Students from across the state will arrive at Alberton Oval today for the seventh year of the Aboriginal Power Cup.

Both male and female students in Years 10-12 will be competing for the opportunity to play at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, prior to the sold-out Power v Hawks clash.

With major sponsors Santos and the Attorney General’s Department, the Aboriginal Power Cup is a partnership between Power Community Ltd, the community development arm of the Port Adelaide Football Club, and SAASTA, the SA Aboriginal Sports Training Academy. The program first commenced in 2008 and since that time has proved a significant success growing from 133 students at six schools to 399 students from 32 schools in 2014.

The 2014 Aboriginal Power Cup has embraced a new theme - One Mob Leading Together – with a focus on leadership and reconciliation. This theme will come to life on Saturday when all students participate in a cultural walk through the streets of Adelaide led by AFL greats Gavin Wanganeen and Michael Long.

The walk commences at Victoria Square and includes Tandanya, where jumpers from the last six Aboriginal Power Cups are on display, the SA Museum and the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial. Students will follow the River Torrens to Pinkie Flat, the site of the first Kaurna School in Adelaide and then enter Adelaide Oval as One Mob Leading Together.

The Aboriginal Power Cup is an early intervention strategy that uses football as a tool to engage young Aboriginal secondary school students in their education and provide pathways to workforce participation.

It combines a SACE educational unit with football to encourage South Australian Aboriginal students in years 10-12 to complete their secondary education and move into further education, training and employment.

Only students who meet attendance criteria and successfully complete their classwork are invited to take part in the football carnival at Alberton, with the participants forming nine-a-side teams. The event also includes a career and lifestyle expo, cultural activities and personal development workshops.

Power Community Ltd general manager Darren Adamson said the growth of the Aboriginal Power Cup could not have happened without the support from two major partners.

“The Aboriginal Power Cup has come a long way since its inception in 2008 with now almost 400 students and 32 schools across South Australia involved in the program,” Mr Adamson said.

“This growth could not be achieved without the support of both the Attorney-General’s Department and Santos.

“The Attorney-General’s Department have supported the Aboriginal Power Cup since its inception in 2008 and recently agreed to extend the partnership for another three years which we are very grateful for.

“Similarly, Santos has been another great supporter of the Aboriginal Power Cup. Santos joined the program in 2010 and will continue as major partner until 2015 which we are delighted about.

“Beyond their wonderful financial support which helps underpin the program, Santos also provide considerable in-kind support with 30 staff volunteering to goal umpire 120 games of footy over two days,” Mr Adamson said.

“Santos has a strong commitment to encouraging volunteering, and being part of the event by helping umpire is a great way to get involved and see the program in action,” said Beth Worrall, Santos’ Manager of Community and Corporate Responsibility.

In addition to Santos and the South Australian Government, the program welcomes the Motor Accident Commission (MAC) as a partner this year. Other support partners include Transfield Services, Beach Energy, Maxima, UniSA, Defence Force Recruiting, Fairmont Homes, the Aboriginal Health Council of SA and SA Dental Service.

The 2014 Aboriginal Power Cup program will culminate with a two-day carnival at Alberton Oval today and tomorrow with a boys’ and girls’ grand final to be played at the Adelaide Oval this Saturday 24 May as a curtain-raiser to the Port Adelaide v Hawthorn clash.

The Aboriginal Power Cup finalists are chosen on the basis of the participants’ combined school and football carnival results, with the finalists being announced only one hour prior to the final.

“We know we will see some wonderful football at the three-day carnival but what pleases me most is that all students will leave with a greater appreciation of who they are and what they would like to achieve in the future,” Mr Adamson said.