It was a poignant return to his former high school in Karratha for Matt Holcz recently.
The Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive was there to visit Clontarf students and announce a five-year extension to the miner's partnership with the Clontarf Foundation, ongoing since 2008.
Mr Holcz's first foray in the iron ore industry came after graduating from Karratha Senior High School and he was proud to return to his roots and announce the extension of Rio Tinto's successful 18-year partnership with Clontarf.
"For young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, having people walk alongside them as they build skills, confidence and resilience makes a real difference... at school, in work and in their communities," he said.
The two organisations have worked together to develop programs that support and encourage young men into education, while building their confidence and helping them transition to employment and further studies.
Clontarf said through Rio's support, the Foundation had grown tenfold; from 17 academies and 1,362 participants in 2008 to a national network of 161 academies, which now support more than 12,000 Indigenous boys and young men daily.
Foundation academies supported young Indigenous men by helping them stay connected with school and community and identify future educational and employment opportunities.
The Clontarf model focused on building confidence in young men, strengthening their cultural identity, fostering leadership qualities, encouraging positive relationships and promoting healthy lifestyles, creating a path where they felt supported, respected and confident about their future.
A key element of the partnership was providing practical links to employment opportunities, including site visits, mentoring, work experience, cadetships and direct employment.
An independent 2025 evaluation by Social Ventures Australia demonstrated the success of Clontarf's programs, with 88 per cent school retention and 82 per cent of participants completing Year 12, as well as significant gains in capability and wellbeing.
Mr Holcz said Clontarf had shown what was possible if young people were backed to believe in themselves.
"We're proud to have played a part in that over the past 18 years," he said.
"Not only because of the education outcomes delivered, but the lasting positive change it helps create."
Rio Tinto said independent evaluations, such as the most recent by SVA, gave the global miner confidence in the Foundation's effectiveness and ongoing impact helping support young Indigenous men.
