Jess White
Among The Gumtrees was founded by Jess White, a purpose-driven and passionate leader in the community services sector who brings together lived experience, professional expertise and a deep commitment to genuine, person-centred care.
Her vision for Among The Gumtrees was born from a desire to create something more grounded, more human and more care-focused than many traditional service models. A service where people feel safe, respected and supported as they are.
- Founder of Among The Gumtrees
- Over a decade of sector experience
- Staff onboarding and support
- Compliance and quality focus
- Trauma-informed care experience
- Lived experience supporting neurodivergent children
- Disability and human services background
- Values-led leadership
Jess brings over a decade of community sector experience, trauma-informed practice and values-led leadership to disability support in Adelaide.
A Leader with Heart and Vision
Jess leads with heart, integrity and a strong belief in the power of compassionate, trauma-informed support to create meaningful and lasting change.
She is deeply committed to building environments where individuals, families and support teams feel empowered, valued and genuinely cared for. Her leadership style is calm, thoughtful and values-led, guided by the belief that high-quality care starts with empathy, trust and real human connection.
Lived Experience and Professional Expertise
What shapes Jess' approach is the combination of lived understanding and professional experience. She knows that support is most powerful when it feels safe, respectful and tailored to the individual rather than built around rigid systems or one-size-fits-all thinking.
This balance of insight, compassion and professionalism is at the heart of Among The Gumtrees. It influences how support is delivered, how teams are built and how the business continues to grow with purpose and integrity.
Why Among The Gumtrees Was Created
After becoming tired of working within service models that no longer felt truly care-focused, Jess set out to create something better.
She wanted to build a service that returned the focus to what matters most: genuine care, strong values, meaningful relationships and support that creates real impact.
Among The Gumtrees was created to challenge disconnected models of care and offer a more grounded, inclusive and person-centred approach.
One that feels warm, steady and deeply human.
A Vision for Better Care
Jess’ vision is to help raise the standard of support within the community services sector by creating a service that feels calm, trustworthy, inclusive and genuinely care-led.
She wants Among The Gumtrees to be a place where people know they can come as they are and be met with compassion, dignity and support that is grounded in both skill and understanding.
That vision continues to shape the culture, the care and the direction of the business every day.