ITC mentorship offered to First Nations students

Orro and Stars Foundation have established a partnership to deliver ITC mentorship at Heatley Secondary College.

Through its relationship-based mentoring programs, now active across 38 schools in Australia, Stars Foundation encourages young Indigenous women to remain in school and actively engage in education until completion of Year 12. The organisation also supports the young women to transition successfully into further study or employment.

The partnership with Orro, established in conjunction with The Generations Foundation, will see Orro support 10 female students in the Stars program at Heatley Secondary College in Townsville. Beyond supporting the services provided by Stars Foundation at Heatley Secondary College, as a partner, Orro will host students for workplace visits, provide insights into career pathways in security and technology, and participate in local Stars Foundation events.

Rachel Sands, Chief People Officer at Orro Group and driving force behind many of the company’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, said, “Working with Stars Foundation demonstrates our investment in our communities and in the future of the ITC industry workforce.

“At Orro, we are passionate about creating a workplace where people’s strengths and diverse capabilities are celebrated, somewhere women of all cultures can thrive, share ideas and make their mark on the technology sector. We believe that by tapping into and fostering people’s strengths, you not only get the best out of them but also a better outcome for the whole team.

“It is with this philosophy in mind that we are proud to embark on a partnership with Stars Foundation, to help carve a pathway for Indigenous females as well as shape the industry’s future female leaders.”

Stars Foundation programs provide an intensive and evidence-based approach that addresses key indicators. These are aligned to the Commonwealth Government (COAG) Close the Gap targets of school attendance, Year 12 completion and transition to employment or further study. In practice, the programs provide young Indigenous women with reliable transport to and from school, access to healthy meals and mentorship, all within the context of a stable, nurturing support network and culturally safe school environment.

Stars Foundation Founder and CEO Andrea Goddard said, “We are extremely grateful for the support provided by Orro and The Generations Foundation for our program at Heatley Secondary College in Townsville. This partnership will help to introduce our participants to career pathways and opportunities in the ITC industry and contribute to our important goal of inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women to reach their full potential.”