West Coast Fever stars Erena Mikare and Verity Simmons have flown North to spend time with Shooting Stars participants and pass on some of their experiences in playing netball at the highest level.

Both players are Shooting Stars Ambassadors, and spent the 2016 ANZ Championship season video conferencing with participants on a weekly basis.

Mikaere is spending the week in the Kimberley visiting participants in Halls Creek and Derby, while Simmons will visit Carnarvon, Meekatharra and Wiluna.

Netball WA General Manager of Indigenous Programs Fran Haintz said it was exciting to have the players visit.

“Both Erena and Verity are wonderful role models for these young girls, and it’s a great opportunity for them to learn from these elite athletes,” Haintz said.

“It’s been wonderful to see them engage with such a large number of local girls, and I’m sure it’s something the participants won’t forget any time soon.”

The trip has been equally inspiring for Mikaere.

“It’s been great to finally meet the participants face to face,” she said.
“Shooting Stars is such an incredible program, so to see so many girls getting involved is exciting.”

An initiative of Netball WA and Glass Jar Australia, Shooting Stars aims to use netball as the vehicle to encourage greater encouragement and attendance at school of young Aboriginal girls living in WA’s remote communities and regional towns.

Stay up to date with all the photos from the trip on the Shooting Stars Facebook page.
Shooting Stars is proudly supported by the Australian Government.

A group of high achieving students from the Shooting Stars program were treated to a money can’t buy experience over the weekend, living out the dream of thousands of aspiring netballers across Western Australia.

Participants from Halls Creek, Meekatharra, Carnarvon and Derby spent four days in Perth, culminating in a trip to Perth Arena on Saturday afternoon to witness West Coast Fever’s emphatic 23 goal victory over the Central Pulse.

As part of the pre-game Indigenous Round celebrations the students were introduced on court to the crowd of almost 7,000, receiving a rousing welcome to Perth’s premier indoor venue.

This came after their exclusive invitation to the Captain’s Run training session on Friday, and a behind the scenes tour of Fever’s training facilities at the State Netball Centre in Jolimont with Players Ash Brazill, Verity Simmons and Erena Mikaere.

The trip to Perth also provided an opportunity for the students to explore their options for life post school, taking invaluable tours of both the Chandler Macleod offices and The University of Western Australia.

Netball WA’s General Manager of Indigenous Programs, Fran Haintz, said the trip was an experience the students will cherish for some time.

“It was an incredible opportunity for these young women,” Haintz said.

“To be so wholeheartedly embraced and acknowledged by the crowd before the game, and then to sit courtside for such a big win by Fever was a day they won’t forget anytime soon.”

“The tours of Chandler Macleod and The University of Western Australia also provided a potential window into their future, displaying some genuine options for these students if they continue to work hard.”

Shooting Stars is an initiative of Netball WA and the Glass Jar Australia Foundation aimed at encouraging greater engagement and attendance at school of young aboriginal girls living in WA’s remote communities and regional towns.

The program currently engages more than 200 students across five separate sites; Halls Creek, Derby, Carnarvon, Meekatharra and Wiluna.

You can support Shooting Stars by making a tax deductible donation before June 30 at https://asf.org.au/organisation/netball-wa-inc/

Shooting Stars is proudly supported by the Australian Government.

West Coast Fever will wear the Shooting Stars logo on their Indigenous dress today when they face the Adelaide Thunderbirds at Priceline Stadium in the Indigenous Round clash.
An initiative of Netball WA and Glass Jar Australia, Shooting Stars aims to use netball as the vehicle to encourage greater encouragement and attendance at school of young Aboriginal girls living in WA’s remote communities and regional towns.
Originally launched as a pilot program in 2015 in Halls Creek with the support of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Shooting Stars is now delivered at five separate sites, engaging more than 200 students.

Fever have strong ties with Shooting Stars, with players Verity Simmons and Erena Mikaere serving as mentors for students in Meekatharra, Carnarvon, Halls Creek and Derby.
Netball WA CEO Simon Taylor said it was fantastic to see Fever throw their support behind such an important initiative.
“Our players are wonderful role models for young girls and I’m delighted to see them support Shooting Stars by raising awareness of the program on their dress today,” Taylor said.
“The students idolise the team and it will mean so much to them to see their program broadcast to a national audience on TV.”
For more information on Shooting Stars, visit www.netballwa.com.au/shooting-stars
Shooting Stars is proudly supported by the Australian Government.

Shooting Stars has celebrated another milestone this week, with the 50th participant officially enrolling at the Carnarvon Community College.

Shooting Stars now attracts 51 students in Carnarvon, an impressive feat considering the program only began in term 1 of this year.

One of four delivery sites, Carnarvon’s rapid rise in numbers has propelled the total number of participants past 200, including students in Halls Creek, Derby and Meekatharra.

An initiative of Netball WA and Glass Jar Australia, Shooting Stars aims to use netball as the vehicle to encourage greater engagement and attendance at school of young Aboriginal girls living in WA’s remote communities and regional towns.

Since the beginning of the year, Shooting Stars participants have increased attendance rates by an average of 6%, with 24 students averaging an increase of more than 20%, representing an extra day at school each week.

An encouraging foundation upon which to build according to Netball WA General Manager of Indigenous Programs, Fran Haintz.

“It’s been wonderful to watch the growth and development of these girls in such a short space of time,” Haintz said.

“We are beginning to see consistent indications of an increase in their self confidence and a willingness to contribute to their own success.”

“The challenge now is to not only ensure our current participants remain engaged, but also to continue to spread the Shooting Stars message.”

The Shooting Stars program now employs eight full time staff, three of whom are Indigenous.
Shooting Stars is proudly supported by the Australian Government.

In an exciting development for Netball WA’s Shooting Stars program, participants have this week confirmed their dress designs and team names ahead of some upcoming competition opportunities in 2016.

An initiative of Netball WA and Glass Jar, Shooting Stars aims to use netball as the vehicle to encourage greater engagement and attendance at school of young Aboriginal girls living in WA’s remote communities and regional towns.

It is a reward system, providing students with direct incentive to meet attendance criteria and participate in the program, including each site competing in netball carnivals as a team.

The program recently encouraged each and every student to submit a design in order for their team dresses to best represent their respective communities, with the final 4 dresses heavily influenced by those submissions.

Netball WA reached out to Perth based Indigenous artist Jilalga Murray-Ranui to assist in the design process, while Jatu clothing, a Pilbara Aboriginal family business, will produce the dresses.

Shooting Stars participants have also agreed on their team names; Halls Creek Starlets, Derby Storm, Carnarvon Breakers and Meekatharra Queens.

The selection of dresses and team names has been a significant step according to Netball WA General Manager of Indigenous Programs, Fran Haintz.

“It’s been wonderful to watch the students engage in this process,” Haintz said.

“Pride is one of our core values in Shooting Stars, so for these girls to take ownership of the designing of their dresses and naming of their teams in order to appropriately acknowledge their communities is really encouraging.”

“To also be able to complete the project with the help of an Indigenous artist, as well as a clothing company owned and operated by an Indigenous family, provides a fantastic example to the students of the opportunities that an education can facilitate and compliments our holistic approach to the program.”

The Halls Creek Starlets and Derby Storm are set to compete in the Kimberly Cup at the conclusion of term 2.

Following a successful pilot program in 2015, Shooting Stars took full flight at the beginning of the year and currently reaches more than 200 students across 4 separate sites in Halls Creek, Derby, Carnarvon and Meekatharra.

Shooting Stars is proudly supported by the Australian Government.

Netball WA is pleased to announce the Shooting Stars program has officially commenced in Carnarvon.

An initiative of Netball WA and Glass Jar, Shooting Stars aims to use netball as the vehicle to encourage greater engagement and attendance at school of young Aboriginal girls living in WA’s remote communities and regional towns.

Following a successful pilot program in Halls Creek last year, Netball WA has expanded Shooting Stars to a number of rural areas, with girls in Carnarvon given the first opportunity to participate.

A group of 20 girls gathered at the Carnarvon Community College High School yesterday afternoon for a series of netball drills and games, before joining members of the local community for a barbecue dinner.

It was a successful start in Carnarvon according to Shooting Stars Community Development Coordinator, Rose Whitau.

“It was wonderful to engage with such a large number of local girls, all keen to be involved in the program,” Whitau said.

“The local community, schools and service providers will all play a major role in the success of Shooting Stars here in Carnarvon, so it was pleasing to see members of each of these groups present.”

A similar introductory event will be held in Meekatharra this afternoon at the District High School.

Shooting Stars is proudly supported by the Australian Government.