OUR SUPPORTERS
Channel 4 change
Channel 4 Change is a Deniliquin-based initiative founded by local teacher and swimmer Brenda Norman to support youth mental health and wellbeing in our region.
Funds raised go towards local programs, resources and training, including free Mental Health First Aid courses for adults, youth-focused events, and tools that make it easier to recognise the signs and connect with help.
It’s about building a community that knows how to show up, speak up, and support our young people when it counts.
Brenda’s Next Big Swim
Crossing the North Channel for Change
One of the toughest ocean swims on the planet.
Brenda Norman is preparing for her third attempt at the North Channel swim — a 34.5km open water crossing between Ireland and Scotland. It's known as one of the most challenging swims in the world due to its icy temperatures, strong currents, and jellyfish.
Her two previous attempts in 2023 were cut short. The first ended with severe sea sickness. The second came heartbreakingly close, stopped just 4km from the finish by hypothermia.
Since then, Brenda has undergone wrist reconstruction surgery and worked through ongoing complications in her wrist, elbow and shoulder. She’s rebuilt her stroke, overhauled her training, and is heading into this challenge with more resilience than ever.
Her swim window is 29 August to 5 September 2025.
And this time, she's swimming with a clear purpose.
Why is Brenda swimming?
Our goal is to train one in five locals in Mental Health First Aid.
Because at least one in five of us will experience mental illness each year
Brenda’s goal is to raise $15,000 to fund free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training for 50 more adults in the Deniliquin region by the end of 2026.
This is part of a wider community vision led by the Deniliquin Mental Health Awareness Group (Deni MHAG) to train 20% of local adults - around 175 more people - in how to recognise signs of mental distress, respond with confidence, and connect people to help by the end of 2027.
With your help, we can ensure that when someone is struggling, someone nearby knows what to do.
Help Brenda cross the line!
Mental health challenges affect all of us, whether directly or through someone we love.
With your help, we can build a community where knowing how to support someone is as common as knowing how to give CPR.
Let’s ensure one in five of us is trained to make a difference.
Donate now to support Brenda’s swim and help fund vital mental health training in Deni. Your support turns courage into action.
What your donation supports
Every contribution makes a difference and stays local.
Your donation will help fund:
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More Mental Health First Aid training to meet the 20% community goal
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Development of youth-specific resources that clearly signpost support services
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A small grants program to support school-based youth mental health initiatives
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Awareness campaigns that promote early help-seeking and reduce stigma
Why Mental Health First Aid matters in Deni
In Deniliquin, just like the rest of Australia, mental health challenges are real and rising.
Around one in five local adults will experience mental illness this year. For young people aged 11 to 17, the numbers are even more confronting - almost two in five are dealing with high or very high psychological distress.
Many of these struggles begin early. Half of all adult mental health conditions start before the age of 14.
Yet many young people don’t know where to turn, and the adults around them don’t always know how to help.
This is where Mental Health First Aid comes in.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a practical, evidence-based training program that teaches everyday people how to:
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Recognise the early signs that someone may be struggling
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Offer calm, supportive help
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Connect them with professional support services
It works. MHFA has been shown to reduce suicide risk, encourage earlier help-seeking, and reduce stigma - especially when delivered within a local, familiar context.
Right now, around 950 adults in Deniliquin are trained in MHFA - that’s 17% of our adult population.
With your help, we can reach at least one in five. That means more parents, teachers, coaches, neighbours and community members will know how to step in and support a young person when it matters most.
Your donation helps fund free MHFA training right here in Deniliquin. It supports a community where no young person is left wondering where to turn.
Let’s build a town where help is never far away.
Donate now to train one in five adults and create a safer, more supportive Deniliquin for our young people.
Brenda Norman is the founder of Channel 4 Change.
Brenda Norman is a PDHPE teacher at Deniliquin High School, an experienced long-distance swimmer, and a passionate advocate for youth wellbeing. She’s been a driving force behind mental health awareness in the region and believes deeply in the power of community-based action.
She swims not just for herself, but to create real change for others.
How Channel 4 Change supports local Mental Health Awareness
Brenda founded Channel 4 Change in 2018. Since then, her swims have raised funds and awareness for youth mental health programs in Deniliquin and surrounds. Her first swim raised over $60,000, and she hasn’t stopped since.
Thanks to these efforts, and your support, here’s what’s already been achieved:
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8 Mental Health First Aid courses delivered to 120 adults
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Over 950 local adults trained in MHFA (around 17% of the population)
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Launch of the Deni MHAG website with up-to-date help pathways
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Youth events including the 2019 Youth Mental Health Forum and the 2023 Real Life Resilience Roadshow, reaching more than 750 students
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Thousands of youth-focused resources distributed through community events, school packs and awareness campaigns
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The well-known #Deni5in5 community wellbeing campaign, still going strong today
"Awareness for us is not just about increasing knowledge and decreasing stigma - it's about making sure our community is empowered by knowing when, how and where to seek help."
Brenda's incredible swimming career
What is open water swimming?
Open water swimming occurs in any body of water that isn’t a pool. This includes oceans,
rivers and lakes.
The challenge of open water swimming is the unpredictable environment. Every swim has
different water currents and temperature, weather, and marine life.
There are strict rules that must be followed when attempting an open water swim; only a
normal swimsuit, cap and goggles can be worn, and the swimmer cannot be touched during
the swim. Solo swimmers must be accompanied by a boat which has an observer onboard
who witnesses the entire swim to ensure all the rules are followed.
Brenda's swims
Date | Swims | Distance - kms | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
2023-07-09 | 20 Bridges | 49 kms | 8:33:50 |
2023-03-18 | Port to Pub | 25 kms | 7:47:48 |
2023-01-27 | New Norfolk to Iron Pot Lighthouse | 56 kms | 15:19:00 |
2022-07-24 | Keppel Island | 19 kms | 5:48:34 |
2022-01-30 | Double Derwent River | 68 kms | 19:51:00 |
2022-01-19 | Derwent River (upstream) | 34 kms | 9:26:00 |
2022-01-13 | Derwent River | 34 kms | 7:47:00 |
2021-03-20 | Port to Pub | 25 kms | 8:21:33 |
2021-02-28 | Palm Beach to Shelly Beach | 24 kms | 11:17:39 |
2021-01-09 | Derwent River | 34 kms | 7:04:00 |
2019-10-04 | Catalina Channel | 32 kms | 10:36:18 |
2018-08-01 | English Channel | 33 kms | 11:53:00 |
2018-02-24 | Rottnest Channel | 20 kms | 6:03:48 |
Click here to see all her swims and times - longswims.com/p/brenda-norman
Notable achievements
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World Triple Crown (2023) – Awarded for successful completion of English Channel, Catalina Channel and 20 Bridges.
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Inducted into the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (2023) .
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Australian Grand Slam (2022) – Awarded for successful completion of Rottnest Channel, Palm Beach to Shelly Beach, Derwent River and Keppel Island.
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Australian Triple Crown (2021) – Awarded for successful completion of Derwent River, Port to Pub and Palm Beach to Shelly Beach.
First person to attempt and complete the following swims:
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Derwent River (upstream) (2022)
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Double Derwent River (2022)
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New Norfolk to Iron Pot Lighthouse (2023)
Follow Channel4Change on Facebook
facebook.com/channel4changeau
Donate to support Channel 4 Change
Your donation will help fund:
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More Mental Health First Aid training to meet the 20% community goal
-
Development of youth-specific resources that clearly signpost support services
-
A small grants program to support school-based youth mental health initiatives
-
Awareness campaigns that promote early help-seeking and reduce stigma
Every contribution makes a difference and stays local.