Engagement through the Arts

We provide high-quality performing arts education and opportunities for girls and young women in remote Australia, using a reputable, evidence-based performing arts engagement model as developed by the Australian School of Performing Arts over the past forty years.

Our program is not audition or talent based, but rather employs the performing arts as a hook of engagement to engage and re-engage individuals in their schooling and in their community, and experience the benefits of sustained involvement in educational activities. When program leaders engender trust and activities are fun, engaging, social and dynamic, the performing arts can serve as an early intervention strategy to prevent absenteeism and to enhance academic motivation and engagement.

In addition to these overt benefits, participation in the arts also delivers a ‘hidden curriculum’, proving itself beneficial in improving confidence and self-esteem; enhancing motivation and resilience; as well as providing a sense of belonging in an environment that highly values team work and encourages the development of leadership.

Ultimately, our goal is to not only enhance the future education and vocational pathways of our participants in order to lead them to greater economic independence and empowerment, but also to improve their overall wellbeing; physically, socially and emotionally.

We aim to raise the capacity of girls and young women, providing them with the skills and encouragement needed to make meaningful life choices and boldly chase their dreams with pride and purpose.

Reaching participants far and wide

We currently reach over 600 participants across our four program locations; Halls Creek and Bidyadanga in Western Australia and Lockhart River and Kowanyama in Far North Queensland.

At the invitation of former Board member Sciona Browne, we travelled to Halls Creek in 2009 to set up a regular Community Program at Halls Creek District High School; as a welcomed and respected presence in the Halls Creek community, we have been working in collaboration with the students and wider Halls Creek community ever since.

After spending three years consolidating our program model in Halls Creek, we were ready to expand our impact. In 2012, we piloted our second program location in Carnarvon, partnering with Carnarvon Community College.

Hailing from Queensland herself our Patron, The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, has always been determined for g-oz to establish an long-term initiative in her home state. In 2015, she connected us with the Puuya Foundation who work with and support the Lockhart River community. In 2016 we official launched our Community Program in collaboration with the Puuya Foundation and Lockhart State School.

Former Kowanyama State School Deputy Principal, Hayley Lawton, was a teacher supervisor on our g-oz Travel Program in 2016 when she worked in Lockhart River. She pursued g-oz upon her move to Kowanyama in 2017. In collaboration with Hayley and Kowanyama State School, we successfully piloted a program in Term 1 and Term 2 of 2021.

After consultation with the Western Australian Education Department, we connected and collaborated with La Grange Remote Community School, the largest Remote Community School in Western Australia, and ran our first pilot program in Bidyadanga in the second half of 2022.

The remoteness of the communities we work with means we deliver our program via an intensive method. During each school term, our specialist program staff and volunteers visit each program location to deliver one week-long Performing Arts Intensive. During our Term 4 visit, 8-12 of the most engaged participants from each program are selected to take part in our annual Travel Program.

Additionally, during National Reconciliation Week, we deliver a Reverse Travel Program to either Halls Creek, Lockhart River, Kowanyama or Bidyadanga. Similar to the annual Travel Program to a major city, the Reverse Travel Program involves 8-12 selected Australian Girls Choir members from across Australia partaking in a week-long, educational and cross-cultural exchange. Through song, dance and story-telling, both g-oz participants and AGC members engage in performing arts and cultural activities while connecting, bonding, learning and sharing stories about each other’s lives, experiences and cultures.

Reliable and consistent community presence

The consistent contact we have with our participants is central to our success. This is possible due to our considered and extensive programme planning; our strong, stable funding model; and the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of our programs in collaboration participants and key stakeholders.

Girls from Oz has been a consistent presence in Halls Creek, Lockhart River, Kowanyama and Bidyadanga since the delivery of our pilot programs in these communities and have been warmly welcomed back each and every year to continue our program delivery and impactful work. We have been a reliable aspect of our participants’ educational experience in each town with participants having developed trusted relationships with our staff.

In communities that so often experience intermittent support from well-meaning initiatives due to short-term programme planning and unstable funding sources, Girls from Oz prides itself on its enduring program delivery in collaboration with and under the guidance of Traditional Owners, Elders, and community leaders to ensure our presence is wanted and esteemed, and our programs remain desired and relevant.