Working in collaboration with community
Girls from Oz is committed to supporting First Nations youth in Halls Creek in collaboration with them and their community. Through our welcomed, respected and sustainable Community Program that utilises the performing arts as a proven and successful engagement tool, we provide students attending the remote Halls Creek District High School (HCDHS) with the educational and vocational opportunities as well as life skills, and unique life experiences which would have otherwise remained inaccessible and unattainable to them.
After a successful pilot program in 2010, Girls from Oz now enters its fourteenth consecutive year of program delivery in Halls Creek as of 2024.
This longstanding relationship between g-oz and the Halls Creek community came to be through a fortuitous meeting with Sciona Browne, former g-oz Board member, who was the Halls Creek Better Life Project Manager in 2010. It had been noted that while youth engagement initiatives were present in the community, these often sports-focused programs tended to only support and advocate for the engagement of boys and young men in their schooling and in their community. Prior to the g-oz Community Program, initiatives that directly targeted and supported girls and young women were scarce.
‘At first I would only come to school when Girls from Oz were at school. It then drew me to come into school and participate in my classes, helped me build my attendance up really well. Girls from Oz played a large part in that. I don’t think I would have graduated, or I don’t know, attended school if it wasn’t for g-oz.’ – Sophia Gumpoltsberger Halls Creek g-oz alumni, 2023
In addition to contributing to the improved emotional and social wellbeing; school attendance and academic motivation; and the expansion of future educational and vocational prospects of HCDHS students, g-oz also actively supports the existing local language preservation and revitalisation initiatives within the Halls Creek community. Under the permission and guidance of Traditional Owners, Elders, and language holders and in collaboration with them, we strive to help bridge the intergenerational gap and loss of First Nations language with the aid of music and song as both a learning and healing tool.
Since 2016, g-oz has partnered with Kimberley Language Resource Centre to contribute to local language revitalisation, including the addition of content in Jaru and Kija into our program delivery.
‘Keeping children connected to culture, and giving them the ability to learn songs in their own language; what an incredible healing component. The healing benefits are huge.’ – Catherine Liddle, former g-oz Board member and current CEO of SNAICC (National Voice for our Children)
A strong partnership with Halls Creek District High School
As of 2024 Halls Creek District High School has a total of 313 enrolments from Kinder to Year 12. Each year g-oz delivers four week-long performing arts programs at Halls Creek District High School, one visit per school term.
As of 2024 g-oz has successfully delivered 56 Community Programs at Halls Creek District High School.
The g-oz Community Program focuses primarily on girls in grade 4 and above. However, we work with all students in Kindergarten up to Year 3 in in-class settings as well as in community groups at the Halls Creek Child and Parent Centre.
‘Girls from Oz teaches you not to feel shame and to believe in yourself and that you can make it. I still have a few problems making friends. I was new at school and I’d wait for someone to talk to me, but now I can go and introduce myself. The program at school [has] taught me to have more confidence in myself…I learnt from Quentin Bryce to follow my dreams and not let anyone stop me – I really loved talking with her.’ – Ritzana, Halls Creek g-oz participant, 2018
Girls from Oz also supports the incredible work of Shooting Stars, an engagement initiative of Netball WA, whose programming has also had a continued presence within the Halls Creek community since 2014.
Heart of the Kimberley
Halls Creek sits on Jaru and Gidja country with many residents celebrating both Jaru and Gidja heritage.
It has a population of 3603 with 2806 residents identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (ABS Census Data 2021). Languages spoken include Jaru, Kija, Kukatja, Kriol, Gooniyandi, Walmajarri and English.
The town is situated in the heart of Western Australia’s East Kimberley region on the Great Northern Highway with the nearest major town, Kununurra, being a four hour drive away.
Halls Creek is rich with natural attractions, such as Palm Springs, Caroline Pool and Sawpit Gorge. You can also find the striking Wolfe Creek crater and UNESCO World Heritage listed Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park nearby.
The town is also home to the Yarliyil Art Centre; an Aboriginal-owned gallery and studio space that hosts over 100 practicing local artists.