A decade after graduating from high school while enrolled in Endeavour Clontarf Academy (Caringbah, NSW), Hayden Charles returned to spend time with the next group of young men preparing for life beyond school.
Now ten years on from finishing Year 12 in 2016, Hayden joined academy members from across Greater Sydney during the recent Year 11 Leadership Camp, sharing his experiences and supporting the boys as they began thinking more seriously about their plans after school.
Since graduating, Hayden has gone on to become co-founder and Managing Director of ICC, Indigenous Commercial Corporation, a national business providing cleaning, maintenance, security and construction services. Founded in 2018, the company now employs more than 500 people across all states and territories. Hayden said the business was built on a desire to create opportunities within his community and provide people with meaningful, long-term employment.
During the camp, Hayden worked with the boys on mock interviews, offering practical advice on how to approach job applications, present themselves to employers and handle the nerves that can come with stepping into an interview for the first time. With guidance from someone who once stood in their shoes, the boys worked through common interview questions and received feedback on how to communicate confidently in a workplace setting.
Hayden spoke openly about his own journey since leaving school — the challenges, the lessons learned and the importance of persistence when pursuing career goals. His message was simple: the habits developed through Clontarf — commitment, respect and showing up every day — continue to open doors long after school finishes.
The mock interview session formed part of a broader leadership camp program designed to help the Year 11 boys prepare for the responsibilities that come with being senior academy members. Across the camp, the boys worked on graduation and post-school planning, explored what leadership looks like within their academies and took part in a range of team-based activities.
There was also plenty of time for connection and fun, including team-building games, a cooking challenge and an outdoor movie night watching the NRL on a large inflatable screen. The boys also took part in a Dhinewan mentoring session facilitated by Jonno Wright, which encouraged reflection on personal goals, identity and leadership.
For Clontarf staff, having alumni return to support current academy members is always a powerful moment.
“When our young men see someone who went through the same program and wore the same Clontarf shirt come back to give their time and share their experiences, it really resonates,” said Employment Officer Chris Bron. “It shows them that the pathway forward is real.”
For Hayden, the visit was about giving back to the program that helped shape his early years.
“Clontarf gave me a lot of support when I was at school,” he said. “Coming back to help the boys with interviews and career advice is just a small way to give something back.”
As the Year 11 boys move closer to their final year of school, experiences like this help build the confidence and practical skills needed for the transition ahead. And for the Clontarf Foundation, seeing alumni return to share their knowledge is always a reminder of the lasting connection many maintain with the program long after graduation.
The below photos feature Hayden at the recent leadership camp as well as earlier Clontarf activities.
