Shooting Stars was well-represented at the recent Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Summit, which was held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja. Taking place from June 5th to June 9th, the summit’s theme: Navigating the spaces in between, continued the conversation from the Summit 22 and expanded on the brilliance and value of Indigenous ways of knowing, seeing and being in the world.
There were eight Shooting Stars delegates in attendance, with Latoya Bolton-Black (Operations Manager), Olivia Slater (Postdoctoral Research Associate), Lowana Corley (Metro/Goldfields Regional Manager), Rokiyah Bin Swani (Pathways Coordinator), Taya Olman (Narrogin Program Coordinator), and Jayeisha Ford (Narrogin Program Assistant) all sponsored by AIATSIS to attend and present at the summit. Shooting Stars Executive Officer Fran Haintz and Research Manager Rose Whitau were also in attendance.
Rose and Latoya, who presented on the Wednesday, shared the work they have been doing with schools, focusing on the yarns facilitated with school staff, where cultural safety and its implementation within classrooms were defined. They delved into the barriers and solutions identified by teachers around implementing cultural safety in classrooms, and discussed learnings and strategies on how we can move forward together. On the Thursday, Olivia facilitated a panel discussion with Latoya, Lowana, Roxy, Taya and Jayeisha.
“We cemented Shooting Stars, as not only a long-standing organisation with a really strong practice foundation, but also one with a research base of yarning and evaluative processes that are central to the way we work.” Olivia said.
“Our evaluation and feedback processes through yarning immediately impact what we do next time. That might be the next week in class or it could be the next six months for teaching staff depending on what the feedback is.”
“One of the key things I've brought out, is that what can be expansive and generative in some sites, can be quite restrictive and actually inappropriate for others, but we have the processes in place to find that and locate that and sort that out, almost immediately.”
“It's about making sure the girls not only feel heard, but their feedback is acted upon – they have some control, and the things that they confide in their adult – those things can be changed. They can have that impact on that space.”
Of course, our panel members truly shone, with Latoya highlighting how our yarns serve as a tool for self-determination and truth-telling, Lowana sharing her wisdom around culturally and age-appropriate curriculum resources, and Roxy highlighting the importance of connecting like-minded young women through our leadership camps. The growth of our staff was in evidence with Taya sharing her journey from Trainee to Program Coordinator, and clearly demonstrating how Shooting Stars has bolstered her confidence in public speaking. Jayeisha, a former participant, now Assistant Program Coordinator, not only shared her story but brought laughter to the entire audience with her amusing anecdotes around working in a school you have just graduated from and calling teachers by their first names. Research Manager Rose Whitau commented:
“Watching those six incredible women speak was such a highlight for me. They embodied not only the Shooting Stars Way, but also how far we have come as an organisation. A big thank you to AIATSIS for sponsoring our panel delegates to attend, present, and make us all proud.”
The Glass Jar Australia executive team proudly congratulated all of the Shooting Stars delegates on delivering an inspiring session.
