Dubbo and Narromine Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem, and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and by doing so equips them to participate meaningfully in our communities.

This year the Clontarf Employment Forum was held at Dubbo RSL with a large number of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men attending. The Forum is designed to broaden the understanding and knowledge of employment opportunities available in the central west NSW area for senior Clontarf Academy members.

“They build the skills and abilities of our young men by encouraging interpersonal interaction, public speaking, respectful behaviour, and professional personal presentation. The Clontarf Forum brings young indigenous men together with prospective employers to discuss potential future career pathways once they have completed Year 12,” Max Harvey, Regional Manager of NSW Central West Clontarf Foundation explained.

Approximately 740 boys from year 7 through to year 12 participate in the Clontarf Foundation from the central west region and 10,500 nationally.

“The Clontarf Foundation has academies that are based within the school in which we operate so we are a daily presence in the lives of our academy members to ensure they are positively connected to the school community. We work to get our Clontarf boys to school, stay at school, complete year 12 and transition into meaningful employment. We work in partnership with the schools we operate in to ensure that we provide that extra layer of support that helps our young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Academy members get a rich and fulfilling educational experience that will lead to better long-term life outcomes,” Max said.

Some of the current activities’ students have been involved in include the 2023 Central West NSW Clontarf Employment Forum in Dubbo, Year 7 and 8 Regional Rugby League Carnival in Wellington, Year 12 Leadership camp in Newcastle, Year 9 and 10 Touch Football Carnival in Bourke, Regional combined morning Super Training session in Narromine.

“We ensure that our Clontarf boys are completing their high school education and transition into meaningful employment is what we are all aiming to achieve when we work with our Clontarf boys both in the Central West and nationally. For some of your boys that means leaving home and going to university or moving for career opportunities. For others that might mean gaining local employment that will set them on a trajectory to be providers for their own families who value education and pass that knowledge and positive schooling experiences down for future generations to follow,” Max said.

The Foundation’s approach has been very successful, not only in attracting young men to school and retaining them but also in having them embrace more disciplined, purposeful, and healthy lifestyles.