“This grant will help us to address the risk factors placing young women in a position of being targeted for sexual exploitation. Our outreach program takes a gentle, flexible approach that focuses on relationship building alongside developing practical every day life skills including budgeting, housing, employment, success in study, health and nutrition and building safe, healthy relationships.

Through generously giving funding, the Victorian Women’s Benevolent Trust is contributing to a positive impact in the lives of vulnerable young women and reducing the likelihood of further negative life experiences such as trauma, abuse and drug dependency. As one young woman recently shared: “A lot of homelessness occurs due to family break-down. We need to focus on building healthy relationships to stop the breakdown that leads to homelessness”.”

– Helen Colston, Finance and Operations Coordinator

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St Kilda Gatehouse’s Breaking the Cycle program has been created to empower young women aged 12-25 years to break the cycle of poverty and unhealthy behaviours associated with sexual exploitation, physical, domestic or sexual abuse, supporting them to re-enter or continue in the education system or workforce. This holistic approach to recovery supports girls and young women as they learn practical life skills including budgeting, employment, success in study, health and nutrition. Group work and art therapy will help them develop resilience and an understanding of self, helping them to build social connections and support others who are at risk.

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