Whitelion works with young people who are at risk and disconnected from the community due to abuse and neglect, drug addiction and poverty.
If the 'cycle of discouragement' is not broken, some young people become habitual offenders in our community and spend the majority of their young lives behind bars.
Whitelion's purpose is to help young people find the courage to choose a better future. They deliver prevention and support programs to over 1800 vulnerable and high risk youth each year and assist an additional 21,000 on the streets with outreach bus services. In May 2015, Whitelion conducted its 10th Bail Out event at the Old Melbourne Gaol, raising almost $700,000 towards vital community programs.
After 16 years, Whitelion has expanded to work with young people in the youth justice and out-of-home care systems, as well as targeting young people who are homeless across Australia. Despite their growth, Whitelion maintains particular focus of delivering diversion and support programs to young people in the Melbourne CBD and inner suburbs.