Whitelion Bail Out Perth 2017

Whitelion Bail Out Perth 2017

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Posted 2017-03-08 by Desiree Walshfollow

Thu 27 Apr 2017

What does it feel like to be homeless? It is the painful feeling of nothingness. It's sorrow that continuously hurts. It's the enduring ache of helplessness and the persistent feeling of being forgotten, alone and lost.



What they don't tell you in Australia is that it doesn't take much to find yourself homeless. Having a job does not make housing affordable, Government assistance is paid at a rate below the poverty line and while shelters are much welcomed, they are still a band-aid. Most of Australia's homeless are young, inexperienced and vulnerable. Pathways to homelessness are multifaceted and include family breakdown (including neglect, conflict, and abuse), mental health issues, unemployment/under-employment, poverty, alcohol and other drug issues.

Over-represented population groups include Young People in State Care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and young Refugees. We know in Australia that the longer homelessness occurs, the more susceptible to dire outcomes one becomes. Most certainly if you are homeless, you will become a crime statistic because you will either commit one or have one committed towards you. Victimisation itself is a pathway to committing offences and such predominant crimes are theft, illicit drugs, and crimes intended to cause injury. Not only are youth disproportionately the perpetrators, they are disproportionately the victims. Much of the crime is committed publically, gregariously, episodic and opportunistic – committed in groups in public places. There are nearly 50,000 vulnerable young people in Australia and nearly 15,000 at high risk.

Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what the other person predicament, their perspective, what they are experiencing, "the capacity to place oneself in another's position". The Annual calendar event 'Bail Out' is Whitelion's National fundraising and awareness campaign providing a unique opportunity to step into the shoes of a young person who has been disconnected from our community due to abuse and neglect, drug addiction and poverty. Bail Out is more than just a fundraising event - it offers you a unique empathic experience. To get involved, participants (known as "inmates") 'register' and then 'raise' bail to secure their 'release'.

You can dob in yourself and others - become a gang. Alternatively, dob in your boss or work colleagues - it's a great team building experience. Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne in 2005, Bail Out has grown to become a truly national campaign across Australia, inspiring thousands of brave individuals to get locked-up for a good cause to support Whitelion youth programs across Australia. That experience is now available in Perth and you will serve your time at Perth's most fascinating historic site – Fremantle Prison. Your time as a Bail Out inmate will expose you to life on the inside with activities that simulate prison life. Upon arrival, inmates are stripped of all possessions, given an inmate uniform, fingerprinted, photographed and shunned into the main exercise yard where they will be fed prison gruel.

As an inmate, you will witness a court hearing before experiencing some prison time with your gang or other solitary inmates. You will also hear from our experienced presenters who will share their personal stories and help shed light on the issues youth-at-risk are facing. It is probably important to add that you will not be made to sleep overnight - you will learn as much as you require by 10.30pm.

All of the monies raised in Perth will stay in Perth to assist Whitelion with their early intervention projects that reduce homelessness, emotional and health problems because they address issues such as family conflict, mental health issues, unemployment, poverty, alcohol and other drug and crime issues. Early intervention builds protective factors such as community connectedness and healthy family relationships.


Whitelion invites you to make a real difference in the life of a young person by getting involved in Bail Out 2017 - an experience you won't forget! So what will you be doing on Thursday 27th April 2017? See www.whitelionbailout.org.au & be at the Fremantle Prison and give a kid a fair go.

#attractions
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!date 27/04/2017 -- 27/04/2017
%wnperth
219398 - 2023-06-16 07:51:39

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