Building connections and networks through basketball

Indigenous basketball talent was on show in February when 72 participants from the Wirrpanda Foundation’s Deadly Sista Girlz Program came together in Perth to compete in the program’s first sporting event of the year.

Delivered by strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role models, Deadly Sista Girlz is a culturally appropriate program that aims to improve engagement and school attendance amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls.

The 8 teams from Deadly Sista Girlz sites competing in the round robin basketball tournament were Champion Bay Senior High (2 teams), Fremantle College, Gilmore College, John Tonkin College, Ellenbrook Secondary College, Yule Brook College and Governor Stirling Senior High School.

Governor Stirling Senior High School took out the tournament, defeating Champion Bay Senior High School in the final by 23 points.

There was tremendous talent on show but more importantly, the girls showed a high level of sportsmanship and commitment to their teams throughout the day.

Deadly Sista Girlz sporting events provide opportunities for the girls to come together and meet fellow Sista Girlz from around the state, helping to build connections and networks.

Deadly Sista Girlz Coordinator Siobhann Williams said the event is about more than just sport.

‘The basketball carnival is about getting the girls together and rewarding them for their attendance at school and just to have fun and get to know the other sites,’ Siobhann said.

‘As an Aboriginal person, sport was just always around and it was kind of our key contact to get out and to provide a better future for ourselves.

‘There is obviously a lot of natural talent and potential from our girls, so I think sport is a really important vehicle for them.’

As part of Deadly Sista Girlz, participants have access to a tailored Sport and Recreation program, which utilises weekly sport sessions as an important engagement tool and highlights the importance of health and fitness. The girls have the opportunity to compete in sporting events throughout the year, including this basketball tournament and AFL Football competitions.

Sport is one part of a well-rounded program where participants are taught to make informed decisions about their personal health and well-being through the delivery of mentoring sessions.

Mentors offer a stable environment and aim to engage, educate, and empower at risk girls to make positive choices for their health and futures. Participants benefit from having trusted mentors present and available on the school grounds, helping to build routine, encourage better relationships with the wider community, instil confidence and achieve goals.