Thales visit to Clontarf Academy in Mt Druitt
On Tuesday 4th of May, our CEO Chris Jenkins accompanied by the Executive Leadership Team and other Thales representatives attended the Chifley College Senior Campus in Mt Druitt to meet with young men participating in the Clontarf Academy.
Thales is now in its second year of partnership with the Clontarf Foundation; a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men. In addition to supporting visits to Thales sites, Thales will also provide general job readiness support ahead of our launch of apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities later this year.
Utilising supportive relationships, a welcoming environment and a diverse range of activities, the young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men are able to improve their self-esteem and confidence through their involvement in the Clontarf program; assisting them to participate in education, employment and society in a positive way.
Last week’s visit commenced with a tour of the school yard, where the boys were either training in their morning sports sessions or lending a hand with the BBQ breakfast being prepared for both the boys and us; their grateful visitors.
Once breakfast was served, the entire group sat around the dedicated Clontarf Academy classroom where the boys shared stories about their life experiences, and time with Clontarf and heard more about Thales and the work we do.
When breakfast was devoured, three Clontarf students spoke about the guiding pillars that are embedded across all academies: employment, leadership, education, sport, wellbeing and partners. The boys spoke about these elements with passion and enthusiasm; acknowledging the important role the Clontarf Academy mentors play in helping to prepare them in these areas.
Chifley Senior College in Mt Druitt is just one of 131 academies operating across Australia’s six states and territories. The participants are from all walks of life with different goals and focuses but one thing was clear; they all had a drive to complete Year 12 – an accomplishment that many of the young men will be the first to achieve within their family.
Jeff Daniela, Clontarf Director at the Chifley Campus, says the program has made a huge difference in many of the boys’ lives
‘Just one of the benefits of the program is that it gives the boys a safe space at school and helps us to help them gain employment or further their study after school.’
It’s this ‘safe space’ that has proven invaluable in helping the boys find consistency and commitment to their school life. The Clontarf Academy runs a shuttle bus that picks up all the kids that need it to ensure they’re able to attend school. Their morning training often kicks off at 6:30am, but sessions are packed like it was early afternoon, the big breakfast before class is always well attended and the ability to check in with their mentors during lunch breaks and after school is also valued by the boys.
During our visit to the school, something that caused a glint in the eye of the students was talk of their end of year trip. This trip is an opportunity for the boys who graduated year 12 to visit a place of their choosing with the academy staff. This time away serves as an incentive for students to keep striving towards graduating year 12 and also, more importantly, celebration of their achievements.
James Couche, Vice President Legal and Contracts, and sponsor of the Thales Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), said “the visit was one of his most enjoyable and memorable days at Thales and the experience was invaluable both personally and for Thales.”
“One of our priorities at Thales, and captured formally in our RAP, is to form authentic relationships of mutual respect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples within the community. This partnership with Clontarf is demonstrative of the genuine, authentic relationships we’re forming and we’re thrilled to have joined with Clontarf.”
Watch the video of our visit below.