The deal provides funding to enable 35 program participants located in the APY Lands to travel to Adelaide for the Santos APC carnival. Image: Michael Sullivan.

POWER Community Limited (PCL) is proud to announce a new landmark partnership between the not-for-profits Santos Aboriginal Power Cup program and Enerven.

The deal provides the critical funding required to enable 35 program participants located in Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY Lands) to travel to Adelaide for the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup carnival – a first for the program in its 16-year history.

With a competitive football carnival at its centrepiece working to reengage First Nations students with their education, all program participants must strive towards 80% school attendance rate, positively engage in their schoolwork and display good behaviour to complete the program and partake in the carnival.

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Students located in the APY Lands who have successfully completed the program will make the 3000-kilometre round trip via bus to Adelaide in time for the leadership day at Flinders University on Wednesday, 17th May, with the football carnival commencing at Karen Rolton Oval from Thursday, 18th May.

All 550 Santos Aboriginal Power Cup students will then visit Adelaide Oval on Friday, 19th May to perform a special cultural dance to open Yartapuulti Football Club’s (Port Adelaide) Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash with Naarm (Melbourne).

Aboriginal Programs Manager, Braedon Talbot thanked Enerven, identifying their support as a historic moment for the program.

“We’re extremely thankful for the support of Enerven. This is a significant moment for the program, and I couldn’t be more thrilled that we’re able to bring these deserving students down to Adelaide for this moment,” Mr. Talbot said.

“Providing opportunities like this are critical in reengaging students with their education, and this new partnership will allow us to continue to grow the program and change the lives of young First Nations students.

“It will be the first time in AFL history that two teams who have adapted their Indigenous names will play each other, and these students will have the chance to see their language and culture up in lights on a national stage. It will be a really special moment”.

Students located in the APY Lands who have successfully completed the program will make the 3000-kilometre round trip via bus to Adelaide. Image: Michael Sullivan.

Richard Amato, Executive General Manager of Enerven said they are grateful for the opportunity to be involved.

"Enerven are grateful for the opportunity to support these deserving students from the APY Lands and enable their participation in the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup carnival,” Mr. Amato said.

“This partnership exemplifies our commitment to making a positive impact in our communities, and we are excited to be a part of this historic moment for the program."

The Santos Aboriginal Power Cup has been identified by the State Government as a key factor in helping close the gap and services 62 schools throughout metropolitan, regional, and remote South Australia. Power Community Limited work in partnership with the South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy to achieve these amazing outcomes.