Wyndham’s soaring population, high teenage pregnancy rates and rising domestic violence reports have prompted a Sydney-based charity to expand to the municipality.
The Life Changing Experiences Foundation will bring its SISTER2Sister program to Melbourne from next year, after receiving a $30,000 grant from Jetstar’s Flying Start grassroots funding program.
The money will allow the foundation, which has been running in Sydney for 10 years, to kick-start its national expansion, beginning with Wyndham.
SISTER2Sister helps girls from backgrounds of abuse, neglect, domestic violence and poverty who are in need of leadership and guidance by providing them with a mentor.
Chief executive Jessica Brown said there was a strong need for the program in Melbourne, where there was already a waiting list of girls who have been nominated by community services to take part.
The year-long program is designed to break the cycle of inter-generational social issues.
Ms Brown said many of the girls who took part in the program were facing homelessness or police custody, while just under half had attempted suicide or self-harm or were battling depression.
The participants are referred to the program by police, schools, youth services and their families.
“Big sisters guide the girls and help them pick the pieces up and set goals,” Ms Brown said.
“It’s also a risk management program. We dig deep to give [the girls] the tools they need to be able to deal with a crisis and help build their self-confidence. We also run activities for them so they can have fun. Many of the girls in the program have adult responsibilities. Many are caring for parents or siblings, or they had to grow up way too early. We provide them with activities to help them forget about their responsibilities for a while.”
Ms Brown said the program was being rolled out in Wyndham because the city had a growing youth population in need of help.
Since its foundation in 2003, the program has helped 375 at-risk girls in New South Wales overcome disadvantage to build their confidence and self-esteem.
Ms Brown says the charity is looking for women over 25, who are non-judgemental and good listeners, and want to give back to the community to be mentors.
The mentors will receive training as part of the program. “This is a very rewarding role for women who wish to give back to their community and help those less fortunate,” Ms Brown said. “The difference a big sister can make is life-changing.”
Ms Brown said the program would begin operating in Melbourne next year, with the foundation’s Melbourne team set to spend time shadowing its Sydney staff.
She hopes the first intake of girls and big sisters will begin the program in 2016.
For more information on becoming a big sister, visit www.lifechangingexperiences.org.
