Message from our CEO, Hang Vo

May 13, 2020

For the past 17 years the start of May ushers in a flurry of activity at Whitelion. Our annual campaign, Bail Out, is typically in full swing right now. Staff and volunteers would be deep in event planning and fundraising mode - excited to raise awareness, proud to share young people’s stories of resilience and courage all the while anxious about hitting fundraising targets.

May 2020 is very different. Whitelion grieves with the world as it grapples with the unimaginable toll of COVID-19. We continue to be shocked by the number of lives lost to health systems being completely overwhelmed to businesses collapsing and people losing their livelihoods – all in a matter of weeks. Closer to home we stand amazed at how our team - and the young people we serve - have responded.

As a supporter of Whitelion you may already know that the young people who access our services experience a range of challenges. They may be homeless, live in poverty in crowded housing, or struggle with volatile family relationships, mental illness and disability. When social restrictions were imposed in March, I wondered - as did many other community organisation CEOs I talked to - how we would continue to serve.

What has unfolded is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Staff and young people have embraced digital tools - from the practical three way video call with Centrelink to the more engaging remote guitar jam between two young people in out-of-home care and one of our youth workers.  And pumpkin cooking live stream where ingredients were delivered to the first five young people to like the recipe. 

Our drop-in centre in Perth went on-line and we’ve seen nearly the same numbers tuning in as we would see turn up in person after school.

These are just a few examples. We have included more in this edition of Roar. As a counterbalance to the very real grief and loss being felt around the world, we want to highlight the resilience, creativity and positivity that has emerged in Whitelion’s community.

This however, does not take away the extenuating hardship that exists for young people. If it wasn’t hard enough before COVID-19 – young people are now faced with a future where unemployment is likely to double to 30%, increased prevalence of family violence, mental health concerns, a worsening of food and housing insecurity.  More than any other time in Whitelion’s history, now is when our services are most needed. Yet now is also the time that we are faced with devastating economic impacts on our organisation. 

I have also been talking to my CEO colleagues both in and outside of the youth sector about the impact of the pandemic on financial health.  Due to strong leadership shown by Whitelion’s board and the teamwork of all staff to significantly reduce expenses, we will get through. With 40 per cent of our revenue generated from fundraising and appeals, we would struggle to get through the year without heavy cuts had it not been for the Australian government’s Job Keeper package.  This stimulus package cannot be underestimated.

I also want to acknowledge the many partners in our community who are working tirelessly to ensure young people at risk are not forgotten. Rightly, we celebrate the incredible work of our health care workers.  Let’s also celebrate and show our gratitude to the many food relief agencies and homelessness action groups who are keeping people fed and housed in an extraordinary show of community collaboration.

Thinking differently about the future of Whitelion and the way we work is inspirational. I have set us a KPI to carry forward new ways of working that we have learned during the pandemic.  Whitelion wants to bounce forward stronger. Our strengths and weaknesses have been amplified over this period – we intend to build on the strengths and ensure it’s in our DNA post COVID-19.

Whitelion’s new strategic focus on positive connections and pathways to work feels more relevant than ever: never before has this generation faced social restrictions of this magnitude, and the impact of economic downturn on job availability is yet unknown.

As we emerge from the pandemic we must not let young people at risk bear the brunt of Australia’s challenges. Now is the time to think differently, and I welcome any ideas you may have for achieving our purpose in a changed world.

Thank you for your ongoing support and generosity.

Please do your best to take care and stay safe.