POWER Community Limited (PCL) have released their Social Impact Report, outlining in detail the significant positive impact all seven core programs have again made on South Australian students and ADF veterans in 2022.

The flagship programs run by PCL are focussed on four key pillars: Aboriginal, Youth, Multicultural and Defence, and cover some of the key issues in society including health, wellbeing and resilience, gender equality and respectful relationships, cultural awareness and reconciliation, youth education pathways and retention, and employment transition.

The Highlights:  

• The Community Youth Program virtual classroom was translated into Australian Sign Language (Auslan) and delivered to students deaf or hard of hearing for the first time in the program’s 23-year history. This is the first time an AFL Club has made a program of this kind accessible for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• The Santos Aboriginal Power Cup was, for the first time in the program’s 15-year history, delivered in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands to 125 students, using football as the ultimate driver to reengage students with their education post COVID.
• In the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup program 92% of students in the program attained SACE credits, 95% of students in the program indicated the program had a positive impact on their health and wellbeing, and 100% of students increased their commitment to school-based learning.
• The Power Intercultural Program introduced an online learning platform for participating schools to enhance program delivery and outcomes, designed and delivered by PCL.
• The Power to End Violence Against Women program reached it’s 10,000^th student since inception, and 96% of students said they have a better understanding of how attitudes, gender equality and behaviour contributes to violence against women.
• In the Empowered program, 97% of students said they have a better understanding of how violence is preventable, and the inaugural Empowering Women event was held.
• As an extension to the ADF Veterans program, PCL established a Connection Club for participants to connect with each other post program through several planned social events.
• PCL provided employment opportunities for eight AFLW players around their training and playing schedules, in addition to six past participants of PCL’s Aboriginal Programs as program facilitators and the employment of a past participant of the ADF Veterans Program who co-facilitated the program in 2022.

POWER COMMUNITY YOUTH PROGRAM (23^rd consecutive year running):

The Power Community Youth Program engages primary school students across South Australia providing education on positive lifestyle choices and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Key messages focus on health and wellbeing, inclusion, respect, and careers in STEM while developing student’s understanding and skills in critical thinking and problem solving.

In 2022, The Power Community Youth Program visited 50 schools and educated 16,255 students. 

SANTOS ABORIGINAL POWER CUP (15^th consecutive year running): 

The Santos Aboriginal Power Cup is an education-based strategy that uses AFL to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary school students in their education and workforce pathways.

With a competitive football carnival held as its centrepiece, the program is delivered in line with the SACE curriculum and focuses on positive lifestyle choices, personal identity, exercise, career, and Aboriginal culture.

In 2022:

• 92% of students in the program attained SACE credits.
• 95% of students in the program indicated the program had a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.
• 100% of students increased their commitment to school-based learning.
• Unable to participate in the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup carnival held in Adelaide due to COVID-19 implications, PCL delivered an additional carnival for Port Lincoln and Ceduna students, in Port Lincoln.
• 64 schools were visited, and 497 students were taught.

POWER INTERCULTURAL PROGRAM (5^th consecutive year running):

 The Power Intercultural Program is designed to celebrate vibrancy of cultural diversity and expression, promote inclusion, and build social cohesion by recognising the positive contribution of different cultures within Australia.

The program is delivered to secondary school students from culturally diverse backgrounds across South Australia.

In 2022:

• Students enrolled in the program participated in unique AFL game day experiences during one round at Adelaide Oval including a curtain raiser, guard of honour, lap of honour and coin toss.
• 13 schools were visited and 398 students were taught.

POWER TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (7^th consecutive year running):

Power to End Violence Against Women is designed specifically for year 10 students as a primary prevention program which promotes respectful relationships and promotes gender equality.

The program complements the Department for Education’s Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum and is delivered to young men in year 10 across South Australia.

In 2022:

• 91% of students have a better understanding of healthy and unhealthy relationships.
• 96% have a better understanding of how attitudes, gender equality and behaviour contributes to violence against women.
• 96% have a better understanding of how violence is preventable.
• 23 schools visited, with 1,540 students taught.

EMPOWERED (2^nd consecutive year running):

Empowered works with female students in year 10 with a focus on promoting a positive sense of self and identity. The program empowers young women to make choices in their lives and their relationships with a greater understanding of the structural impacts of gendered expectations and family violence.

In 2022:

• PCL expanded both the Power to End Violence Against Women and Empowered Programs to students enrolled in the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup.
• 98% of students have a better understanding of healthy and unhealthy relationships.
• 97% have a better understanding of how attitudes, gender equality and behaviour contributes to violence against women.
• 97% have a better understanding of how violence is preventable.
• 23 schools were visited, and 1,435 students were taught.

ADF VETERANS PROGRAM (2^nd consecutive year running):

The ADF Veterans program uses the power of Australian Rules Football to enhance health and wellbeing outcomes for Australian Defence Force Veterans.

The program draws upon the similarities of transitioning from high performing environments, where ex-players and ADF veterans come together to re-identify a sense of purpose and community connection.

In 2022:

• Past program participant, Ash Muir co-facilitated the program enhancing program outcomes through lived experience.
• 38 participants were involved.

POWER SAASTA CONNECT CARNIVAL (2^nd consecutive year running):

The Power SAASTA Connect Carnival builds upon the success of the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup and uses Australian Rules Football to engage Year 7, 8 and 9 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in their schooling.

The program addresses the widening gap of school attendance from Year 7 by providing a direct pathway for middle school students to transition into the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup.

In 2022, Power SAASTA Connect Carnival visited 19 schools and educated 260 students. 

General Manager of Power Community Limited, Jake Battifuoco says the high level of engagement across the year is something they’re incredibly proud of.

“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in 2022 and couldn’t have done it without the support of our partners” Mr. Battifuoco said.

“Taking the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup to the APY lands for the first time, aligning our Community Youth Program with Auslan, reaching our 10,000^th student in our Power to End Violence Against Women program and introducing the inaugural Empowering Women Event are just some of the highlights, and just the start of where we hope to take our flagship programs next.

“2023 will see us continue to evolve our existing programs along with developing new projects such as our Power Up: Online program, which will be delivered in partnership with Centacare and CCNT with a focus on keeping young people safe online.

“Ultimately, our goal is to change the lives of young people and ADF veterans from all backgrounds, to empower them to achieve their potential and create equal opportunities for all. I’m extremely pleased of the change we’ve been able to make in this space so far and look forward to what we can achieve in the coming years.

“On behalf of PCL, I would also like to thank the Port Adelaide Football Club and PCL Boards, executives, staff, players and coaches for the continued support of our programs”.