South32 Worsley Alumina to partner with Collie’s Clontarf Academy to boost students’ employment hopes

A mining giant in the South West is set to partner with the State’s leading school and foundation for Aboriginal students in a bid to boost indigenous education in the region. It will mean students at the Clontarf Foundation’s Collie Academy campus can be better prepared for job interviews and will be exposed to life at South32’s Worsley Alumina site through a mentorship program. The company will support the academy to run leadership camps, sports carnivals and maintain regular student health checks as well as facilitating visits from local employers. The academy, which has its home base in Perth, works with young Aboriginal children to foster discipline, self-esteem and other life skills with a focus on education and sport. Its Collie base was set up in 2020 at the Collie Senior High School. Worsley Alumina vice president of operations Erwin Schaufler said the company wanted to make a “real impact” on local students. “As a major employer we have the ability and the responsibility to make a real impact on reconciliation and our new partnership with the Clontarf Foundation reflects that commitment,” he said. “We are very proud to work with our local community and support the great work of the Clontarf Foundation to help these young students reach their full potential.” The foundation’s chief executive — inaugural Fremantle Dockers coach Gerard Neesham — said he hoped the partnership would boost the students’ employment hopes. “It is fantastic that South32 are providing localised support over the next three years for our Collie Clontarf Academy,” he said. “We look forward to engaging with the teams at Worsley which will hopefully lead to local employment opportunities for our Year 12 leavers in Collie.”