• Patrons & Ambassadors
  • Patrons & Ambassadors
  • Little Sister Ambassadors

"I'm really not sure about achievements. I now live out of home, which i think is an achievement, finally being able to become independent and live my life happy and the way i want. I recently started working in a nursing home, gaining some valuable nursing experience and just entering my 2nd year of nursing. 2 more years and i will be a registered nurse. Really exciting. I got my licence and a car and am now driving around as well which helps me get around a lot easier now. I have been able to build friendships and relationships with my family which are a lot stronger now that i live out of home and i can visit and just put aspects of the past behind me. I even talk to dad now. I would love to speak to girls and help. I feel like i'm at a part of my life where i'm out of the darkness, i'm a survivor. I made it through and i'm going to achieve so much more and i have that strength and confidence because that's what you (Jessica) and all foundation gave me. A chance and some help to get through and now i would love to help give back. I know there are girls out there that can become success stories as well and i would just love to be a part of that. I know it will take time before i could become a Big Sister because of my age, but it's definitely something i want to do."

"Since graduating from the SISTER2sister Program, I have been involved with several training and speaking projects. I obtained my Cert 2 in Public Safety (SES Rescue) in February 2007 and have started the Cert 3. I have written, designed and published an information pamphlet for young people who self-injure (October 2006) and gave my first presentation on self injury issues to the Big Sisters at their training program now presenting regularly at their training. In 2007 I presented two workshops on self injury at the Foster Care Conference in Queensland, and co-presented at a community information night on deliberate self injury. I am also helping to make a documentary DVD on Self Injury that may eventually be used to curb the problem of self injury in schools

I completed my Certificate 4 in Community Services Work (Welfare) in 2008 and more recently have spoken about self injury among teenage youth to Lifeline Counsellors, Southern Community Welfare and the Sutherland Shire Partnership Day Conference. I also conduct workshops at the State Foster Care Conference in QLD. I have been nominated for the NSW Mental Health Consumer of the Year Award and the Mental Health Matters Award. In my personal time, I volunteer for the Cancer Council specialising in Relay For Life, and helping with all metro events and the Starlight Children's Foundation on Star Day as a Location Leader of a fundraising site. Recently I was featured along with my Big Sister Jacinta Tynan and Founder of Life Changing Experiences, Jessica Brown in a 4-page article in VIVE magazine."

"SISTER2sister has played a very positive role in my life over the last year and I am very happy that I made the decision to be part of it. I was nominated for the program by my Deputy Principal, and I firmly believe that it has been the ongoing support and dedication of the Big Sisters in the program, especially Jessica Brown and Vicki Condon, which has helped me get where I am today. I finished my HSC this year, and am looking forward to proving my school’s motto, ‘We are the makers of our own destiny’. As my school life has finished, so has the rest of my life begun. The SISTER2sister program was never about giving me a better life. It was about developing a support network to help me make that better life for myself.

Grace Whiting became a Little Sister in 2006 and has been actively involved in SISTER2sister ever since. She has done radio and newspaper interviews on behalf of the program, shared experiences at various information days for new Little Sisters and was a guest speaker at the 2007 Fundraising Ball. She was a recipient of a Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) after being nominated by SISTER2sister and was published in Jacinta Tynan’s anthology, Some Girls Do, which gave all proceeds to SISTER2sister."

What comes to my mind when I hear the words "positive role model"? I personally envision Captain Planet, but; since he's fictional it's very unlikely that he's going to come and mentor me any time soon so, I try again. This time, I think of a big sister - someone I can look up to and admire; someone caring, special, and wise but above all, someone I can trust.

In 2008, I not only found one person like that. I met a whole organisation of women like that. In 2007 I was nominated for the 2008 SISTER2sister program. In 2008, I graduated as a little sister. Through the patience, persistence and reliable effort exerted by my big sister, Sally Stanley, and the many incredible women who volunteer themselves for the program, I am now exceptionally motivated, driven and goal orientated. The passion inside me was drawn out as I learnt about myself and how valuable I am to the world, and now, thanks to the guidance and support I've received since entering the program, I'm an incredibly happy and fulfilled person who has so much to give back.

Now, 2010, I'm a Higher School Certificate graduate. I'm a volunteer as the Membership Communication Officer on the NSW Red Cross Youth Advisory Committee. In 2009 I spent a week in America representing Australia as an Australian Youth Ambassador at a Global Youth Leadership Summit run by the Anthony Robbins Foundation, which I'm due to attend again this year. I'm a volunteer on the YMCA's Youth Advisory Committee for the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern. I currently work full time in Sydney City. I'm building my own Organisation; ‘Confidence through Culture' which is an initiative designed to increase confidence in young Indigenous students through a greater understanding of their traditional heritage and I'm writing a personal development themed novel, which is directed at youth in order to encourage positive friendships and the value of trust.

One day, I want to build an Interactive Environmental Education Centre in the heart of Sydney City so that schools from all over locally and nationally can visit and learn to appreciate our Earth and gain knowledge about the environment and our incredible impact on it.

In my local community, I hope to one day open a youth centre which will run services available to young people who require tutoring or counseling and services for youth at risk who are experiencing abuse, depression, self harm, substance abuse and young people who are homeless.

I delivered a speech, on behalf of the little sisters of the SISTER2sister program at the launch of Natalie Bassingthwaighte & Nikki Moore's personal development book, Sistahood. I've been in the Sunday Herald paper, the Daily Telegraph and Life Magazine. I have featured in Girlfriend magazine, Dolly magazine and have also been published in Turning Point on behalf of the Life Changing Experiences Foundation. I also share my story to raise funds for the SISTER2sister program.

In 2007 I was nominated for the 2008 SISTER2sister program. In 2008 I graduated as a much stronger person and an incredibly happy me. Yay!