Port Adelaide has launched Powerful Futures, a brand new initiative working in conjunction with its community partners to provide a pool of 100 work opportunities to graduates of its Aboriginal Power Cup and Empowering Youth programs.
The Aboriginal Power Cup – entering its ninth year in 2016 – is a joint football and academic initiative, where participants from right around Australia complete a range of educational outcomes, one of which includes progressing successfully through their SA Certificate of Education.
With a consistent completion rate of 90 percent for several years, the Aboriginal Power Cup has been kicking goals within remote indigenous communities and with those who live in and around Adelaide.
Empowering Youth is one of the Power’s perpetual community programs, with a particular focus on providing career opportunities and resilience-based programs to disengaged youth in Adelaide’s northern regions.
Powerful Futures will be an extension of both programs, and it is envisaged that successful Year 12 graduates will be able to apply for a position from the pool of 100 work opportunities provided by the extensive Port Adelaide partner base.
“This year, the goal of Powerful Futures will be to develop a pool of 100 work opportunities to offer those who participate in Power Community Ltd’s programs and successfully complete Year 12,” says Port Adelaide chairman David Koch.
“We will invest around $2 million in the community through our independent community development arm this year, and this school-to-work initiative is part of that picture.”
At the Government House launch of Powerful futures on Friday night hosted by the state governor His Excellency Hieu Van Le AO, David Koch spoke of the challenges facing the evolving South Australian economy, with the end of auto manufacturing at Holden’s Elizabeth plant one example of the transition at play.
In front of representatives of South Australia’s business sector – many of which were existing partners of the Port Adelaide Football Club and Power Community Ltd – Koch called on industry buy-in for the Powerful Futures program.
“We don’t want to lose a generation of young people who are shut out of opportunity as South Australia achieves its transformation away from an economy reliant on traditional manufacturing,” Koch said.
“We ask businesses, charity and community sector organisations – people like you - to contribute jobs or traineeships to the program.
“These opportunities will then be made available to anyone who participates in one of our school-based programs and completes high school.
“Powerful Futures is conceptually simple but complex in its delivery. The program will do more than align a candidate with a potential employer. We need to get the right candidate to the right employer, make sure that they are ready for the workforce and then ensure that they have the support necessary to realise this important transition from school to work.”
Additional grant funding for Power Community Ltd
Power Community Ltd also received a grant of $50,000 from the Government of South Australia as part of the Northern Economic Plan released at the end of January.
The grant funding will go towards PCL's new northern suburbs-focussed youth initiatives in 2016.
Powerful Futures commences in 2016.
