WA's Deadly Diversions project is transforming young lives

Dec 14, 2018

Transformation can be a slow and difficult journey. One step forward, three steps back. However, for the Deadly Diversions: Youth Support and Development team in WA, the rewards of supporting young people through this journey is what keeps them coming to work every day. Small changes can represent huge successes for young people who participate and it’s important to celebrate and encourage every positive change or choice.

The Deadly Diversions project is run in conjunction with WA Police and provides intensive case management support to 28 young people from Perth’s Northern suburbs who are most likely to continue the cycle of offending behaviour. The WA team work in partnership with young people to help connect them with culture, education, training, literacy, counselling, housing and parenting support.

Recently, the team were able to work alongside well renowned Aboriginal artist, Peter Farmer, to coordinate an art project for WA Police in partnership with LOOP Global. Young people assisted in making a flag pole stand incorporating Aboriginal symbols applied by wood burning practices which was gratefully received by the WA Police Commissioner to promote Reconciliation. Whilst the finished product was fantastic, Whitelion’s Aboriginal Youth Worker Shane Ninyette comments “it was more about the process and the way that the young people increased engagement and felt valued and included which made the project a great success.”

These young people have often experienced significant intergenerational trauma, poverty, unemployment and incarceration. Yet, they want to see transformation in their lives and have chosen to trust Whitelion with that journey – a huge first step! What is our promise to them? We will never give up on them!