The back half of term 3 has been stacked with an array of different activities for the Warrnambool Clontarf Academy. A couple of major trips have included the Melbourne footy trip and the Mornington Peninsula Year 8 & 9 camp, both incentive based for classroom involvement and attendance. The boys linked up with indigenous students from the Warrnambool Specialist Development School to undertake maintenance of the Community Gardens, a sacred indigenous site in Warrnambool. The boys were really fortunate to hear from Uncle Rob Lowe, a prominent local indigenous elder, about the cultural significance of the site and showed great leadership with their SDS buddies.

A number of boys also gave up their Monday nights throughout the last 5 weeks to assist at the Warrnambool Soup Kitchen. They have lent a hand to prepare and serve meals for those that are less fortunate, and assisted greatly with the setting up and packing down of the room, whilst learning the importance of giving something back to the community they live in. The boys should again be commended for their efforts at both weekly morning and after school training sessions. These sessions have included a Father’s Day early morning session followed by breakfast and a session of Ultimate Frisbee run by the Australian National team coach.

Another highlight was connecting with the Warrnambool College SPP Cricket Program and joining in on a couple of their sessions- big thank you to Jake Bloom for giving us this opportunity. In addition to this, the boys were also involved in delivering an engaging footy clinic at the Dennington Kindergarten, participated in the Gunditjmara Jobs Expo at South West TAFE and continue to be involved at Foodshare Warrnambool and East Warrnambool Primary School. We have been working closely with our year 11 and 12 boys with their school work and work placement opportunities, as they transition into a vital leg of their high school journey.

EMPLOYMENT:

Employment has remained a constant focus throughout the entirety of term 3. Several Clontarf boys attended the Gunditjmara Jobs Expo at South West TAFE, discussing pathways, traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities with a number of local businesses. Kardinia Childcare Centre and Little City Barbers have also taken on two Clontarf boys for their VCAL placements, a fantastic result for them. Pictured here is one of our year 11 boys from Brauer College, Trent Hrabar, working a shift at Kmart.

SPORT:

A central focus of every Clontarf term planner is, and always will be, sport. Term 3 has been no exception. Training sessions have been a constant of the last 5 weeks, both morning and after school. The boys loved having a go at Ultimate Frisbee (pictured), a fast growing and unique sport, with the session facilitated by the Australian Head Coach, Dan Rule. It was great to see the boys link up with students in the SPP cricket program as well, for some sessions at the Indoor Cricket Centre- a big thanks to Jake Bloom for this opportunity. Several of our morning sessions have been held at the Brauer College SIP room and the SPP centre at Warrnambool College- thanks for both schools for being so accommodating. Stay tuned for an outline of training sessions for term 4. With the improved weather we would love to see some teachers and school staff getting involved in our morning training sessions, building relationships with each other away from the classroom!

LEADERSHIP/EDUCATION:

The Warrnambool Clontarf boys buddied up with fellow indigenous students from the Warrnambool Specialist Development School to undertake some maintenance activities at a culturally significant site for Warrnambool and the south west community. Uncle Rob Lowe shared some stories surrounding the history of the site and it was great to see the boys leading the way with the students from SDS when it came to the garden activities. Well done lads!

PARTNERS:

The second half of term has also seen the Academy boys assisting with the Warrnambool Soup Kitchen. The boys assist with the preparation of a three course meal from 5pm-7pm on Monday evenings, for upwards of 40 people. Whilst they are also learning interpersonal and social skills by communicating with a number of different people and families, the most important aspect is seeing them give back to the community by supporting those who are less fortunate. Packing firewood at Foodshare and assisting students from East Warrnambool Primary School have also remained constant focuses over the last 5 weeks. It was great to have a visit to the academy room from a key local partner, Central Rotary, at the end of term also- The boys impressed by discussing the key pillars of the Clontarf Foundation and what the program means to them.

EDUCATION/WELLBEING:

Clontarf boys really enjoyed running a footy clinic for around 30 kids from the Dennington Kindergarten, as part of their footy colours day. They showed lots of energy and enthusiasm to make the clinic a success and ensured the kids from the kindergarten had a really good experience. The event also provided a great opportunity for the boys to engage in conversation with the students and staff from the kindergarten, facilitate the clinic and run some of their own activities and games. Here is one of our boys, Tamanu Gibia, running his handballing station.

The Clontarf Foundation:

Mission Statement

The 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 more meaningfully in society. The Foundation is based around 6 key pillars which form the basis of all of our events and activities:

1. Education 4. Leadership

2. Employment 5. Well-being

3. Sport 6. Partnerships

Staff Thank You:

Another action-packed term finished in Clontarf, which means another huge thank you to all staff across both of our schools for their continued support of our programme and the Foundation. Next term, our morning training sessions will run on Wednesday and Fridays across various locations around Warrnambool. I will send out a program shortly, and would love to see staff again involve themselves in morning training fitness sessions, developing relationships with Clontarf boys away from the classroom, followed by a hot breakfast of course-stay tuned! In the meantime, enjoy a hard earned break from a massive term 3 and we look forward to some really positive outcomes again in term 4.

Timmy Hunt - Operations Officer

Luke McInerney - Director

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