The Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self esteem, and employment skills of young Aboriginal men.  Since opening their first academy for boys in 2000, the Foundation has grown to cater for about 4,500 boys in 70 locations throughout Western Australia, Northern Territory, Victoria, NSW and Queensland. 
 
The vehicle for achieving this outcome is Australian Rules and/or Rugby League.  The Foundation uses the existing passion that Aboriginal boys have for football to attract them into school and keep them there.  The programs are delivered through a network of football academies established in partnership with local schools.  Any Aboriginal male enrolled at the school is eligible to participate in the Clontarf Academy.
 
But football is the vehicle and not the main game in helping a greater number complete the Higher School Certificate - 420 are enrolled for the HSC in 2016.
 
Our club was privileged to have Raphael McGowan as the guest speaker at our meeting on Monday 16 May.  Raphael is Clontarf's Community Partnerships Manager.
 
Not only does Clontarf encourage HSC graduation, it assists the graduates in securing jobs beyond Year 12 and did so for 83 boys in 2015.
 
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.
 
Costing $7,500 a student, Clontarf secures funding equally from the State & Federal Governments and from the public.  That is about $30m currently but the need will escalate as the potential for 15,000 boys in the program is realised.
 
For more information, go to www.clontarf.org.au