An Inspirational Speaker
The club was recently addressed by Daniel Toner, Director of the Swan View Clontarf Academy, who spoke to us about the Contarf Foundation, its beginnings, its aims, its success and its vision. None of the members present were previously aware of the existence of the foundation or how it was started by the first Fremantle Dockers coach Gerard Neesham in 2000. Daniel’s talk was informative, fast paced and truly inspirational.
Daniel is shown above with chairman, Rod Warnock, at the close of his talk and I have lifted an abstract from the Foundation’s annual report (only the unkind would say plagerised) rather than reinvent the wheel.
Since opening its first Academy for 25 boys in 2000 the Foundation has grown to cater for about 3,000 boys in 59 schools across Western Australia, Northern Territory, Victoria and New South Wales. The Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal men and by doing so equips them to participate meaningfully in society. We believe that failure to experience achievement when young, coupled with a position of under-privilege can lead to alienation, anger and more serious consequences. As a prelude to tackling these and other issues, participants are first provided with an opportunity to succeed and in turn raise their self-esteem.
The vehicle for achieving this outcome is Australian Rules and/or Rugby League. Which uses the existing passion of Aboriginal boys for football to attract them into school and keep them there. The programmes are delivered through a network of football academies established in partnership with local schools. Any Aboriginal boy enrolled at the school is eligible to participate in the Clontarf Academy. Our Academies provide an important school-engagement mechanism for many at-risk students who would otherwise not attend or have low school attendance.
Using a comprehensive approach of supportive relationships, a welcoming environment, and a diverse range of activities, the students develop improved self-esteem and confidence. Academy activities are planned within the focus areas of education, leadership, employment, healthy lifestyles, life skills and football. In order to remain in the programme, participants must continue to work at school and embrace the objectives of the Foundation.
With these mechanisms in place year-to-year retention is not less than 90% and school attendance rates are greater than 80%. In areas where Clontarf exists there has been evidence of reduced crime rates in the community.
For more information go to www.clontarf.org.au and browse.
