The Clontarf Foundation beleives that failure to experience acheivement when young, coupled with a position of under privilege can lead to alienation, anger and then to more serious consequences.
As a prelude to tackling these and other issues, participants are first provided with an opportunity to succeed and hence to raise their self esteem. The vehicle for acheiving this outcome is football.
We use the existing passion the Indigenous boys have for football to attract then to attend a Clontarf Academy. Members are not selected on football ability: though obviously most of them have some aptitude for the game.
To remain in the Academy, members must consistently endeavour to attend school regularly, apply themselves to study of appropriate courses and embrace the Academy's requirements for behaviour and self- discipline.
The approach has proven to be very successful, not only in attracting young men to school and retaining them, but also in having them embrace more disciplined and purposeful and healthy lives.
What we do
- Partner with schools: Create football Academies to attract and keep participants at school.
- Staff academies appropriately: Staff with full time, suitably trained mentors who are often former teachers or professional sportsmen. Capture the participants' attention and gain their respect and trust.
- Develop positive attitudes: Develop self esteem and positive attitudes towards health, education and employment. Expose participants to a wide range of life experiences which challenge and develop. Reward acheivements with trips and exposure to new challenges.
- Assist with employment and provide ongoing support: Find employment for graduates and support them in making the transition from school to the work place. Act like family and stay in their lives.
For Further Information on the Coonamble Academy please Contact Via Coonamble High School Phone number 02 68221522.
- Academy Director - Luke Ballard
- Program Operations - Brett Trindall
Follow this link to the Clontarf Foundation website for further information and work done by the Foundation around Australia.