“Weena” Program for Indigenous PLHS Girls

Port Lincoln High School’s Weena program is offered to female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in our Middle School; Weena stands for wellbeing, engage, educate, network and achieve.

This important program focuses on building self-esteem and confidence in Indigenous identity, having cultural contribution in the community, building relationships based on mutual respect, encouraging active self-development and yarning about women’s health, safety and nutrition. Weena aims to support girls to build constructive relationships with each other, their school, families and community members. This additional support can provide opportunities to develop life goals and life skills, and establish a positive pathway from school to further study and work.

Some of the key program features include:

• I AM ME, I AM BULYA (wellbeing)
• BE THE CHANGE (community engagement & leadership) – pictured below are images from a series of art activities that our participants ran last term with some visiting Port Lincoln Junior Primary School students
• YADU BODY, YADU MIND (physical activity, health & nutrition) – also depicted below are our participants at Spektrum Martial Arts and the Port Lincoln School of Yoga
• IMAGINE (future pathways and careers)
• BACK TO MUNDA (cultural knowledge and understanding)  

Support staff are available to assist participants in setting goals, developing relationships, facilitating connections and establishing healthy routines. Two workshop sessions – Respect Sista Girl and Deadly Thinking – are also offered each term to address the Weena program goals.

~ Ms Wanda Jarvis (Program Coordinator)