Blog

It’s a special time of year for the Stars team as many of Stars’ Year 12 students prepare for final assessments and start to embark on their next adventure, which is a major milestone for both students and Mentors!

In 2024, there are more than 200 students completing Year 12 which is evidence that Stars Foundation is accomplishing its mission to support and enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women to make active choices towards realising their full potential in all aspects of their development and wellbeing.

All 62 Stars programs will celebrate Year 12 Graduates and student achievements in the coming weeks, and as Year 12s are about to depart for their next chapter, some programs have already gathered for their end of year celebrations.

Haileybury Rendall Stars in Darwin, NT, Embrace End of Year Celebrations

Haileybury Rendall School hosted their annual End of Year Stars Presentation Night in late October. It was a great event to celebrate the Stars girls and their achievements for the year, and everyone revelled in being able to spend the evening with Darwin-based families as well as some families who travelled from their remote communities.

Congratulations to ten 2024 Year 12 Graduates at Haileybury Rendall School which includes: Athilene, Caitlyn, Danielle, Makayla, Ochre, Shakeam, Shonikqua, Tanayah, Jayla and Lalwa. There are so many bright futures that lie ahead for this year’s cohort which is particularly special, as Stars celebrate the largest graduating class since the Stars Program opened its doors at Haileybury Rendell School in 2018.

Among this inspiring group, many students are also first in their immediate families to graduate, marking a significant milestone not only for themselves, but also for their families and communities.

The highlight of the evening was a heartfelt celebration of their achievements, with families coming together to honour the hard work and dedication these students have shown over the past six years. Some parents flew in from their communities to participate in the graduation festivities, demonstrating the support and pride felt by loved ones. It was an emotional occasion where parents and long-term staff expressed their admiration for the graduates, acknowledging the challenges they faced—especially the commitment of boarding school life for seven of these students.

Being away from their home and families tested our students’ resilience, but they persevered, and their determination has paid off. As we look to the future, some Graduates will return to their communities, ready to contribute their skills and knowledge, while others will continue their studies or have already secured full-time employment.

Two Graduates, Ochre (above left) and Makayla (above right) spoke highly of the Stars Program, emphasizing the support and opportunities it has provided. Their testimonials reflect the transformative impact of the program, highlighting not only academic success but also personal growth and community connection.

“Stars has meant a lot to me over the last six years, especially this year with Year 12 being the most stressful year for me. They’re always there for me when I need guidance and advice or even a place to think. My plans after Year 12 are to go back to my community, Borroloola and work in childcare to give back to my mob,” said Ochre.

“Stars was there for me whenever I needed them on my school journey; whether I needed to talk or just have a quiet place to sit, they were always there. Stars also helped me get to school when I had no other way, gave me food when I didn’t bring any to school, and just overall, were there for me for everything I needed help with. This year I completed a Certificate III in School Based Education Support and completed my work placement at Manunda Primary School; and they have offered me casual work for next year and are helping me to get into studying teaching,” said Makayla.

This graduation is a celebration of dreams realised, new beginnings, and the incredible potential that each of these students carries into the world. We couldn’t be prouder of our Year 12 Stars Graduates and can’t wait to see where their journeys take them next.

Perth Stars from Cecil Andrews College in WA Celebrate Achievements

During recent End of Year Celebrations at Cecil Andrews College Stars Foundation Stars students from Years 7 to 12 were honoured for their outstanding achievements throughout the year. This event celebrated not only academic achievements but also the core values of honesty, respect, commitment, and pride that define the Stars community. Together, we recognised the hard work and dedication of our students, inspiring them to continue striving for excellence.

There was also a special tribute to Year 12 Graduates as everyone wished them well for their future endeavours. The six Year 12 Stars Graduates at Cecil Andrews College include Tallara, Keira-Jayne, Siria, Ashlee, Mahalia and Mowana. Tallara proudly earned the Commitment Value Award, and an excerpt of Tallara’s Year 12 speech below sums up the general sentiment from senior Graduates.

“I wouldn’t be here where I am today if it wasn’t for Stars. In my junior years I wasn’t the best student and didn’t care too much about my work or what I wanted to do once I graduated. I really appreciate the support from the Stars staff Tara, Hannah and Hayley,” said Tallara (above).

Congratulations to Keira-Jayne (above left) for earning the Stars’ Senior Academic Award and the Donna Farragher MLC Leadership and Service Award for demonstrating positive and social and civic values and contributing in a positive way to the wellbeing of the school community. Keira-Jayne has seized a great opportunity to work for the Office of Director General as an Aboriginal Student Development Officer.

The end of year celebration was a wonderful occasion to celebrate student accomplishments and their bright futures ahead.

Weipa Stars in QLD acknowledge the value of the Stars program

Western Cape College in Weipa, Queensland, celebrated its first Stars Celebration Night in October. The evening involved a wonderful gathering of Years 5-12 students and member of the community, school and families. It was a huge success, and the Award winners’ names will be permanently featured on the Honour board.

We congratulate the 13 Stars students in Weipa who recently completed Year 12.  This includes Dianne, Shonika, Enid, Padaila, April, Conell, Maria, Olive, Shenae, Beverly, Jedda-Rae, Flora and Ameilia.

A highlight of the celebration night was having Graduates present the Welcome to Country and official proceedings for the evening. All students spoke very well and showed immense pride and joy during their presentations. Parents and family members were very proud of their daughters, especially when they typically wouldn’t embrace getting up in front of a crowd let alone present for the whole night.

Another highlight of the evening was seeing faces light up when Padaila (above) won the Star of the Year Award as she was in shock and her family were beaming with pride. Everyone who attended was very happy that Padaila received the Award for her commitment to school attendance, results, and for consistently demonstrating the Stars values of respect, commitment, honesty and pride.

Stars’ Graduates speak highly of the Stars Program and have stated many times that they wished Stars was available when they started High School, as the program has helped them a lot and has helped strengthen the girls’ friendships.

The 2024 Graduates in Weipa are about to adventure into a range of different vocations ranging from working for the Australian Defence Force to nursing apprenticeships and traineeships at the local hospital and a mining company and many are looking forward to returning to their local communities after graduation.

We wish each of the Stars Year 12 Graduates a well-earned summer break and an exciting and rewarding year ahead and beyond.