Youth program ready to Shine

Training and Workforce Minister Murray Cowper toured the West Kimberley Youth Justice Services last week during a visit to Broome.

He met with staff and students involved in an innovative regional youth program, also known as Shine Girl.

The program was developed by Youth Justice and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace’s Youth Connections to provide support to girls aged 10-17 at risk of disengaging from their community.

Mr Cowper said he was impressed with the project’s success and the positive outcomes for the girls involved.

Shine Girl co-ordinator Deb Stibbe said the program, which started last year, evolved when Youth Justice and Youth Connections came together and identified a need to support young women.

“We got together and said there was not a lot of things for young ladies to build themselves up, their self-esteem, suicide prevention, health in the community, career development,” Ms Stibbe said.

“We decided to get together and design a program that would work for this community, and that program will be taken to other communities as well.”

Ms Stibbe said the program was based on community strengths and working with the community.

Participants receive support for a range of issues from sexual and mental health, career development and life skills.

Broome participant Ellamae James, 15, who has been part of the program since February, said she found out about Shine Girl from Youth Connections through Burdekin Youth In Action.

“We go on camps and stuff…we went out to a camp at One Arm Point and had a basketball game with some of the kids,” she said. “I was shy at first but got to know everybody.

I feel more confident, and it’s really fun. You learn different things.”