At Girls from Oz, we believe that opportunity is a catalyst for transformation. For Halls Creek g-oz alumni Ooen-s’tae, her experience with the g-oz Travel Program ignited a passion and purpose that continues to shape her remarkable journey in the performing arts.
Now in her second year at the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Ooen-s’tae reflects on how her involvement with g-oz opened her mind to a world of possibilities far beyond the red dust of the Kimberley.
Ooen-s’tae was in junior primary school when she first encountered g-oz. From the very beginning, her energy and enthusiasm stood out. At that time, Halls Creek District High School didn’t offer formal performing arts opportunities, making the arrival of g-oz a pivotal moment for creative young people like Ooen-s’tae:
“I was a kid who loved to dance and sing, but my attendance at school wasn’t great. It was so exciting for me when the choir girls came to our school. This program really pushed me to come to school and go to the classes.”
As a proactive and engaged participant in the g-oz Community Programs and student outside of her g-oz classes, Ooen-s’tae was selected to take part in multiple g-oz Travel Programs. In 2014 and 2017, she travelled to Perth with the g-oz team – an experience that was both transformative and empowering. On both trips, she performed a solo on stage, finding a new sense of purpose in the spotlight:
“When I was 11, I went to Perth with the choir and performed in the Concert Hall. I sang a solo and I remember thinking, ‘This is exactly what I want to do.’ It gives you confidence and makes you think you can be somebody and go somewhere.”
The g-oz Travel Program, which brings together 30 or more selected participants from across remote Australia, offers immersive, inspiring experiences that many young girls in these communities would otherwise never have access to. Last year’s participants, for example, took part in unique opportunities including live performances on Koori Radio and at the Sydney Opera House with the Australian Girls Choir; and performing arts-focussed workshops at Bangarra Dance Theatre and NIDA.
These Travel Programs are not only a chance to explore new places – they are deeply impactful experiences that build confidence, challenge self-limiting beliefs, expand aspirations, and encourage pride and purpose.
This year marks our 22nd g-oz Travel Program and once again, the girls will be travelling to Sydney. The 2025 program promises to be a dynamic celebration of creativity, connection, and empowerment. If you’d like to help the next generation of girls find future career inspiration like Ooen-s’tae you can contribute to our 11th annual Giving Circles campaign today.
Ooen-s’tae’s achievements since her time at g-oz have been nothing short of extraordinary. In 2019, she received the Performing Arts Award at Worawa Aboriginal College in Healesville, Victoria. In 2023, Ooen-s’tae was accepted into the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), where she studied Aboriginal Performance. Her talents and determination then led her to NIDA, where she began her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) in 2024.
A full-circle moment came later that year when she returned to g-oz as a mentor and led a workshop at NIDA for the 2024 g-oz Travel Program cohort. Among the participants was her younger sister, Mussaria, continuing a legacy of empowerment, opportunity and success through the g-oz community.
In 2025, Ooen-s’tae’s achievements were further recognised when she was featured in The Australian Women’s Weekly, celebrating 40 years of the Australian Girls Choir and the incredible impact of Girls from Oz. Most recently, she was selected as one of NIDA’s featured students for their 2025 June Open Day, with her image proudly displayed across billboards, bus stops, and train stations throughout Sydney.
Ooen-s’tae is a testament to what’s possible when talent meets opportunity. Her journey from Halls Creek to some of Australia’s most prestigious performing arts institutions and stages shows the power of investing in young people from remote communities. With confidence, drive, and a deep sense of cultural pride, she continues to inspire those around her – especially the next generation of g-oz girls who, like her, dare to dream big.
There’s no stopping Ooen-s’tae on her pathway to success, and there’s no limit to what the g-oz girls can achieve with your support!
Click here to read more about the g-oz Travel Program.
Watch what happens on a g-oz Travel Program here.
