The Adelaide Leadership camp, which took place on Kaurna Country, was a huge highlight in the term for one of our South Australian sites. A group of 13 participants from Whyalla Secondary College boarded the Shooting Stars busses for four days of activities and experiences, aimed at further enhancing their already shining leadership skills. The camp would be an opportunity for participants to step outside of their familiar surroundings, and comfort zones.
At the beginning of the camp, the girls reflected on the specific leadership skills they intended to focus on during their time together. They challenged themselves to connect with peers beyond their immediate friendship circles, they supported and looked out for one another, connected with staff members, and embraced opportunities to engage with the Shooting Stars partners they visited throughout the camp, including GFG Alliance, Oz Minerals and the Adelaide Thunderbirds. It was clear to see by the end of the four days, that each of the girls should be extremely proud of themselves. Several participants and staff shared that first and foremost, their absolute highlight was spending time connecting with one another. That said, the camp itinerary was packed with amazing experiences.
The girls took in their city surround and got a tour of GFG’s tenth-floor King William Street office where they got to know some of the staff. Rotating in small groups, they yarned with different women in GFG about their career journeys and areas of interest. Our hosts kindly gifted each of the girls with a beautiful journal at the end of the visit, as well as some resources for the Shooting Stars room.
Some recreational activities like late night shopping, a trip to Bounce and a few rounds of laser tag also featured in the camp’s itinerary, which provided some excellent settings for everyone to bond and enjoy each other’s company.
Oz Minerals also hosted a visit, welcoming the girls into their Adelaide Airport office. During the visit, the Shooting Stars participants were treated to lunch and got to hear from some fascinating women who spoke about their diverse careers, journeys, and backgrounds, as well as some interesting mining processes.
One of the most highly anticipated events of the camp was an Adelaide Thunderbirds training clinic at Netball SA Stadium. The girls had the opportunity to get signatures and photographs with the players, and they each received a Thunderbirds scarf to wear to the game the following night.
The game was beyond exciting, with a couple of Shooting Stars staff members from WA bravely sporting their green Fever scarves, there was a friendly rivalry that made the Thunderbirds’ one-point victory all the more thrilling for the Whyalla girls. After the game, there were more photos with the players, and despite being Thunderbirds fans, the girls were also fans of the Fever captain, Courtney Bruce and coach, Dan Ryan – cheering for both as they approached the stands to say hello.
Stacey Gray, the Regional Manager for Shooting Stars in Whyalla, described the camp as an amazing experience.
One of the year 10 participants shared her thoughts on last year’s leadership camp, stating that it had brought her more confidence:
“I can talk to people more and tell them what I’ve been feeling,” she said.
Regarding this year’s camp, she identified that she was developing new skills like “leadership and helping others.”
Thanks to the support of the South Australia Department for Education, Shooting Stars has been operating in Whyalla since 2021. Reflecting on the importance of Shooting Stars in her school, one participant who has been in the Whyalla program since it was established, has highlighted the sense of belonging she feels within the program, stating “it feels like one big happy family.”
