Western Metropolitan

About Whitelion Victoria

Whitelion has been supporting young people in Victoria since 1999.

To learn more about Whitelion in Victoria contact:

Programs 

• Wyndham Youth Outreach Support Service
• Western Community Connections Program
• Western Community Integration Program

Wyndham Youth Outreach Support Service

The Wyndham Youth Outreach Support Service (WYOSS) is a holistic, place-based model that offers a range of locally responsive outreach interventions for at-risk young people who live in or have connections to the Wyndham Local Government Area.

The WYOSS team provides intensive support through short-term brief intervention (0-1-month) and longer-term comprehensive case management (up to 12-months+), working with young people to plan and achieve goals in relation to housing and homelessness, mental health, AOD misuse, justice/legal matters and more - ultimately working towards young people making positive and sustainable connections to communities of their choice.

For young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, WYOSS can provide support through the H3 Project:

• H3 Project provides targeted interventions, connecting young people to housing by supporting them with advocacy, coordination of paperwork, identification and budgeting required for renting, assisting with family reunification as appropriate, short-term/crisis options as required, and establishing strategies to ensure housing is sustainable once attained.
• Whitelion also provides limited places in medium-term shared accommodation.

The WYOSS team also connect with young people through the NOSH (Nutrition Outreach Support Health) and WRAP (Wyndham Resilience Adventure Program) programs:

• NOSH is a mobile outreach van that visits community sites where young people hang out – skate parks, train stations, after-school groups etc. providing material aid (food, hygiene products, safe sex resources), as well as information and advice and referral pathways. The community outreach model ensures the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach young people have access to support ‘where they are at’.
• WRAP uses adventure therapy to provide experiential learning opportunities to develop practical skills such as team work, communication and leadership to build resilience and confidence for setting positive goals, community engagement and social connections.

At-risk young people aged 12-25 years who live in or have connections to the Wyndham region.

Email luke.berry@whitelion.asn.au

Email luke.berry@whitelion.asn.au

The Wyndham Youth Outreach Support Service is supported by:

• The Victorian government
• Wyndham City Council
• Property Industry Foundation
• Jack and Ethel Goldin Foundation
• John T Reid Charitable Trusts

Wyndham Youth Support Service has volunteering opportunities and accepts donations to support provision of material aid. If you would like to donate click here . If you would like to volunteer contact luke.berry@whitelion.asn.au

Western Community Connections Program

Whitelion Community Connections is a key component of the Better Futures approach, which was rolled out by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on 1 November 2019. This new approach is focused on improving outcomes for young people transitioning from care to supported independence. Whitelion has been contracted by DHHS to deliver the Community Connections service offer featured in the Better Futures model with the aim to build networks of supportive relationships for young people in their local community. Whitelion is providing a hybrid model which encompasses the following key services:

• Community engagement and capacity building                                                              
• Harness community effort through a place-based partnership approach
• Mentoring 

Referrals will be accepted for young people between the ages of 15-18 years currently on a Family Reunification, Care by Secretary or Long Term Care Order or 18-21 years having been on either of the above three orders between the ages of 16 to 18.

Contact remy.sheppard@whitelion.asn.au

The Western Community Connections Program is an initiative of the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.

Whitelion is looking for mentors in the western metropolitan region. If you are interested in becoming a mentor please contact mentoring@whitelion.asn.au

Western Community Integration Program

The aim of the Community Integration Program (CIP) is to train volunteers to link every child and young person in residential care into local sports clubs, dance classes, art clubs and more. These links create connections between the young people and their community to reduce isolation and disconnection by increasing social skills and confidence.

Young people aged 10-18 residing in out of home care settings in the western metropolitan region that are managed by Makillop Family Services.

Email victoria.romeo@whitelion.asn.au

The Community Integration Program is an initiative of the Department of Health and Human Services. In the western metropolitan region we are lucky to partner with Mackillop Family Services to deliver the program locally.

Would you like to volunteer with the Community Integration Program? Email mentoring@whitelion.asn.au