Vital connections have been formed in year one of Paynter Dixon’s partnership with Clontarf Foundation.

Clontarf supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young men to attend school, finish year 12, and enter employment.

Over the past 12 months, our employee volunteers have engaged the 60-plus students of The Shalvey Academy, which is hosted on the Chifley College campus in Mount Druitt.

Clontarf operates out of ‘Academies’ within schools, with a dedicated academy room acting as a home-base for students before and after school, at recess and lunch, and during designated academy time. They are safe spaces for positive learning and personal growth.

It was rewarding to close out the year by celebrating student excellence at Shalvey Academy’s Awards Night on Wednesday 6 December. Our Executive General Manager, Matthew Greene, presented the Employment Award to Stephen Sanders in recognition of his work in completing employment documents and obtaining part-time employment.

We also dusted off the footy boots for Clontarf’s 2023 Oz Tag Carnival on Thursday 23 November in Rose Bay. Sport is a pillar of the Clontarf program, with the young men encouraged to play rugby league in the Clontarf spirit of ‘dignity and respect’.

Sarah Huynh (Bid Coordinator), Anantaya Kuleechuay (Interior Designer), Leo Luong (Building Cadet) and Thushitha Fernando (IT Support Engineer) joined a team of Shalvey Academy boys on the day.

Anantaya was impressed by “… the energy and eagerness from everyone to play the sport.”

Sarah shares the sentiment: “I volunteered because I believe in Clontarf’s mission of empowering young people through education and sport.”

“Contributing my time was a way to support their cause and be a positive influence to the students in my team.”

Other activities with Shalvey students have included early morning training sessions and breakfasts, and chaperoned tours of major facilities including the Australian Turf Club at Royal Randwick Racecourse.

In 2024, Paynter Dixon is looking forward to deepening ties with Shalvey Academy, while also exploring relationships with additional academies in regional NSW. Led by our Reconciliation Working Group, the partnership will explore initiatives which support education, vocational counselling, mentoring and workplace readiness, and training and employment opportunities.

Learn more about our commitment to supporting First Nations peoples in our Reconciliation Action Plan (Reflect).