Shooting Stars is a school-based educational engagement program for Aboriginal girls and young women. Based in remote, regional and metro areas across Western and South Australia, the program is place-based and community-led.
The organisation is predominantly staffed by Aboriginal women, who walk alongside each participant throughout their schooling journey. These women are role models who offer advocacy and support to build confidence, cultural identity, wellbeing, positive relationships and capacity for participants to make informed decisions. This unlocks the door to self-determination so girls and young women in the program are empowered to reach their full potential as they move through school and their post-school endeavours.
Research, that is deeply grounded in Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing underpins everything we do at Shooting Stars. In facilitated yarning circles, the voices of participants, community members and localised steering committees have a platform to share feedback, challenge the status quo and tailor the Shooting Stars program for their community.