Whyalla operations sponsor tour in lead-up to Reconciliation Week
2 June 2023
The Adelaide office of GFG Alliance has played host to secondary school students from the Shooting Stars program in the lead up to National Reconciliation Week.
This is the second year that the Office has opened its doors to Shooting Stars as a partner to the successful program being delivered in Whyalla.
The students were on a 4-day leadership camp in Adelaide, as part of the program that aims to empower Aboriginal girls and women to make informed choices about their life, education and employment journey … helping them shoot for the stars.
To see these students grow in confidence before our eyes, start standing that little bit taller, start using their voice … it really is a rewarding experience for us as supporters and mentors
Denise Sharp – Community and Stakeholder Engagement Advisor
The Whyalla Shooting Stars sites are sponsored by GFG Alliance, via the Whyalla-based LIBERTY Primary Steel and SIMEC Mining operation, through monetary and in-kind support.
As part of the Adelaide trip, GFG invited the students to its tenth floor King William Street office for a look around at how the corporate arm of the business operates whilst also partaking in some informal talks on GFG operations and interactive workshops with female team leaders.
Following the visit, the students then undertook a range of tours and experiences around Adelaide including the Indigenous Round Super Netball match between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the West Coast Fever at Netball SA Stadium.
Regional Manager for Shooting Stars in Whyalla, Stacey Gray said some of the students had never been to Adelaide before so the visit to the GFG office and the netball match was an ‘amazing experience’ for them.
“Shooting Stars exposes these students to a wider world than they’ve ever known and enables them to think larger than they ever have,” Stacey said.
“It sparks motivation, confidence and inspiration that they can do things outside their comfort zone but well within their capabilities.”
With an on-site tour of the steelworks next on the agenda, the opportunity to interact with female leaders in Adelaide and Whyalla is one of the key components of the GFG partnership with Shooting Stars.
“The support from GFG is huge both in the sponsorship and in-kind support given with these sorts of opportunities,” Stacey said.
“Through these visits to GFG sites, these girls are seeing role models and having experiences that money can’t buy.
“They are seeing women who have made their way in business, and they see examples they can follow to encourage them to stay in school, build their confidence and self-esteem, grow a strong sense of identity and then make informed decisions about their pathway forward in life.”
Shooting Stars exposes these students to a wider world than they’ve ever known and enables them to think larger than they ever hav
STACEY GRAY – REGIONAL Manager for Shooting Stars in Whyalla
With the month of May National Reconciliation Week and the theme ‘Be a Voice for Generations’, it connects strongly with the foundation of the Shooting Stars program.
“Shooting Stars supports growth and change within participants and communities. This includes recognising the importance of and strengthening relationships which opens opportunities and paves the way for our future generations of leaders,” Stacey said.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement Advisor, Denise Sharp said GFG Alliance was proud to be a continued supporter of Shooting Stars with all those involved in the program getting a lot of enjoyment and personal growth from the interaction with the students.
“To see these students grow in confidence before our eyes, start standing that little bit taller, start using their voice … it really is a rewarding experience for us as supporters and mentors,” Denise said.
“We are rapt to play our part is this fantastic program.”
For more information on Shooting Stars go to Shooting Stars | Empowering Aboriginal girls
Main picture: Shooting Stars students, program leaders and GFG Alliance staff in the Adelaide office.