New friends, new lessons as students embrace their very first jobs

A LONGSTANDING partnership between Kmart and the Clontarf Foundation is proving collaboration is key when it comes to empowering young Indigenous men with meaningful opportunities to take control of their lives, and thrive.

Clontarf Academy students Alonzo Nelson, 15, from Yirara College and Isaiah Miller,13, from Centralian Middle School at their part time job at KMart where they decant products to be put on the shelf. Photo: EMMA MURRAY

A LONGSTANDING partnership between Kmart and the Clontarf Foundation is proving collaboration is key when it comes to empowering young Indigenous men with meaningful opportunities to take control of their lives, and thrive.

Currently completing Year 10 at Yirara College in Alice Springs, 15-year-old Alonzo Nelson unpacks and organises stock at Kmart Alice Springs after school, working anywhere from three to four days a week.

“It’s my first job. I’m enjoying making new friends and getting paid – I’m saving my money but I’m also putting some aside for a new phone,” Mr Nelson said.

A gifted Aussie rules player – training seven days a week – Mr Nelson has been able to manage his busy schedule thanks to the unwavering support of Yirara College, with class time freed-up for him to complete online training modules for Kmart and a potential daytime shift on the cards.

“My Mum and Dad said they are really proud of me,” Mr Nelson smiled.
Telling the Advocate he was learning to make new friends and work as a team at Kmart, 13-year-old Centralian Middle School student Isaiah Miller said he believed he’d continue to use the professional skills he was learning in future.

With ambitions to play in the AFL and one day own his own business, the Year 8 student said he was proud of what he had accomplished at work to date – also his first job.

“I’m enjoying learning to work together and just working in general,” Mr Miller said.

“I told my nanna and my mum. They were happy with me that I’m earning my own money.”

It’s feedback that Kmart store manager, Mark Thustain, doesn’t take for granted.

“Our goal at Kmart is to provide meaningful employment for young Indigenous men, in partnership with Clontarf,” Mr Thustain explained.

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“There’s a great example of one of our Clontarf employees saying to me they were the first one in their family to have a job and that they had meaning in their life.

“Kmart, as part of Wesfarmers, are committed to supporting the local community we work in and it’s absolutely amazing to have that opportunity to be able to make a tangible difference in these young men’s lives.”