As we mark World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2024, it’s important to highlight the vital role mental wellbeing plays in shaping the futures of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men. At Clontarf Foundation, mental health is at the core of our efforts to support academy members in developing resilience, confidence and the […]
World Mental Health Day: Supporting the Wellbeing of Young Clontarf Men Read More »
The latest edition of the Clontarf Quarterly for 2024 is now available. In this edition, we hear about how the ‘Employment Expo Week’ initiative is helping senior academy members and alumni in Victoria to gain experience, grow their confidence and link them with potential employers. We also celebrate the latest Ross Kelly Cup, hear from
The latest Clontarf Quarterly is Now Available Read More »
Late in August, senior members from the Belmont, Cecil Andrews, Ellenbrook, Girrawheen, Kiara, Northam, Scotch and Swan View Academies (Perth, WA) gathered at Driver Risk Management for a day focused on road safety and responsible driving. The event was a collaborative effort between the Clontarf Foundation and the Road Safety Commission, aimed at equipping young
Clontarf Steers Young Drivers Towards Safety Read More »
The Clontarf Foundation’s Berri Academy officially opened its doors in Term 2 of this year, and after a full term of activity in Term 3, it’s clear that the academy has kicked off with an impressive start. From community engagements to exciting outdoor adventures, the boys at Berri have embraced the program with enthusiasm, diving
Berri Opens With a Bang Read More »
At the Clontarf Foundation, the health and wellbeing of our young men are paramount. Every year, Clontarf Academies across the country conduct comprehensive health checks to support the prevention, early detection and treatment of common health challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. These checks are part of our commitment to improving the
Earlier this month, the biggest annual Clontarf basketball carnival in WA took place at the Bendat Basketball Centre in Perth, drawing 25 teams from Clontarf Academies across Western Australia. Divided into three divisions, the carnival was a thrilling display of athletic talent, teamwork and ‘Clontarf Spirit’. Participants converged for a high-energy competition, where boys not
Rising to the Challenge Read More »
The annual Ross Kelly Cup, Clontarf’s largest event, was held last week in Tuggerah, NSW and brought together 750 Year 9 and 10 boys from across the state for a thrilling rugby league carnival. This event has grown exponentially since its inception in 2013 when it featured just 100 boys. Today, the Ross Kelly Cup
Ross Kelly Cup 2024 – Celebrating Sport, Spirit and Commitment Read More »
It’s often said that “many hands make light work,” and this rang especially true during our recent West Arnhem Clontarf Experience. West Arnhem Land, a place of rugged contrasts, offers lush greenery in the wet season and blue skies with warm sunlight baking the escarpment in the dry. In this awe-inspiring landscape, we had the
Clontarf Experience Shines Light On West Arnhem Read More »
Father’s Day is a time to recognise and celebrate the incredible contributions of fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and brothers across Clontarf academies nationwide. These male role models provide the steadfast support and affection that strengthen families and communities. At Jabiru Academy, this spirit of celebration was brought to life through a special event. Instead of their
Celebrating the Outstanding Men in Our Lives Read More »
In early August, the Kirwan Crusaders attended Clontarf’s annual Queensland Cup Rugby League Tournament on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. The adventure kicked off with a visit to the NRL Dolphins headquarters, where the boys, along with other academies and partners, participated in insightful talks and a Q&A session. The lineup included players and coaches like
Kirwan’s Queensland Cup Crusade Read More »
Ms Collard is a highly experienced executive with strong leadership skills and deep commitment to Indigenous communities. She has over 25 years of senior executive experience in government policy, strategy, and operational management. As a descendant of the Yadhiagana/Wuthathi and Guringji peoples and married to a Noongar Man with four children and three grandchildren, Ms Collard have a deep connection to Indigenous communities and has dedicated her career to advocating for equal opportunities for all Aboriginal people, from access to services to employment and cultural understanding. As a senior executive in both state and federal governments, she have a proven track record of making a positive impact in the lives of Indigenous communities. As a General Manager for Rio Tinto, she continues to put her leadership skills and passion for equality into practice, supporting the company’s performance through Group Internal Audits while staying true to your commitment to Indigenous communities.
Karen Jones is a proud Anaiwin woman who was born and raised in Sydney. She has built a life, surrounded by her family on the traditional lands of the Darkinjung people (Central Coast of NSW).
Karen worked for the NSW Department of Education since she commenced teaching in the area of special education in 1982 in south-western Sydney. She has a strong passion and commitment to the importance of public education as the single most powerful vehicle to deliver a socially just Australian society. Karen was awarded the inaugural Central Coast Pathways Award for Leadership in Aboriginal education” in 2004 whilst Principal at Wyoming Public School. Complementing this she was also named the NSW P&C Association’s Primary Principal of the Year, also in 2004. Karen has also been Principal at Terrigal Public School and Director, Educational Leadership for the Maitland, Cessnock and Kurri Kurri area as well as across the Central Coast.
In 2019 Karen was appointed as the Executive Director, Aboriginal Outcomes and Partnerships (previously Aboriginal Education and Communities) for the NSW Department of Education. She embraces working in partnership with the broader Department including our more 2200 public schools, the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Incorporated (NSWAECG), the NSW Secondary Principals Council, the NSW Primary Principals Association, the NSW Public Service Association and the NSW Teachers Federation., Karen greatly enjoyed working with a broad range of community groups to promote equitable life opportunities for Aboriginal people across NSW through our strong Public Education family.
In 2021 Karen was awarded a Public Service Medal and was named the Central Coast Ambassador for 2022.
At the start of 2024 Karen retired from full time work and is now a volunteer for many groups on the Central Coast including Kuriwa Local AECG and Brooke Avenue Public School’s P&C as well as a Board member for the Clontarf Foundation.
Brad was appointed Zone Manager – Western Australian in January 2024. He was previously Regional Manager for the South-Central Region and the North-West Region in Western Australia. Prior to that, Brad was an Academy Director in Karratha and Perth. Brad is a qualified teacher who taught in a number of schools across Western Australia, China and the United Kingdom.
Chris is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Poynton Stavrianou, an independent corporate advisory firm based in Western Australia. Chris has over twenty years of experience in mergers and acquisitions with Macquarie Capital in London and UBS in Sydney. As a member of the Australian Treasury senior executive, Chris established and led Treasury’s Western Australian office,
which advises the Australian Government on Western Australian trade and investment and the domestic economy. Chris is an Adjunct Professor at the Business School of the University of Western Australia and is a member of council of Christ Church Grammar School. Chris received his BSc from the University of Western Australia, his MBA with Distinction from INSEAD, and his MPA from Harvard University where he was a fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government.
Mr McCormack’s career has been in energy infrastructure, having led ASX listed APA Group between 2005-2019. During this time, enterprise value grew from $1b to over $24b, which included investments in gas pipelines and distribution, gas processing and storage, gas fi red power generation,
renewables (wind and solar) and electricity transmission across Australia. Mr McCormack is a Director of Austal Limited, Origin Energy and the Chair of Central Petroleum Limited. He is also Chair of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Foundation and has been a long term supporter of the Clontarf Foundation.
Mr Gillam is a professional Company Director, serving currently as Chairman of CSR Limited, Chairman of Nufarm Limited and Chairman of Bluefit Pty Ltd, as well as a Board Member of the Heartwell Foundation. He worked for 20 years within the Wesfarmers Group where he was the CEO of Bunnings from 2004 to 2016 and the Chairman of Officeworks from 2008 to 2016. Other roles during Mr Gillam’s Wesfarmers career included Managing Director of CSBP and Company Secretary. Prior to Wesfarmers, Mr Gillam was General Manager of Medical Corporation Australia Ltd and he started his career working in KPMG’s corporate recovery and corporate finance areas.
Mr Tyson is the Managing Partner of SEC Newgate Australia and the Deputy CEO of SEC Newgate Global. Mr Tyson is one of Australia’s leading communications practitioners with expertise in strategic issues management, government relations, media management, financial transactions and community campaigning. Mr Tyson is also Director of the Sydney Swans AFL club, SEC Newgate Global (UK) and the Committee for Sydney. Prior to his career in consultancy, Brian was a school teacher, journalist for The Land newspaper and a media adviser to the Greiner and Fahey Governments in New South Wales.
Mr Gibbs is a proud Yuwalaraay man from Goodooga in North Western NSW. Mr Gibbs is the General Counsel & Company Secretary of Volkswagen Group Australia Pty Ltd, and is responsible for the legal affairs of the VW, AUDI, SKODA and CUPRA brands in Australia. Prior to working in the motor industry, Mr Gibbs worked as a practising lawyer for top tier law firms in Sydney and Perth. In that time, Mr Gibbs has also devoted his time to helping pro bono clients on a range of legal issues. Mr Gibbs is passionate about helping to deliver better educational and life outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
Chief Operations Officer
Lee was appointed as GM – Human Resources in September 2020. Prior to this, Lee was the Foundation’s HR Manager, an Employment Officer in Cairns, Queensland and an Academy Director at Gunbalanya in the Northern Territory. Lee has a degree in Human Resources and has extensive experience working in remote communities.
Zone Manager – Victoria & South Australia