Energy levels have lifted in the wake of Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers (WesCEF) and the Clontarf Foundation recently confirming a three-year partnership extension.

This valuable agreement is all about working together to grow relationships and provide ongoing opportunities for development, capacity-building and employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our local community.

Kleenheat’s support is underpinned by WesCEF’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement and Employment Plan, which aligns with Wesfarmers’ reconciliation objective to ensure our businesses, are places where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel welcome as employees and team members, customers, suppliers and visitors.

Six Clontarf Foundation graduates are currently engaged in employment, work experience and development opportunities across the broader WesCEF business – including roles at Kleenheat’s depot, maintenance and production locations.

Giving students a sporting chance

The Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education, life skills and employment prospects for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.

From humble beginnings in 2000, the Foundation has grown to cater for over 5,600 boys across 92 schools in Western Australia, Northern Territory, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

It focuses on providing important opportunities to engage with at-risk students who would otherwise not attend or have low attendance at school.

The vehicle for achieving this outcome is sport, particularly Australian rules football and rugby league, harnessing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys’ existing passion for football to attract and retain them in programs delivered in partnership with football academies and local schools.

Locally-based Clontarf staff work full time to mentor and counsel students on a range of behavioural and lifestyle issues, while schools cater for their educational needs.

The Foundation focuses on supportive relationships, a welcoming environment, and a diverse range of activities to help students develop improved self-esteem and confidence.

Putting our energy into student development

Albert Romano continues to see the value of our partnership with the Clontarf Foundation reflected in the personal and professional development of students.

As Manager of Production and Engineering at the Kleenheat Production Facility (KPF) in Kwinana, Albert’s long-standing and respected involvement in KPF’s education and development initiatives continues to support indigenous students from the Clontarf Foundation and associated WA schools.

Earlier this year KPF staff joined students from the Gilmore Clontarf Academy to unveil their collective efforts to create a cultural garden and indigenous art mural which has since become a hub for important communications, recognitions and celebrations on site.

“It was a proud day revealing and acknowledging the hard work that went into the KPF cultural garden initiative”, Albert said.

“In particular, the contribution from the students at Gilmore Clontarf Academy was instrumental in helping connect people in our workplace with the local indigenous community.”

Gilmore Academy students also attended visits to operational and office-based worksites throughout the year for a closer look at working life within the Kleenheat business.

WesCEF and Clontarf Foundation’s extended partnership will deliver further opportunities for Kleenheat to deliver employment, work experience and school-based traineeships – along with continued participation in annual Clontarf Foundation Employment Forums and student workplace tours of our facilities.