Shooting Stars has been recognised for its focus on mental health, after being awarded the Mental Health Promotion Award at TheMHS Mental Health Service Awards last week. 

The Awards acknowledge best-practice in delivery of mental health services, innovation, customer-focus and lived-experience leadership. 

The Shooting Stars program is grounded in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing framework and is making a significant contribution to mental health outcomes using methods that are culturally appropriate.  

The programs are tailored to each site, collaborating with schools, communities, stakeholders, and the participants themselves through localised steering committees and the Yarning with the Stars project. 

Shooting Stars Research Manager, Rose Whitau said preventative health and wellbeing programs for Aboriginal young people tend to propagate Western, colonial paradigms, Aboriginal populations are targeted, yet Aboriginal voices are rarely heard throughout the planning, delivery and evaluation stages of program implementation. 

“In order to balance the system in mental health service delivery, it is essential that the voices of program participants and the communities within which these programs serve, are provided a platform to determine what those outcomes are to be, and how they are to be achieved,” said Whitau. 

“By adapting each program to meet the needs and expectations of each site, Shooting Stars is owned by the communities it serves, which is, in our opinion, best practice for mental health promotion delivery.” 

Shooting Stars is prioritising its new participants as the organisation expands its reach with programs at East Kimberley College in Kununurra and Derby Senior High School after successfully securing funds through the National Indigenous Australians Agency.  

Kununurra local and former Girls Academy Program Manager, Sara Ripps, will head up the Shooting Stars program in the region where she will continue to support the young Aboriginal girls of her community.  

“I think me coming on board with Shooting Stars and continuing to provide that support for the girls is very important,” said Ripps. 

“They’re going through a lot of change at the moment, and for some of them they’ve been with Girls Academy for a number of years, so I think with me joining Shooting Stars there’s a sense of familiarity. They have someone they know and are connected to and it makes the transition a whole lot easier.” 

The Shooting Stars program has been established in the Derby Primary School since 2015 and by absorbing the High School program too it allows for a more seamless transition for future participants going from primary school into high school.  

Shooting Stars Executive Officer Fran Haintz said whilst the growth of the Shooting Stars program is exciting, the transition of participants is the priority during this period. 

“The wellbeing of our new participants is at the forefront of all our decisions,” said Haintz. 

“Keeping the staff from Girls Academy not only supports the participants transition but also ensures Shooting Stars is supporting Aboriginal women in their local communities with job prospects and growth opportunities.” 

Former Shooting Stars participant, Sophie Gumpoltsberger, has joined the team as the Derby Assistant Program Coordinator, as Shooting Stars continues to provide career opportunities for young Aboriginal girls in remote communities.  

A participant of the pilot program in Halls Creek in 2015, Sophie attributes Shooting Stars to the person she is today.  

“Shooting Stars supported me to make my own decisions both in and out of school,” said Gumpoltsberger.  

“They were a big part of my schooling success, encouraging me to come to school and shout out to Helen Ockerby, she was really there for me throughout my last year of school.” 

Having been a participant, Sophie is eager to give back to the community and offer the support and guidance she received during her schooling, to the next generation of young Aboriginal girls.  

“I know the struggles and challenges that Aboriginal girls in remote areas go through which gives me a deeper understanding of how best to support our participants,” said Gumpoltsberger. 

“I feel very honoured to have this opportunity to help empower the young Aboriginal girls of Derby.” 

Shooting Stars Executive Officer Fran Haintz said the organisation is all about passion. Our staff are passionate about the participants and the program and what it can achieve.  

“There is nothing more powerful than a former participant who has experienced the positive impact of our program wanting to be part of the organisation to extend that impact to up-and-coming girls in their communities,” said Haintz. 

“It has been a pleasure seeing Sophie grow and develop within school as a participant to now as she embraces opportunities on her post-school journey. Derby is very lucky to have her.” 

Shooting Stars has expanded its reach in the Kimberley region, launching a new site in Fitzroy Crossing targeting a minimum of 65 participants.  

Leading the program in Fitzroy Crossing is Sam Shepherd, a local Jaru woman from around Halls Creek who was looking for a career change that aligned with her values and passions. 

“I’ve lived in Fitzroy Crossing for a year now, before that I was in Perth for ten years working in the Oil and Gas industry,” said Shepherd. 

“I have two young girls and I really wanted to raise them in a similar way to how I grew up, in a small country town setting, with grandparents just around the corner.” 

“The Shooting Stars role allowed me to do something more aligned with my values whilst still being relatively close to family.” 

Fitzroy Crossing have been without an educational engagement program for young girls for a couple of years and welcomes the Shooting Stars program for 2021. 

“I am really excited for the Fitzroy Crossing girls to get to be part of the Shooting Stars program,” said Shepherd.  

“I’ve heard so many positive stories of the impact the program has on girls from other sites and believe Shooting Stars will have a big impact on the girls in the Fitzroy Valley and the community.” 

Shooting Stars Executive Officer Fran Haintz said she’s excited to see the roll out of the Fitzroy Crossing site, taking Shooting Stars to a total of nine sites across the state. 

“Today marks the first day of the 2021 school year and it’s so great for the Fitzroy Crossing girls to have the opportunity to be part of the Shooting Stars program,” said Haintz. 

“Congratulations to Sam, I know she’ll do a fantastic job and I look forward to hearing more good news from this space.” 

Shooting Stars’ regional staff have travelled from all over the state to come together for a week-long intensive training program to plan for the year ahead in Perth.  

Shooting Stars Greater WA Regional Manager, Latoya Bolton-Black said the annual training week is a great opportunity for the Shooting Stars staff to gain invaluable professional development. 

“Whilst the training week gives us access to great skill development opportunities, it’s also a great time to reconnect with each other. As a team, we’re all remote so it’s good to refresh team spirit and ensure we are aligned in driving our programs with our values at the heart,” said Bolton- Black. 

“There are a lot of different elements to the training week including, ensuring we are all confident in delivering the different Shooting Stars projects like Yarning Circles and Seven Sisters, learning best practice for our organisational tools to increase efficiency, making sure we are confident in meeting our governance requirements within the education department, and so much more,” 

Whilst it’s a jam-packed week, Shooting Stars have managed to find some time to let out some steam in the annual Shooting Stars verse Netball WA staff netball match. 

“This year we have our star player back on board, Fran Haintz! She’s our secret weapon to winning,” said Bolton-Black. 

“Unfortunately, we haven’t had the chance to get together on the court in preparation for the match, but the passion is there, the rivalry is there and I’m pretty confident that Shooting Stars have got it in the bag this year.”

Shooting Stars’ senior participants will be prepared for their post-school journey thanks to Shooting Stars’ new recruit, Talicia Jetta as the Pathways Coordinator. 

This role, made possible through the support of Horizon Power, will see Noongar woman from the Ballardong tribe, Talicia, work with the Year 11 and 12 Shooting Stars’ participants to identify and develop their post-school education and employment pathways.   

Shooting Stars recruited Talicia for this opportunity as it aligned with her previous experience in Aboriginal health and the education sectors. 

“I’ve been in the education space for the last two years, working with young Aboriginal people through the ‘Follow the Dream’ program which is part of the Graham Farmer Foundation, with my role being primarily in the mental health space,” said Jetta. 

“With Shooting Stars I’ll be working with the senior school participants to support them in achieving what they want to do once they finish school, whether that be entering employment and/or tertiary education institutions.” 

It was Shooting Stars’ commitment to empowering young Aboriginal girls and women that sold Jetta on the role.  

“It’s what the program is all about that attracted me to this role and the tailored-approach of the program for each site ensuring it best combats the challenges specific to that community,” said Jetta. 

“Also, the locations! I’ve done a bit of travel in previous roles but haven’t had the opportunity to work with the communities that Shooting Stars does. I’m really looking forward to getting out and working with new mobs that I haven’t been able to yet.” 

Shooting Stars Executive Officer Fran Haintz said both Talicia and this role are a wonderful addition to the Shooting Stars program. 

“The program goes beyond supporting our participants just in their schooling years,” said Haintz. 

“Thanks to the support of Horizon Power, through this role our participants will get one-on-one guidance to ensure they are confident in their plans after school and give them the tools for success.” 

“Talicia is a great fit for our team and I’m excited to see the impact her presence has on the program.”