Strutting it in Wickham

Every week a group of about 30 mostly indigenous girls get together in Wickham, 30 mins outside Karratha, to do girly things.

They dance, practice modelling routines, and learn how to do hair and make-up for their shows.

The aim of the Roebourne Girls FX program is to keep people in school and out of the justice system by promoting a healthy lifestyle, and strong role-models.

The groups been going since 2003, it originally happened in Roebourne next door to Wickham, and all up about 50 mostly indigenous girls have been involved, aged between 12 and 19.

They’ve done heaps of dance and fashion shows around the State, and lots of workshops.

Some of the older girls have now moved on to boarding school in Perth … a couple have started uni, others still help out with the younger girls now.

Many of the girls in the group come from a tough home-life situation. The hope is that by getting involved in a confidence building group, the girls will break that traditional cycle of early pregnancy, leaving school young, then drug and alcohol problems or maybe domestic violence.