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Founded in 1999 in response to an identified gap in transitional services for young people leaving juvenile justice, Whitelion has continued to expand its services in response to vulnerable young people’s needs. Now operating in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, Whitelion offer a suite of programs designed to provide opportunities for young people to meaningfully reconnect with their society.
Young people’s needs are addressed through a combination of tailored responses from Whitelion’s wraparound services including intensive outreach (e.g. Young Women’s Support Service, Bundji Bundji), providing a positive 1:1 volunteer mentoring relationship, and work-readiness skills, vocational training and paid work placements through the employment program, which has dozens of business partners in growth industries. The employment team work alongside DHS in implementing case management plans assisting young people facing release from a youth justice centre.
The philosophy of Whitelion is to offer young people opportunities and relationships which are uniquely different yet compliment the relationships they have with statutory and welfare professionals. They often fill the gaps created when there are no positively supportive family and community networks around a young person. These programs also generate meaningful experiences for Whitelion partners and volunteers, supported by committed professional staff.
Whitelion achieves these outcomes through the delivery of youth-focused, gender and culturally specific programs that include:
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