Whitelion works with highly vulnerable young people involved with or at risk of involvement with the Youth Justice and/or Out of Home Care and Leaving Care services in Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria. As depicted in the Victorian Government’s Vulnerable Youth Framework (2008), this target group comprises a minority of young people in our society: a highly vulnerable and high risk group of young people confronting cumulative barriers to social inclusion and perpetuating the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage.

Source: Victorian Government Vulnerable Youth Framework (2008)

• Lower familia socio-economic status, unstable housing and employment, poor health indicators.
• Prior or current involvement with the statutory welfare system due to family breakdown, neglect and abuse.
• Low educational achievement, with school exclusion or dropout below the age of 15 years, appearing to have increased in the 90s.
• Little stable work experience amongst older young people.
• Developmental delay and/or intellectual disability.
• Mental health issues often undiagnosed or treated.
• Significant substance use linked to criminal activity.
• An absence of positive adult role models, experiences or healthy connectedness to their local community.
• Lack of self worth or hope for their future.
• Those from Koori and ethnic backgrounds and those who are young parents have additional challenging issues.