More students in Port Hedland will be able to take part in the Follow the Dream after-school program through a new three-year partnership between the Polly Farmer Foundation and PLS.
PLS will invest $180,000 over three years to expand Polly Farmer Foundation's Follow the Dream program at St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School, delivered in partnership with Port Hedland Primary School.
The program currently has 26 students and a waiting list. PLS' funding will enable it to run two afternoons each week instead of one, giving current students more time in the program and opening places for more local students to apply.
Entry to Follow the Dream involves an application process and a commitment from both participants and their families. Independent research has shown participants attend school more often and achieve stronger educational outcomes than their non-participating peers.
Locally based coordinators deliver the program with support from school staff, using culturally responsive teaching practices that help students stay engaged in their education and consider opportunities beyond school.
Polly Farmer Foundation CEO Mark Wirtz said the partnership would help the Foundation meet growing demand for the program in Port Hedland.
"We are thrilled to welcome PLS as a partner in Port Hedland, with a shared commitment to high expectations, educational achievement and creating opportunities for young people," he said.
"Together, we can support more students to thrive at school and beyond. BHP's longstanding support has enabled us to deliver our primary and secondary school programs in Port Hedland for more than two decades, helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to achieve their educational goals. PLS' investment builds on this strong foundation, enhancing our ability to support students and expand our impact across the community."
PLS Chief People and Sustainability Officer Sandra McInnes said the program's model proved that education works best when it's grounded in culture and community.
"Follow the Dream recognises that young people are more likely to thrive when they feel they belong. Students receive academic support and mentoring, connect with culture and build friendships with other students in the program," she said.
"The program also gives students opportunities to engage with STEM learning and explore what's possible after school.
"We're proud to partner with the Polly Farmer Foundation to help more young people in Port Hedland take part in a program that supports their aspirations at school and beyond."
The Follow the Dream program combines academic support and mentoring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with STEM-focused educational activities for participating Year 5 and 6 students.
The Polly Farmer Foundation has delivered primary and secondary Follow the Dream programs in Port Hedland since 2002 and now supports more than 3,000 male and female students each year across more than 150 schools nationally. The Foundation has been named Best Community Organisation by the Port Hedland Chamber of Commerce and Industry for two years running.
Established in 1994 by Noongar man and football great, the late Graham 'Polly' Farmer, the Foundation delivers culturally responsive education programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across Australia.
In 2025, PLS supported the Foundation through its Community Grants Program to purchase STEM equipment for students.
PLS and the Polly Farmer Foundation celebrated the partnership on Wednesday with Follow the Dream students and their families in Port Hedland.
The partnership forms part of PLS' Community Investment Program, which provided $2.5M in funding to community initiatives in WA in FY26. Through the program, the Company invests in initiatives that support the places where we live and work, creating shared value for local communities and PLS.
