour in January.

Rock N Ride saw a group of 12 high profile Australians, including musicians, sportspeople and TV personalities, ride motorcycles from Gold Coast Big Day Out to Adelaide Big Day Out, stopping at headspace centres along the way.

For more information on the 2014 headspace Big Day Out band competition, please visit www.bigdayout.com/headspace

headspace media contact:

Carly Wright

0413025385

cwright@headspace.org.au

About headspace

The primary focus of headspace is the mental health and wellbeing of young Australians.

headspace helps 12 - 25 year olds going through a tough time through a national network of 55 headspace centres (soon to be 100) and online and telephone counselling service eheadspace.

headspace can help young people with general health, mental health, education and employment and alcohol and other drug services.

headspace was established and funded by the Commonwealth Government of Australia in 2006.

Visit headspace.org.au to find a headspace centre or access help.