MORE than 120 high school students gathered at Curtin University last week for a three-day leadership camp for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls.
The event, run by the Girls Academy, had students participate in team-building and cultural activities, seminars, workshops and sports.
The academy provides support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls to boost academic performance, encourage school attendance and graduation, improve health and wellbeing, and strengthen cultural connection.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWElainah Coffin, the local academy program manager, took on the role to increase the support provided in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls’ education.
She said the academy had an intensive mentoring program that stressed the importance of relationships.
“With my own personal experience of having to leave home to complete secondary studies in the metro area, then going on to complete a university degree, as an Aboriginal woman, the Girls Academy has provided me a platform to provide the same support and guidance that I was given by my mentors.”
The academy was founded by former Perth Wildcat and Australian Olympian basketballer Ricky Grace in 2004.
MORE: WA’s new Police Commissioner sets his agenda
MORE: ‘Golden Girl’ Betty Cuthbert farewelled at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
MORE: Carousel set to be WA’s biggest shopping centre after $350m upgrade
MORE: Gingin Science Festival a chance to investigate and get hand-on in the lab