Deadly Sista Girlz Leadership Camp

Our Deadly Sista Girlz recently attended a 3-day Leadership Camp in the Swan Valley. Supported by DSG Partner, Water Corporation, year 10 students from Halls Head College, Northam Senior High School, Ellenbrook Senior High School and Saint Mary’s College attended the camp at the Swan Valley Adventure Centre.  

The girls arrived on the first day ready to begin the multiple exciting group activities, including orienteering, frisbee golf and a yarn around the campfire.  

In orienteering, the girls were split up into groups of 4 and were engaged in a competition to see who could find the answers to the questions first. All the groups started their competition, and everyone was motivated and ready to win.  

After lunch, the girls watched ex-DSG mentor, Kirby Bentley, compete in this year’s season of Australian Survivor. Seeing Kirby on the show, competing in the high intensity challenges, ignited motivation in the girls and demonstrated that it is possible to become successful in your passions.  

The girls then participated in a unique game called ‘Frisbee Golf’. The aim is to throw the frisbee into a hole on the course, with the person with the least number of throws winning the game. 

The students were determined to win, and all groups rotated around the oval covering different golf holes. After a fun time running around competing, the girls were ready to move into their new dorm house. Later in the afternoon the girls and mentors gathered around the campfire at night and yarned. 

On day two, the girls set off on their journey to Mineral Resources Park for a morning consisting of fun activities and inspirational speeches from some successful First Nations women from Water Corporation. The girls heard inspirational speeches from Delvene McLaughlin, Demi Okely, Sha Ragnauth, Melissa Billy-Rooney and Gningala Yarran- Mark on their career journey, leadership and exciting opportunities that the girls could apply for.  

The aim of the Deadly Sista Girlz program is to increase school attendance and provide our girls opportunities to learn and develop their career pathway. Through the DSG program, girls are introduced to multiple industries to encourage them to connect with employees for future networks and connections, jump starting their successful careers.  

The program allows and provides a safe space for the girls to develop and find their personal pathways. Providing the girls with opportunities to flourish through their education and career options. 

The girls engaged in a range of activities aimed at improving leadership and teamwork skills and allowing them to connect and practice working together.  

A highlight was the Art and Identity activity, facilitated by Kirby Bentley, where the girls used First Nations cultural symbols to illustrate various stages of life. Kirby encouraged the girls to draw their journey and present it to the other group members. 

The girls then headed back to camp and completed some fun outdoor activities, including a flying fox, possum glider and leap of faith! 

For the final day, the girls woke up early, ready to get muddy in the Commando Course. Competing in pairs, they raced through a range of obstacle courses, including balancing beams and rope swings. The girls then split up into two teams in a plank race, working together in teams to cross the finish line. Finishing up the course, the girls joined together as one group to complete activities where they had to work together to get each other through a web of ropes. 

After some showers and packing up the dorms, the girls had morning tea reflecting on the last 3 days and what they had learned, before getting on the road and heading home. 

A big thank you to Water Corporation for supporting the 3-day leadership camp, allowing our girls to connect and learn new skills. Deadly Sista Girlz program provides engagement opportunities, such as our leadership camp, to build strong relationships between out girls and for participants to learn useful skills to support them in their schooling and beyond. 

Deadly Sista Girlz is a holistic education, empowerment and healthy lifestyle program for Indigenous girls operating in 18 schools across Australia. DSG is funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, with support from corporate partners. Find out more.