With more 20,000 students engaged and 55,000 kilometres travelled, the Power Community Limited team have been busy in 2023. Image: Angus Northeast.

PORT ADELAIDE's not-for-profit arm, Power Community Limited (PCL), have released the results of their 2023 Social Impact Report, outlining in detail the significant impact, reach, and growth all seven programs had on South Australian students and ADF Veterans last year.

PCL’s carefully designed programs work to empower communities in need and address societal issues aligned to health, wellbeing, and resilience; gender equality and respectful relationships; cultural awareness and reconciliation; youth education pathways and retention; and employment transitions.

Read the full 2023 PCL Social Impact Report

In 2023, underpinned by the support of the charity's strategic partners and an unwavering focus on ensuring the programs provided a sense of belonging and connection, PCL engaged with over 20,000 people across metro, regional and remote South Australia, including in the classroom of more than 260 schools where they facilitated 315 educational workshops.

Power Community Limited engaged with over 20,000 people across metro, regional and remote areas of the state. Image: Michael Sullivan.

The Highlights

  • Over 20,000 students taught, 55,000 kilometres travelled, and over 800 enrolled in leadership events.
  • An additional 20,000 people were reached through activations including NAIDOC Week, multicultural festivals, and defence community events.
  • For the first time in the program’s 16-year history, students from the APY Lands participating in the industry leading Santos Aboriginal Power Cup attended the carnival held in Adelaide. In addition, students attended the Yartapuulti Football Club game during Sir Doug Nicholls Round, participating in an on-field cultural performance.
  • The Community Youth Program continues to be the longest running community program in the AFL.
  • 95% of students who took part in the Power to End Violence Against Women program left with a better understanding of healthy and unhealthy relationships.
  • 51 ADF Veterans enrolled in our ADF Veterans program, taking the total number of veterans to 133 across 3 years.
  • 94% of students who took part in the Multicultural Power Cup increased their understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity within their school community.
  • 3 ADF Veterans and six past students of First Nations programs gained both volunteer and employment opportunities at the club and in the PCL team.
Four students pictured at the SAASTA Connect Cup, held at Alberton in 2023. Image: Angus Northeast.

General Manager of Power Community Limited, Jake Battifuoco, said he was incredibly proud of the results outlined in the Social Impact Report.

“The results delivered in 2023 is something we are very proud of, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our program partners,” Mr. Battifuoco said.

“All programs have experienced significant growth in 2023, and it’s a credit to our passionate team for driving outcomes in the community.

“This year, our industry leading Santos Aboriginal Power Cup delivered in partnership with SAASTA, will see the largest number of First Nations students enrolled since inception in 2008.

“Our Community Youth Program continues to be the longest running community focused program in the AFL, while the ADF Veterans program’s growth trajectory goes from strength to strength.

Midfielder Maria Moloney, herself part of the Air Force, chatting with ADF Veterans Program participants.

“Our Power to End Violence Against Women and Empowered programs, in partnership with Centacare and the Government of South Australia, continues to remain a core focus for us, and educating at a grassroots level is critical to combat the ongoing issues society is experiencing in this space.

“We’re extremely proud of the genuine and tangible pathways our programs create for participants. Six students from our Fist Nations programs are now working in the PCL team, while three ADF Veterans are volunteering in the football department.

“It’s critical and important for participants and students to see these real-life examples of the possible pathways achieved out of the programs they’re participating in.

The Empowered program, delivered to Year 10 female students statewide, provides young women with the tools they need to understand healthy relationships and foster a well-developed sense of self.

“We are entering an exciting period as we commence a three-year strategy aligned to building a stronger, inclusive, and more equitable community with outcomes areas underpinned by education, learning and leadership. With this comes exciting expansion plans that will increase the accessibility of our programs to more students across the country.

“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.

“The team is extremely pleased of the change we’ve been able to make in this space and are really looking forward to the continued change we can make in 2024.

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