Clontarf Academy building bonds and better futures for students
16-YEAR-OLD Jai Kennett-greenacre lives in the suburb of Mt Druitt in Sydney’s west so his days are spent amongst urban landscapes.
On a Dubbo visit to play Rugby 7s against other Clontarf Academies from across the state, the city bloke said a group tour of Fletcher International’s abattoir was an eye-opener.
“It’s different, you don’t really see that around the city, it’s a new experience. It’s good getting around the state and meeting the western boys, meeting new people,” Jai told Dubbo Photo News.
He said gaining admittance to Clontarf has transformed his life.
“Before Clontarf I was lucky to come to school for three or four periods a day, but when (the Clontarf people) came they just told us to pull our head in, so attendance is good now – I feel heaps better.”
The Mt Druitt boys toured the plant alongside students from the Moree Academy. Mr Kennett-greenacre said he gained even more confidence in the program after seeing that the Clontarf model works in Moree just like it works in Mt Druitt
Steven Lemilliea from the Moree Acadmey couldn’t agree more.
“Clontarf’s made me go to school, it makes me motivated. I didn’t even go to school before, but Clontarf gave me a reason to go,” he said.
Steven believes the way Clontarf has built up that sort of structure and positive motivation in his life is incredible.
“It’s the support, mentally and physically really, with the assessments and school work,” he said, highlighting that the comaraderie and bonds are not just with his mates, but with the Academy mentors as well.
“We’ve got strong bonds, we can tell each other anything.”
Maddy Herbert organises the tour groups to go through the Fletcher International plant and escorts them through the process.
“When we get a request from Clontarf to bring a group of boys out, we always jump at the opportunity,” Ms Herbert said.
“It’s a pleasure to have them out here. They’re always respectful, well-mannered and appreciative of any time that you give them – it’s a real credit to the boys, to their leaders and to Clontarf as an organisation.
“We’ve had some wonderful workers come through here who’ve got a start through Clontarf, where they’ve come in with their mentor and applied for a job and stayed,” she said.
Wayne Craigie is operations officer at the Moree Clontarf Academy and says he’s bursting with pride after hearing comments like that.
“We instil that in Year 7 and these boys are in Years 10 and 11 now, so they’ve been around it, they know what we want from them and what they are expected to do,” Mr Craigie said.
He said it’s vital to establish total trust so the kids feel confident to talk to their mentors about any and all dramas they may be having.
“We’ve got a good bond and we’re not like teachers, it’s informal, our job is to make them feel welcome every day and glad they’ve turned up.”
Steven Lemilliea was likewise chuffed at the feedback the group received.
“It makes me proud of the boys,” he said of the way everyone in Clontarf behaves.