Since launching in 2015, Stars Foundation has grown from initially supporting 285 young women in the Northern Territory to currently empowering and mentoring 3,400 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women in 62 schools across Australia.

Stars Foundation provides a holistic mentoring program that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women to identify their goals and reach their full potential.

For its fourth consecutive year, The Lott by Tatts NT is proudly donating another $100,000 which totals $400,000.

Stars Foundation Founder and CEO, Andrea Goddard, said she values the partnership with The Lott as it enables the organisation to focus on improving health, education and employment outcomes for First Nations girls and young women.

“Stars focuses on education because this is the foundation for First Nations young women to seize opportunities to learn, earn and lead. The empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls through education can deliver significantly improved economic, health and social outcomes – not just for the young women themselves, but also for their families, wider communities, and future generations,” she said.

“This generous funding means that together we are working towards a future where there are tangible education and employment pathways for First Nations young women across Australia, while also working toward a gender equal future.”

Partnership Manager for The Lott by Tatts, Liz McPherson, said the continued support for Stars Foundation plays an important role in sustaining an important program that is consistently delivering positive outcomes.

“We take great pride in our ongoing commitment to supporting communities in the Northern Territory, through organisations such as the Stars Foundation,” she said.

“Education plays a vital role in creating new opportunities and building more resilient communities and we are committed to ensuring more First Nations girls and young women have the greatest chance to thrive.”

During Reconciliation Week, which is dedicated to building positive, respectful relationships between Australians and celebrating First Nations culture, The Lott by Tatts NT celebrates the incredible work of the Stars Foundation and is proud to support Stars students in shining their brightest light.

This includes;

• 92% of the 220 students enrolled in the Year 12 Stars program in 2023 successfully completed their final year, compared to the national Indigenous average of 65%.
• 78% is the Stars students’ average attendance for 2023, which is 10% higher than our partner school’s ‘All-Indigenous’ attendance rate and 1% higher than our partner school’s ’All-student’ attendance.
• 85% of 2022 Stars Graduates nationwide have successfully transitioned to employment or further study and remain in positions as of February 2024.

To find out more about Stars Foundation visit starsfoundation.org.au/