Shooting Stars has expanded its footprint in South Australia, more than doubling the number of Aboriginal girls engaged in the program on its way to a whole-of-community approach.
In the second year of the South Australian pilot program in the regional community of Whyalla, the program has expanded from three local Primary Schools to now include Year 7 to 9 students at Whyalla Secondary College.
Shooting Stars Executive Officer Fran Haintz said it was exciting to see the continued growth and success of the program in reengaging Aboriginal girls positively in the school environment.
“Since establishing our pilot program in Whyalla with the support of the South Australian Department of Education and Minister for Education last year, it has already grown from 54 students and three staff to 114 students and six staff, which is a terrific result,” Haintz said.
“Our participants are showing early signs of improvement in attendance and most significantly with the support of Shooting Stars really show greater levels of engagement with learning.”
“We are now setting our sites on growing again next year and expanding the program further to engage more than 150 girls from Years 3 to 12.”
Based in host schools in regional and remote communities, Shooting Stars combines advocacy and support, engagement activities, rewards, and health and wellbeing sessions to strengthen participants' confidence, cultural identity, and positive attitudes.
