Clontarf Foundation
Supporting young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men to achieve their full potential.
About Clontarf Foundation
Clontarf exists to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and encourage more meaningful participation in society.
Clontarf began in 2000 by inaugural Fremantle Dockers head coach Gerard Neesham, launching a single academy in Perth. More than 20 years later, the foundation operates 161 academies and supports 12,500 participants across Australia.
This includes the Gilmore Clontarf Academy, established in 2008, where Director Brett Pilling says the program’s structure is outcome focused.
“Core functions include morning pickups, after school drop offs, two after school activities a week, two morning trainings, a camp for every boy for every term and a heavy employment focus for Years 11 and 12,” Brett said.
“The program’s mission really is to fill the gaps left by their often-challenging home lives – that can be as small as picking them up in the morning, monitoring their attendance and making sure they’re there or some pastoral care and a chat when they need it.
“We keep it pretty simple for them and it comes down to three things – show up, be a good bloke and have a go – and if you do that then you’re a long way to being a successful person in the future.”
MinRes’ partnership
MinRes and Clontarf partnered in 2023 to bolster its national program and support more young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men to achieve their full potential.
The partnership has also supported delivery of the Clontarf program in schools and academies across Western Australia, including a focus on developing graduate employment pathways to MinRes.
MinRes Manager Communities and Stakeholder Engagement Daniel Barker said the relationship had delivered positive outcomes for Clontarf students.
“We’re proud to witness firsthand the incredible impact Clontarf has on its participants,” Daniel said.
“To have several graduates now working at MinRes operations across Western Australia speaks to the heart of what our partnership is all about.”
Learn more about the Clontarf Foundation.
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