Yarning with the Stars
Challenging the status quo
Shooting Stars uses evidence, impact and research to challenge the systems and institutions that adversely impact Aboriginal girls and women. By undertaking regular yarning circles, a uniquely Aboriginal methodology, with Aboriginal girls, women, and their communities, Shooting Stars is able to identify barriers and facilitators to their empowerment. From this research, Shooting Stars has been able to continuously improve its program and develop and implement a number of projects to help overcome certain barriers and challenges our participants face.
'Yarning Circle Relatedness: Connecting Our Participants, Communities, and Staff' by Helen Ockerby
As part of the careful evaluation of our program, Shooting Stars undertakes regular yarning circles, a uniquely Aboriginal methodology, to gain feedback and recommendations from stakeholders. With Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Ethical Clearance, Shooting Stars facilitates yarning circles with our participants, localised steering committees, and the broader community to ensure our program is continuously evolving to best target barriers specific to the sites we operate in. Funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency and Lotterywest, the Yarning with the Stars Project is carried out by the Shooting Stars staff and gauges participant’s attitudes towards school, education, health and wellbeing, as well as their identity and their future. Shooting Stars have conducted more than 100 Yarning Circles to date, and through this methodology have developed and implemented a number of projects to help overcome certain barriers and challenges our participants face. By giving our Shooting Stars a voice, they take ownership of the program within their community. To check out the Shooting Stars Yarning with the Stars research paper click below.