QBE Foundation and Stars Foundation join forces to see more Indigenous women and girls empowered
QBE Foundation and Stars Foundation (Stars) are joining forces to see more Indigenous girls and young women empowered through Stars’ mentoring programs, today announcing a multiyear partnership.
The full-time, evidence-based programs provide essential support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander female students in schools across the Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria.
QBE Australia Pacific Foundation Co-chair Jason Clarke said Stars’ programs deliver profound impacts to participants and their communities.
“Stars’ programs are intensive and holistic – they address the physical and mental health of Indigenous young women at a critical point in their schooling lives.
“As an insurance provider to Indigenous communities and businesses across the country, and an organisation committed to fostering equality for Indigenous Australians, Stars’ mission is one that deeply resonates with us.
“In addition to aligning with our Reconciliation Action Plan, our partnership also reflects our shared commitment to gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability more broadly. By joining forces with Stars, we hope to help maximise the powerful impact the team is already making in these important areas.”
QBE Australia Pacific Foundation Co-chair Jon Fox said QBE would provide hands on support extending well beyond its financial commitment.
“We’re working closely with Stars to identify development opportunities we can offer to Mentors and students, backing the team with resources and offering the time, skills and networks of our people.”
Stars Foundation CEO Andrea Goddard said QBE Foundation’s support would help Stars address the socioeconomic disadvantage and inequality many Indigenous girls and young women experience.
“We know that empowering young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women through education delivers significantly improved economic, health and social outcomes. Results not only benefit the students themselves but extend to their future families and wider communities.
“Our Stars mentoring programs help create supportive, culturally safe learning environments – providing the support students need to make the most out of their educational experiences.
“Since Stars began operating programs in schools in the Northern Territory in 2015, we’ve seen remarkable education and health improvements amongst our students. In 2018, 97 per cent of our senior Stars students completed Year 12 – an outstanding result, particularly considering the national overall rate of Year 12 completion for Indigenous people was as low as 65 per cent in 2016.
“QBE Foundation’s support will not only help us continue momentum in our current programs but will also help us pursue our ambition to expand, allowing us to reach more young women in need of support.
“We’re thrilled to partner with an organisation who understands and wholeheartedly supports our mission.”
The QBE Foundation will partner with Stars until at least 2022 and continue its partnerships with existing partners R U OK? The Kids’ Cancer Project, Foodbank, Mission Australia, KidsCan New Zealand and McGrath Foundation in 2020.
QBE’s global multiyear partnerships with Red Cross and Save The Children will also continue in the new year.
About the Australia Pacific QBE Foundation:
The QBE Foundation partners with impactful not-for-profits around the world to protect vulnerable communities, enable financial resilience, strengthen their health and wellbeing, and to build more inclusive, sustainable communities. QBE’s Australia Pacific Foundation works across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Find out more at: https://www.qbe.com/au/about/sponsorship-community/the-qbe-foundation
About Stars Foundation:
Stars Foundation’s mission is to support and enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women to make active choices towards realising their full potential in all aspects of their development and wellbeing. Stars Foundation has been offering full-time, in-school mentoring and engagement programs for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women at risk of disengagement from school since 2015. It currently operates programs in secondary schools in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria. Find out more at: https://starsfoundation.org.au/
For more information please contact:
Emma Kerswell
External Communications Specialist, QBE Australia Pacific
Phone: +61 411794206
Email: emma.kerswell@qbe.com
QBE is one of the world’s leading insurers and reinsurers, with operations in 31 countries and a presence in all of the key global insurance markets. Across our operations we offer commercial, personal and specialty products and risk management solutions to our customers. In 2018 QBE Australia Pacific’s gross written premium was US$3,992 million. With offices in the major centres and regional locations, we deliver one of the broadest product ranges of any insurer in Australia. For more information visit www.qbe.com/au.