THE sixth annual Aboriginal Power Cup will begin on May 23 at Alberton Oval with 360 children from 35 schools around the state participating.

The theme for the 2013 Aboriginal Power Cup is ‘Make Your Mark… Shape Your Future’ which encourages girls and boys from years 10, 11 and 12 to explore their cultural heritage and personal identity while empowering them to finish their schooling and go on to further education or employment.

Power Community Ltd’s Aboriginal Engagement and Employment Manager Paul Vandenbergh says by encouraging the children’s knowledge of their cultural background they will be confident to embrace their culture more.

“Our communities and our kids just love football, so just being able to use it as a vehicle to engage our kids has been really effective,” says Vandenbergh.

It was first established as a retention strategy to help keep Aboriginal children in school, but as the program has developed over the past six years it has evolved into a transitional program as well with significant results.

Since the program launched in 2008 the number of participants has grown, along with retention and completion rates.

90.2% of students completed the Aboriginal Power Cup SACE Unit last year – up ten per cent on 2011 levels.

Vandenbergh wants to target a 100 per cent completion rate in 2013.

“It’s high to aim for a 100% completion rate, but obviously that is something we would love to see someday.

“It’s been a really successful program and the community really enjoys it.”

Although football is an integral part of the Aboriginal Power Cup, its primary objective is to help Aboriginal children progress from secondary school into further tertiary-level education or employment.

“The most important thing is they’re strong mentally and ready for the big wide world,” says Vandenbergh.

“We believe education and employment is a key to closing the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.”

The Grand Final Matches of the 2013 Aboriginal Power Cup will be played as a curtain raiser to this Saturday’s AFL Indigenous Round match between Port Adelaide and Geelong game at AAMI Stadium.

The Aboriginal Power Cup is proudly supported by Santos, the Government of South Australia, Transfield Services, Beach Energy Maxima and UniSA.