• Clontarf Foundation students visit Sydney Airport for airside tour • Sydney Airport partnership to help 24 Indigenous boys complete high school • Partnership reflects Sydney Airport’s commitment to leading and learning in our community

Sydney Airport hosted school students from the Clontarf Foundation’s Endeavour Academy in Caringbah today in a special airside tour as part of its partnership with the organisation.

Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather welcomed the students to the airport.

“We’re delighted to host Clontarf Foundation students for this unique, behind-the-scenes tour of our airport,” Ms Mather said.

“With 29,000 people working across 800 businesses at the airport, there are so many opportunities to develop a rich and rewarding career here – whether it’s on the airfield, in our terminals or as part of the many businesses that provide vital support to our operations.

“Today’s tour highlights the vast range of opportunities available for people who want to work at one of Australia’s most significant pieces of infrastructure.

“I hope this provides fresh inspiration for the students taking part, as they work to build strong and successful futures for themselves.”

Clontarf Foundation Chief Executive Officer Gerard Neesham said the tour provided new perspectives for participating students.

“The support Clontarf and our students receive from partners such as Sydney Airport is important because it provides exposure to workplaces these boys wouldn’t normally receive,” Mr Neesham said.

“These opportunities have the potential to be life changing for many of these boys because it builds their confidence, sense of self-worth and gives them something to aspire to.”

The Clontarf Foundation aims to increase the average school attendance of male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to 80%.

A total of 386 Clontarf students completed year 12 last year, with 5,500 boys participating in the program in 2017.

The program’s 300 staff guide and mentor students to finish school, participate in the workforce and improve their lifestyles, health and economic status. On average, 80% of Clontarf graduates remain engaged in employment or further training/study 12 months after leaving school.

Sydney Airport’s partnership with Clontarf will help 24 Indigenous boys complete high school over the next two years, as part of our commitment to leading and learning.

ABOUT SYDNEY AIRPORT

Sydney Airport is Australia’s gateway airport, serving 42 million passengers a year and connecting Sydney to a network of close to 100 international, domestic and regional destinations.

Located just eight kilometres from the city centre, Sydney Airport contributes $30.8 billion in economic activity a year, equivalent to 6.4 per cent of the NSW economy. Sydney Airport is a major employer in NSW, generating more than 306,700 direct and indirect jobs, equivalent to 8.9 per cent of NSW employment. Some 29,000 of these jobs are at the airport itself.