For Saripha Sesar, Shooting Stars isn’t just an educational program, it’s family.
Sesar and Raeona Weaver were the first school-based trainees for Shooting Stars in 2019, and this year will transition to site-based trainees.
Sesar hailing from Carnarvon and Weaver from Derby completed their traineeships one day a week last year, graduating Year 12 with a WA Certificate of Education.
Sesar, joined the Shooting Stars program in 2017 and said the initiative showed the clear career pathway for local Aboriginal women through the program.
“It’s family to me,” she said.
“I started the Program in Year 10 and ever since then they’ve helped me come so far throughout everything.
“Even when I’m having a bad day – coming in and having their smiles bright up my day – it’s really helped me to develop in to the person I am today.”
Sesar said she is hoping to have a positive impact on Shooting Stars’ participants now as a staff member of the program.
“What they’ve done for me, I can now do that for other students,” she said.
“It’s something I’m really passionate about, giving back to other people.”
Weaver is completing her Certificate 3 in Business and Sport and Recreation, while working two days a week at Shooting Stars.
“It’s fun coaching netball with the participants,” said Weaver.
“When I was working one day a week it was only a small amount of time getting to know the girls but now I’m there two days, I’ve started to build on those relationships.”
“Being able to teach the girls how to play netball – I want them to look up to me – it’s exciting.”
