Year 10 students Tymika Perceval and Gail Goolagong have spent the year being trained as Sista Speak trainers and will now take on a mentoring and support role for students next year.

The Sista Speak program is designed to support the dreams and aspirations of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls.

It focuses on career development and options for financial independence while increasing their self esteem and strengthening their sense of identity and culture.

Five other girls, supported by their mums, also received certificates in a ceremony on November 19 after completing the six week “Sista Speak” program.

The program was coordinated by Aboriginal education worker Aunty Enid Clarke, who said Gail and Tymika were outstanding role models. 

“They’re excellent and have gone well beyond expectations, they are good community leaders,” she said.

Gail said she was proud to be a leader in the community.

“I’m very excited, a lot of hard work has paid off,” she said.

“We’ve built strong bonds with the other girls.”

The program was often taught outside in a relaxed environment where students and elders could share stories and talk about their culture. 

The girls even forged a new friendship through the program.

Edgelene Tighe is a Koori woman from Cootamundra who saw the group meeting in the park while she was on a break at TAFE. 

She made the decision to come up and say hi, and since then has taken on a mentoring role herself, being the group’s “special elder”.

“It’s been an experience, it’s good to be able to teach our culture. Teaching my culture is really a passion for me,” Edgelene said.