Kimberley Girl models leadership

Young indigenous beauties from across the region will take part in a life-changing course on self-development next month, as a prestigious program makes its return.

Nominations will close tomorrow for this year’s Kimberley Girl, a life skills workshop for Aboriginal women under 25 that culminates in a modelling display in front of friends, family and community members.

Having run for the better part of two decades, the highly regarded leadership program has made a difference to more than 300 young ladies, by focusing on body image, adversity, social skills, workplace readiness, public speaking, proper etiquette and sexual health.

It has also spread throughout the State, with a similar event held in the Pilbara and Goldfields.

The past year has been a live showcase of the huge impact the course has on the pathways of Aboriginal girls, with former participants Bianca Graham and Montana Ah Won catching the eye of politicians across the country as they campaign to prevent youth suicide. A large number of alumni were also employed as community support officers in Broome, Derby, Kununurra, Port Hedland, Karratha and Kalgoorlie, providing ongoing support for graduates of the program, after it was awarded a $450,000 Lotterywest grant last September. Former participants have also taken part in the Perth Fashion Festival and strutted their stuff at the Cable Beach Polo and Broome Turf Club earlier this year.

Program founder and Goolari Media chief operations officer Kira Fong said there was little that gave her more joy than seeing successful girls emerge from the program each year. sThe first heat will take place at Goolarri Media on October 4, after a week of workshops. Ten participants will qualify for the final on October 11, held in conjunction with the Pilbara Girl event on the same night.