CLONTARF Foundation, the organisation behind the Clontarf Football Academy, has been given the tax equivalent of a free kick with Federal Revenue Minister Mal Brough announcing the foundation had attained tax-free status.
But whether that free kick is within striking distance of its goal to take its program national remains to be seen.
This new status means any gift of $2 or more to support the health, employment, education and life skills of disadvantaged youth through the Clontarf Foundation will be tax deductible.
The news comes as the organisation aims to expand its operations in Western Australia and, potentially, into the rest of Australia.
Clontarf managing director Gerard Neesham, who has been with the program since 1999, said the foundation needed to boost its funding, particularly from the private sector, to take its program nationwide.
"Without more help, or the surety of more help, we won’t be able to grow the programs," he said.
Clontarf currently has a budget of $1.2 million, up from the $120,000 it had when it first started taking students in 2000. With that funding it runs programs in Perth, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie, touching the lives of about 400 Aboriginal boys.
The academy relies on a 50-50 mix of private and government funding.
Mr Neesham said the private sector funding had been a fillip to the program.
"It’s allowed us to be independent and vigorous," he said.
Companies supporting Clontarf include Wesfarmers, JLV Industries, Placer Dome Asia Pacific, Multiplex, Aurion Gold, Barrick Gold and BHP Billiton.
Some of these companies take eligible students from the academy as employees.
In JLV’s case one student, John Skeene, has gone to the company and is now close to finishing the second year of his apprenticeship.
Wesfarmers has taken some students as employees as has Placer Dome.
Clontarf has also been able to attract some strong business names to its board, including Clough Limited director Ross Kelly and Bunnings Property Management manager Andrew Hopkins.
Mr Neesham said the employment outcomes achieved showed the academy’s program was working.
However, finding funding remains an ever-present issue.
"A lot of time is spent raising money for the program," Mr Neesham said.
"We need the very best people to work with these kids and to move forward we need more money."
The program uses football as the vehicle to improve the school retention and attendance of Aboriginal boys and has been having some good results. It has provided them the confidence and life skills to make their way to full-time employment.
The program started from the premise that many Aboriginal boys struggling with school are caught in a spiral drawn from low self-esteem.
Football is used to help the boys recover their self-esteem and, from there, get back into the school system.
Unlike most secondary school programs the academy stays involved with its students until they reach the age of 21.
It has had some good results, too. Of its 2002 group, 75 per cent have found their way to full-time employment.
Of last year’s Perth crop 12 of the 16 leavers are in full-time employment.
A team from its Kalgoorlie arm built its own barrow and took part in this year’s Balzano Barrow Race. They took line honours in the event.
Reports out of Kalgoorlie indicate that the rate of juvenile crime in that city has decreased since the academy has been in place.
Mr Neesham said the academy had a model that could be rolled out around the rest of the country, it just needed the funding.
"We’re not saying ours is the only program or the best program," he said.
