Pathways and Leadership

In remote Australia, Indigenous girls are up to 52% less likely to graduate Year 12 than their non-Indigenous peers. 

In 2019, just 44% of Indigenous women were employed, compared with 71% of non-Indigenous women, and we know that the employment rate of Indigenous women increases consistently with higher levels of education. (AIHW, 2021). Such statistics outline a clear need for localised, culturally appropriate programs to support Aboriginal girls in their final years of high school and as they transition to university, vocational training, or employment.  

The Shooting Stars Leadership Program helps close the gap for young Aboriginal women leaders by strengthening participants’ positive profiles and developing their leadership capability and capacity. By developing local role models, the Leadership Program inspires future community success.   

Pathways participants then go on to become local role models, inspiring their younger peers, family and community members. Many senior Shooting Stars participants will be the first in their family to have studied past year 9, let alone graduate year 12.

Leadership Program Stages 

The annual Shooting Stars Junior Leadership Camp targets Year 5-7 participants across all Shooting Stars sites who have demonstrated exemplary behaviour, leadership potential and improved school attendance.  

Based in Broome, the purpose of the camp is to connect, reward and inspire participants through a mixture of activities designed to educate, engage and empower them to shoot for the stars.  

During the camp, participants are immersed in cultural experiences and learn about the local culture, history and the ways of life of the Yawuru people whilst focusing on the importance of teamwork and leadership.

The Shooting Stars Developing Spark stage will target Year 8-10 participants across all Shooting Stars sites to help them identify what motivates them and develop their sparks. 

This stage of leadership will see small groups of participants work together to develop, network and lead projects where they use their identified spark to drive the project. This may include caring for Elders in the community, running junior sporting programs, supporting and volunteering in local organisations, supporting a Shooting Stars Cup, etc.  

Linking participants and supporting them to develop relationships and networks with people who can assist them with developing and learning more about their sparks and their projects will be an essential element of the Shooting Stars Leadership Program. 

At each site, Year 11-12 participants self-nominate for the opportunity to take part in the Senior Leadership Project. Participants present on why they should be selected, and their peers then vote on who will best represent their site. Two participants from each site are selected for the Shooting Stars Leadership Project.   

Successful participants attend the Senior Leadership Camp, based in Perth, which provides opportunities for participants to engage with strong Aboriginal leaders to gain cultural knowledge and understanding, develop project management skills as well as identify post-school pathways.  

Whilst on the camp, participants identify a small project that will improve their school, their community or Shooting Stars, such as a netball carnival, self-care day for Elders, school socials, etc. Through facilitated workshops with the Western Australian Aboriginal Leadership Institute (WAALI), participants will develop their project management skills such as budgeting, fundraising, troubleshooting, time management, chairing meetings and recruiting and retaining volunteers in order to deliver their localised community project. 

Participants are supported by their Shooting Stars Coordinators to organise, deliver and then evaluate their project.