Clontarf Academy students enjoy a day at Thales Eagle Farm
On Tuesday 30 November, our Thales Eagle Farm site hosted a special visit from the graduating class of Clontarf Academy, Trinity Bay State High School in Cairns. Thales has an ongoing partnership with the Clontarf Foundation, which is a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men. With academies located across Australia, this latest Clontarf visit follows a series of similar tours hosted at Thales sites in Western Australia and New South Wales.
The visit to Thales at Eagle Farm, which is home to the Vehicle Support Centre and where we manage the full life-cycle capability of protected vehicles, showed the students how their interest in Mechanics and associated trades can translate into real world opportunities within the defence industry.
The day began with a presentation given by the students, to showcase the excellent work being performed by Clontarf Academies Australia-wide. The mentors and students explained how their school’s Clontarf Academy had supported and mentored them throughout their high school years, building a stronger sense of self within their community as well as achieving better outcomes with graduating high school and setting career goals for the future.
The presentation was followed by a tour of Thales workshops and production areas, where students had the opportunity to see how the Eagle Farm repair centre operates to a demanding schedule with safety always the priority. Thales staff shared their career journeys, described their Thales job and answered plenty of questions from the students as they also prepare to enter the workforce.
The final highlight of the tour was when students were able to climb aboard a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle and experience for themselves the end result of a multi-disciplinary team effort.
To close out the visit, our local Thales hosts had a chat with the students explaining the different career pathways for mechanics in the defence industry. Some students expressed their interest in defence force careers and staff were excited to share their experience and advice.
Our Thales Eagle Farm team were very proud to show the boys what we do and are excited to kick off our partner site relationship with Clontarf Foundation for many opportunities to support into the future! Well done to all involved in arranging and hosting this special event.