POWER Community Limited’s (PCL) Power to End Violence Against Women (PTEVAW) program has reached a new milestone with the team delivering the program at its 150th school on Thursday.
Developed in 2016 by PCL, major partner Centacare Catholic Family Services, and the Department of Education, the PTEVAW program has since garnered national recognition for its innovative and impactful program curriculum and delivery method.
Using the power of sport, the program starts important and meaningful conversations with male students around drivers of violence to help them make informed decisions and become advocates for change - at school, home, and in their wider community.
Students explore rights and responsibilities in relationships, personal values, how to recognise disrespectful behaviour, and being a positive bystander, concluding their learning at an annual leadership day and role model event.
In 2022 alone, the PTEVAW program has reached 1540 students across 23 schools, with a staggering 91% of students admitting they had a better understanding of healthy relationships, and 97% understanding that violence is preventable – proving that the program has and will continue to make critical change at a grassroots level.
Visiting Ocean View College on Thursday afternoon for the 150th visit, the same school where the program delivered its first lesson 8-years-ago, the PCL team led by Magpies Captain Cam Sutcliffe were joined by Yartapuulti captain, Tom Jonas, and vice-captain Ollie Wines to deliver the program to a group of Year 10 male students.
General Manager of PCL, Jake Battifuoco said he’s proud of both the growth of the program, and the milestone.
“The 150th school visit is an important milestone for the PTEVAW program and I’m proud of the team, and our partners Centacare Catholic Family Services, and the Department of Education for growing and developing the program over the last 8 years,” Mr. Battifuoco said.
“Primary prevention remains crucial in addressing the underlying social drivers of violence such as attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, and systems.
“This program continues to provide a unique platform, using the power of sport, for young people to discuss the issue of violence against women, explore what defines a respectful relationship, and gain critical skills and knowledge to make informed choices.
“Addressing these issues and providing an educational platform at a grassroots level is critical in making change, and it’s what drives us to continue growing the program.
“In 2024, the PTEVAW program will engage another 1625 students across 50 school visits, and we have plans to grow that number further in years to come.
“I’d like to thank both Centacare Catholic Family Services and the Department of Education for their unwavering support of the PTEVAW program, we’re incredibly proud of the collaborative outcomes across these partnerships and look forward to continuing to influence future generations to drive necessary social change”.
Centacare Deputy Executive Director Pauline Connelly said the program provides a platform for students to ‘’reflect upon the differing rhetoric and attitudes, pervasive in communities today, towards violence and control within relationships’’.
‘’The importance of the Power to End Violence program is something that can never be underestimated or taken for granted,’’ she said.
‘’It connects young people who are discovering what it means to be in relationship with another, with an elite football club, a welfare organisation and a government department, to assist young minds in finding their deeper, wiser selves, and taking this awareness into their relationships.’’
Click here to find out more about the program.
