By Natashya Fernandez
Clontarf Aboriginal College was established in 1986 as a co-educational school for Indigenous Australian youth following the Edmund Rice tradition and offers a range of educational programs and varied learning opportunities for students from Year seven to Year 12. Proud of its cultural, spiritual, academic and sporting excellence, today Clontarf is touted as a pre-eminent Catholic Aboriginal College in Australia.
In this issue of The Record Magazine, Assistant Editor Natashya Fernandez shines the spotlight on Clontarf Aboriginal College, highlighting its significant milestones and plans for the future.
Situated in Whadjuk Nyoongar country in Waterford in Perth’s South, Clontarf Aboriginal College is one of four curriculum and re-engagement in education ‘CARE’ schools in the Catholic System in WA.
Principal Troy Hayter says it is known for being a unique place of learning and understanding that respects Aboriginal culture and spirituality.
Open exclusively for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, Clontarf’s vision is to develop a culture of excellence and a core curriculum that suits the needs of its Aboriginal students.
“With an innovative curriculum that meets the needs of students, it focuses on developing children fully and enjoys a safe learning environment that challenges students to reach their dreams and full potential,” Mr Hayter said.
“Our pastoral care provides a welcoming and supportive environment for students, reinforced in our college motto ‘Learning for Life’, which hopes to foster in the students a desire to make a difference in the world,” Mr Hayter said.
With a diverse demographic catering to students from across the state including those that are remote, students are offered a variety of opportunities that are not just through the classroom program but also through the football and girls academies.
The school was handed over to the Aboriginal community (Indigenous Land Corporation) in 2013, after being built in 1901 as an orphanage run by the Christian Brothers and established as Clontarf Aboriginal College in 1986.
In an interview with The Record in 2013, former Chairman of the Board of Management, Aboriginal elder Robert Isaacs, from the Bibilmum Noongar language group of South Western Australia, said handover was a significant occasion.
“We did it right and now Aboriginal people are satisfied and happy,” Mr Isaacs said.
“Clontarf has given Aboriginal people opportunities for education and training, and a start at life,” he said.
Mr Isaacs, who was also a student at Clontarf himself, said he believes the Catholic school system has played a pivotal role in education for Australian Aboriginal peoples.
“There’s a lot of Aboriginal people now going to the private sector of education, which links them into the Church, I know that’s happening right across WA,” he said.
“The more Aboriginal people who go to the private sector, which is Catholic education, then I think it will start something to get them back into church, I’ve seen it happen.”
One of the reasons why combining Catholicism, through education, with the Aboriginal culture can work is because the two are complementary, Mr Isaacs says.
“[Aboriginal people] are very spiritual,” he says.
“A lot of Aboriginal people have their own ways of healing and spiritual ways when they’re talking to God.”
Mr Hayter continued saying that students are taught skills for life-long learning that are developed in partnership with the academic curriculum and vocational education and training.
“Working partnerships are maintained with community organisations such as the Clontarf Foundation (formerly Football Academy), Clontarf Girls Academy and Industry partnerships that help to improve the education, health and life skills of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women,” Mr Hayter explained.
“Students also have opportunities to collaborate and connect with Archdiocesan agencies such as the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) for their faith and spiritual needs.
Mr Isaacs said his own education experience had been overwhelmingly positive.
“I’m very thankful for the Catholic education I got; without that I don’t think I would be in the senior positions that I hold in my community today.
“I’m very thankful for the Church; it played a significant role in my life.
“If I wasn’t brought up within the Catholic system, I don’t know where I’d be today.”
- Bishop of Perth, the Most Reverend Dr Mathew Gibney laid the foundation stone for the orphanage’s new building in 1901.
- Originally named St Joseph’s Boys’ Orphanage, in 1919 it became known as Clontarf Boys Orphanage.
- In 1961 it was opened to day pupils and boarders and in 1964 it was renamed Clontarf School to accommodate 303 boys.
- The orphanage closed in 1984 and on 2 May, 1986 reopened as Clontarf Aboriginal College with an in-take of 50 Indigenous Australian boys from remote areas of the state.
- In 2000, the Clontarf Football Academy was established, followed by the successful establishment of the Girls Academy for netball and basketball.
- In 2010, A state-of-the-art Trade Training Centre was built on-site to provide Vocational Education and Training for students.
- In 2012, Clontarf Aboriginal College entered an exciting new era with the completion of new boarding facilities for boys and girls.
From pages 22 to 23 from Issue 8: ‘Aboriginal’ of The Record Magazine