West Coast Fever young gun Olivia Lewis has embarked on her first Shooting Stars site visit in Leonora last week.
An initiative of Netball WA and Glass Jar Australia, Shooting Stars uses netball and other tools as the drivers to help enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls reach their full potential by engaging in their education, while promoting their health and wellbeing and building pathways towards employment.
Lewis spent time in the classroom with the Leonora Shooting Stars participants, as well as on the court, and also visited St Barbara’s Gwalia Minesite with Shooting Stars Executive Officer Fran Haintz and Leonora Program Coordinator Shelley Coleman.
St Barbara has injected $300,000 into the Leonora site, and also assisted with housing for Coleman.
Lewis said it was a rewarding trip.
“It’s so great to get the opportunity to see first-hand the impact the Shooting Stars program has on these young girls,” Lewis said.
“Just from being present in the classroom with the girls, you can see how much they love the program and how it works to change behaviour, improve their attendance and nurture leadership skills.”
“It was fantastic to head out to Leonora on my first Shooting Stars trip and see the work the team is doing.”
Shooting Stars Executive Officer Fran Haintz said it was valuable for participants to meet female role models like Lewis.
“Giving the girls the opportunity to be involved with powerful female leaders in their industry exposes them to different career opportunities and encourages them to strive to their full potential,” Haintz said.
“We are very proud of the relationship the Program shares with West Coast Fever, and thank Olivia for taking the time to visit our Leonora participants.”
The visit comes off the back of the dedicated Shooting Stars Round for West Coast Fever, held earlier this month.
