REACH Industry Workshop – Radio and Producer Danielle Raffaele
Introducing Danielle Raffaele
Today during our Year 10 REACH Industry Workshop we had the pleasure of introducing Danielle Raffaele, an accomplished journalist and passionate storyteller.
Danielle’s journey began at RTRFM, where she volunteered as a news reader and producer while studying Journalism at Notre Dame. Since then, she’s reported across WA’s North West with Seven West Media, contributing to The West Australian, The Sunday Times, The North West Telegraph and The Broome Advertiser.Â
Now back where it all started, Danielle is making her mark as RTRFM’s Content Producer, championing diverse voices in news, current affairs and culture. Her connection to community radio runs deep from Radiothon to book reviews and the Recklink Community Cup.
The Purpose of REACH Industry Workshops
The REACH program is designed to support students as they prepare for the Access pathway in Years 11 and 12, and for life beyond school. A key part of that preparation is helping the girls look outward.
Through Industry Workshops once a term, students hear directly from professionals, explore a range of career pathways and gain a clearer sense of the many workplaces and roles that exist beyond the classroom. Just as importantly, these sessions are about building confidence. They encourage students to step into unfamiliar spaces, stay open to new ideas and begin to see themselves as capable young women with a place in the world of work.
When A Story Idea Became A Real Pitch
What made this week’s REACH Industry Workshop so memorable was the unique invitation to pitch a story. Students were not just listening to a guest speaker explain the media world from a distance. They were invited into it. By the end of the session, one group’s idea had become something very real, with Danielle Raffaele set to pitch a story on the Pilbara Music Festival to her producer for September.
Well done Clara, Kate and Amelia on being chosen for RTRFM’s September story.
These students chose to pitch a story promoting and celebrating the 50th year of the Pilbara Music Festival. What drew them to the idea was not just the milestone, it was the deeper story behind it. The festival has long supported people living in rural areas to access music, arts and culture, and the students recognised the value of telling that story well.
Their idea also included interviewing rural musicians and artists, bringing regional voices to the centre of the piece.
That is what made the pitch so thoughtful. The girls were choosing a story about artistic opportunity and the importance of celebrating creative communities in rural areas.
Connecting Learning to the Wider World
Danielle gave the girls a real glimpse into the world of radio and producing, but she also gave them the confidence to trust that their ideas can carry weight.
Experiences like this help students connect their learning at school with the wider world. Hearing from industry professionals gives them a more practical understanding of different careers and prompts them to reflect on their own interests, strengths and possible next steps. Perhaps the greatest benefit of programs like REACH is the sense of belief they build.
Students begin to recognise that their ideas have value, that their voice matters and that they are able to contribute meaningfully in real world settings. That growing self belief also helps them make more informed choices as they move forward, giving them a better understanding of the skills different industries require and helping them think more clearly about subject selection and future pathways.
Thank You
Thank you, Danielle, for sharing your time and experience so generously, and for encouraging the girls to tell stories they care about. A September pitch celebrating the Pilbara Music Festival is an exciting outcome from one workshop, but the bigger win was a room full of students leaving with a stronger sense that their voices matter.
- Catholic Girls School, Danielle Raffaele, Featured, journalism education, media industry experience, Perth Radio, Pilbara Music Festival, REACH Industry Workshop, regional arts and culture, RTRFM, Santa Maria College, student storytelling, Student Voice
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
