Initiative partners with Shooting Stars to empower young Indigenous women
Initiative takes its RAP very seriously. It’s not just about producing a document with a beautifully illustrated cover; it’s about actioning their commitment to work in partnership with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders.
In 2020 the RAP inspired Initiative to partner with Shooting Stars through UnLtd, a social purpose organisation that connects the media, marketing, and creative industries with charities supporting at-risk children and young people. As part of this, Initiative Media offers the agency’s skills and expertise on a pro-bono partnership basis. Shooting Stars has a clear vision to empower Aboriginal girls and women via its school-based engagement programs, Initiative aimed to help Shooting Stars fulfil its ambitious vision.
Emily Whyte, Mediabrands RAP Committee Chair and Account Manager at Initiative, said: “Giving back to the community is entrenched in Initiative’s ethos. Working with Shooting Stars provided our team with the perfect opportunity to continue our Reconciliation commitment by partnering with Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Elders, leaders, and representatives to deepen respect, strengthen relationships and create greater opportunities for the Indigenous community.
“The partnership is based on aligned values that are deeply entrenched in both organisations’ DNA; and one where collectively we aim to make a real difference to the lives of Aboriginal girls and women.”
Rebecca Braham, Research Manager from Shooting Stars said: “Our ambition is to advocate and support young women to open their minds to what they can achieve in life, with the aim to empower each young woman to reach her full potential.
“Partnerships with companies such as Initiative, provide our young women with the opportunity to connect with, and learn from, industry experts and provide an invaluable addition to our program.”
During the first half of 2024 the partnership centred on a collaboration with RTRFM Perth, who hosted an Open Day and Learning Circle in May, for 37 Shooting Stars’ students who travelled from across WA and SA to Perth for a Senior Leadership Camp. The open day was dedicated to championing and engaging the community on education and equal employment opportunities in media and radio broadcasting.
Natasha Thomas, RTR’s Development Manager, said: “It was an absolute pleasure delivering the podcast and broadcasting workshop for the Shooting Stars leadership students. Opening our doors and creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders to consider a career in media is something we are passionate about, and we hope the workshop provided hands-on experience & insights that inspired the young women to aim high.”
Activities at the Open Day included RTRFM Studio walkthroughs; interactive sessions where participants engaged in crafting and creating a podcast idea; and an Industry Insights session where representatives from Initiative and RTRFM shared their journeys into the media industry, their motivations, and provided a snapshot of media agency operations.
Paige English, Head of Perth at Initiative, said: “The feedback following Open Day has been overwhelmingly positive, special thank you to Koshina for championing this partnership and to Monica who will lead our Impact division moving forward. The success of this makes us even prouder to announce the upcoming launch of a new internship program focused on regional and remote areas called ‘Outternship’
“The Internship will be just one way that Initiative continues to champion young talent and we can’t wait to share more details when we kickstart ‘Outternship’ later this year.”
Voices from the event:
Koshina Yong, Investment Executive, Initiative: “The beauty of the circle is profoundly important in indigenous culture. To be able to share about the industry that I love, makes me even proud to be a part of this dynamic industry. I loved interacting with the girls and seeing how each team worked together to come up with fantastic podcast ideas.”
Wayneshia from Carnarvon, Shooting Stars 2024 Senior Leadership Participant: “It was nice to experience how they do what they do.” When asked about her interest in podcasting, she responded with a “maybe,” showing the event sparked curiosity.
Kelsey Osborne, Program Coordinator in Merredin: “The RTRFM session was an amazing addition to the Shooting Stars Senior Leadership Camp. It provided valuable insights into radio and podcast presenting, offering the girls an opportunity to do a voiceover on the radio and develop new skills.”
Ashleigh Glenister, Marketing & Communication Manager: “The camp is about connecting, networking, developing leadership skills, and being inspired by various career options. This session could inspire involvement in regional community radio stations in the girls’ hometowns, amplifying the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and women.”
Danielle Raffaele, Content Producer, RTRFM: “At RTRFM, we love to tell stories and platform diverse voices. Sharing our love of storytelling with future leaders as part of the Shooting Stars program was a joy. We hope the workshop sparked their curiosity for media.”
Isaiah McKenna (IJ), Yawuru, Bunuba, and Goonyandi woman from Broome & Danggu country, Co-host of Sovereign: “Many of the girls come from communities like mine, and I resonate with their experiences. It’s important for them to see that achievements in media are within reach. If I can inspire or motivate any of the girls to pursue their interests, that’s a win for me.”