The Holyoake Wheatbelt Suicide Prevention Project (WSPP) has partnered with Shooting Stars and Deadly Minds Matter to fund a youth wellbeing project focusing on an enthusiastic #deadly group of young Aboriginal girls to develop sustainable resources for the 2023 Netball season.
Through an authentic co-design process, the girls involved with the Shooting Stars Deadly Minds Matter program produced a #hashtag and artwork to reflect their visions, hopes and aspirations as young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females. Voice pops to capture what #deadlygirlsmatter means to the girls were used to generate a series of statements to feature on the #deadlygirlsmatters posters, marking the end of the 2023 Deadly Minds Matter Program .
This was incorporated into a bespoke Bucket Hat and poster design to represent what #deadlygirlsmatter means to them. The Bucket Hat design also features the artwork of upcoming artist Clover McBrydie from Merredin College, as part of the collaboration between Holyoake and the Shooting Stars girls, an impactful and positive reminder to all participants involved in the Shooting Stars and Deadly Minds Matter program.
Culminating in the Shooting Stars Netball Carnival in Collie, the #deadlygirls from Narrogin, Collie, Merredin, and Kiara College spent the day playing netball, participating in team building activities and interacting with local community services. The WSPP team stall featured resources on social and emotional wellbeing included guides, interactive activities and a social and emotional wellbeing themed tic-tac-toe competition.
Framed posters have since been presented to the Shooting Stars centres in Perth, Kiara College, Collie, Merredin and Narrogin.
The Deadly Minds Matter Program has been an overwhelming success and the WSPP is already in discussion with Shooting Stars Deadly Minds Matter to explore opportunities to build and enhance on this initial collaborative partnership.
