Local girls charge towards future

A GROUP of Year 9 Surf Coast Secondary College students are the latest to graduate from the Girl in Charge program, a Victorian Police-run initiative aimed at building healthy connections within the community.

The 16 students took part in nine netball-oriented sessions across the program’s duration, with facilitators empowering participants with tools that promoted self-image, leadership, gratitude and resilience.

Participants received a netball umpiring qualification and have now been paired with mentors from AFL Barwon for potential future employment pathways.

A host of special guests attended the graduation including Marie Fenton (Confident Girls Foundation), Abby Ellery (Surf Coast Shire Youth Team), Rose Hodge (Surf Coast Shire councilor and former mayor), Sarah Upton (Koorie Education Support Officer), Peter Ward (Superintendent Victoria Police) and Mick Reid (Inspector Victoria Police).

Program facilitator and Detective Senior Constable Kylie Roberts said the program was a fantastic way to connect with local women to empower them towards a positive future.

“The purpose of the program is to prevent disengagement of girls in sport and connect them with the community while fostering good relationships with local police,” Mrs Roberts said.

“The program also gives the girls a tangible netball qualification and gives them the opportunity for future employment.

“We did some really fun activities and we just hoped to show the girls that they can be strong and be their authentic selves.”

Mrs Roberts said the program had certainly fostered some fantastic friendships between the students and the local community facilitators.

“We had a fantastic group of facilitators who assisted with the program,” Mrs Roberts said.

“We all really become good friends, and that’s also extended from last year’s cohort who popped in during the program to say hello.

“The girls can see these success stories and be empowered by other female members of the community who have overcome some adversity themselves.

“Post program, we now just want to continue to be foster those positive relationships and being available and open to access for the girls.”