Richie Harte’s journey with Clontarf began when he joined the Newton Moore Academy in Year 10 after moving to Bunbury. Reflecting on his time in the program, Richie says his favourite things about Clontarf were, “The footy, new mates, reward trips, travelling, footy games during school, unique school shirts for being in the program and of course the Clontarf room which was a nice place to hang with the boys.”
However, what stood out most to him was the unwavering guidance he received: “The support that I received while in the academy was incredible.”
During his school years, Richie faced some personal challenges, but the Clontarf mentors were always there to provide support. “I had many personal issues during those years in school, and the mentors always supported me. It was always nice to know that the academy and everyone involved were there to help us through life and not just school.”
Beyond emotional support, Clontarf equipped Richie with essential skills that prepared him for life after school. “The academy helped me with a lot of life skills, some of which I was never confident in before joining the academy,” he says. Public speaking became a key strength, and Richie continues to use this skill today as an alumni guest speaker at Clontarf events and employment forums. He also developed leadership qualities during leadership camps, as well as punctuality, respect, and politeness – skills he carries into every aspect of his life.
Richie’s career began at 16 with Clontarf partner Qube, where he still works today. His interest was sparked when Qube visited the academy to give a presentation. “The job honestly looked so cool,” he recalls. “There was an Indigenous supervisor, Rob, who told me all about the heavy machinery he operated and the beautiful ocean views every day. Once I asked him how much money he earns working for them, I ran straight up to Gavin Greaves (Clontarf staff member) and told him that I wanted to work there.”
With Clontarf’s help, Richie gained work experience at Qube, followed by a two-year school-based traineeship.
Now a Trainer and Assessor at Qube, Richie loves the diversity of his role. “I could be operating a ship loader one day, maybe one of our harbour cranes the day after that or even a forklift, excavator or bulldozer the next,” he says. “The best part about it is that I was elected and trained to become a Trainer and Assessor within the company, so now I not only operate everything on the wharf, I also train the others on how to do so.”
Richie’s achievements extend beyond his career. “After 14 years I am proud to say I have purchased my own home (which is way too big for me since I haven’t started a family yet), I bought myself a 4WD and gave it all the fruit which allowed me to go travelling! I have travelled to almost every state in Australia for either work or holidays, plus I have been to Bali a couple of times as well.”
Richie’s entrepreneurial spirit has led him to co-create FirstPeople, an app connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job seekers with employers across Australia. “Clontarf had given me so much support through schooling and finding employment that when the opportunity for me to do something similar came along a couple years ago, I just could not pass it up,” he says.
Richie continues to work at Qube while developing the platform with his childhood friend, Corey Khan. “Qube supported our concept and once the site was live, they became our first employer to sign up to the platform,” Richie shares.
Richie’s advice to current Clontarf members reflects his own journey: “Live life to your full potential and treat people the way you want to be treated. Be engaged while in school and take in as much as you can, but don’t forget to have fun. The academy is there to support you and help you succeed in life. You may not know what you are destined for just yet, but all of those important skills you are learning while in the academy could become your superpower to becoming successful later in life!”
