Our Deadly Sista Girlz participants visited Perth Zoo and fed the giraffes as part of their end of term reward. During the visit, participants toured the zoo and saw all the different animals before visiting the giraffe enclosure, where they met Zahara the giraffe and fed her leaves by hand. Zahara was a little picky when it came to her food, choosing only one type of plant to eat. Participants learnt more about giraffes and Zahara herself as the zookeeper shared fun facts about her personality, habits and daily life.
For all of the girls, it was their first time being so close to a giraffe and none had ever experienced feeding one before, making it a highlight of the day.
Participants selected for this end of term reward have consistently engaged with both the DSG program and their schooling throughout the term. They have demonstrated DSG values and positive behaviours, maintained at least 70% school attendance, and remained in good standing at school. These rewards also provide an opportunity to encourage students who may be less engaged to reconnect with their education and school community.
Nardia, our Deadly Sista Girlz Student Support Officer, who has worked as a mentor with the program for the past three years and is also a former student of the school she now mentors at, shared why experiences like our end of term rewards are so important “As an Indigenous program, we know many of our girls naturally gravitate towards being outdoors and spending time in nature. Experiences like our zoo reward day provide valuable opportunities for students to step away from the classroom settings, reconnect with the natural world, and enjoy the grounding benefits that nature offers”
End of term rewards are an important way of celebrating the hard work, commitment and positive choices our young people make. They also create a positive goal for students to work towards throughout the term, encouraging engagement in school and the DSG program. These experiences support our goal of inspiring First Nations girls to thrive in education, health and life, while recognising and celebrating their achievements along the way.
“I see firsthand the positive impact days like these have on our girl’s overall wellbeing. Not a lot of us can say on Tuesday, I fed a Giraffe” said Nardia.
Deadly Sista Girlz is a culturally-appropriate program designed to improve school attendance and education attainment amongst First Nations girls. The program is led by strong First Nations role models who empower participants to make informed decisions about their health, education and future careers. Deadly Sista Girlz is funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, with support from corporate partners. Find out more.
