WATCH Paul Vandenbergh - Engagement and Employment Manager of Power Community Ltd - talk about Indigenous Round, the Aboriginal Power Cup and the role the club is playing in the Aboriginal community. Can't view the video? Watch on YouTube here

THE Port Adelaide Football Club is leading the way in developing awareness and understanding of Indigenous issues and providing an environment for Aboriginal people where they feel accepted and comfortable.

In a talk held on Tuesday by Aboriginal Engagement & Employment Manager - Power Community Ltd, Paul Vandenbergh, players, coaches, and staff were informed on the Indigenous culture, heritage, and struggles which Aboriginal people face in today’s society.

Through initiatives such as the Aboriginal Power Cup and presentations to those working within the club, Vandenbergh aims to teach both Aboriginal and non-indigenous people how to work together and understand the way the two different cultures think, act and feel.

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With the help of past Aboriginal Port Adelaide players; Byron ‘Choppy’ Picket, Elijah ‘Noodles’ Ware and Wade Thompson, Vandenbergh highlighted the aspects of life that are most important to the Aboriginal people and the different regions or ‘countries’ and skin groupings of the Aboriginal people.

The three former Power players spoke about what it is like to be an Aboriginal, the traditions you are expected to follow and how difficult it can be to live in the western world and make it as an AFL player, as well as respect and pursue the Aboriginal way of life.

Vandenbergh, a former professional basketball player in the NBL, said that his presentation to the players, coaches and staff was to benefit non-Aboriginal people and help them comprehend the Aboriginal lifestyle.

“What we tried to do yesterday was provide a bit of an educational program for non-Aboriginal people to get some understanding of Aboriginal people, culture and history and what some of the significant events that took place that we’ve had to fight for,” Vandenbergh said.

“It’s more about them having an understanding but what we are also about is reconciliation - so getting people to go through that process and opening up people’s minds a bit about how we do want to walk together and be on this journey together and live in this country together.”

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Vandenbergh described Aboriginal people living in two spaces of minds; the western world during their working hours and the Aboriginal world when they go home. He acknowledged that Aboriginal people find it hard to transition from their own world into the Western space, and is helping those who find it challenging to find their feet in the western world of today, without losing their rich traditions.

“I spoke about walking in these two worlds -once they’re finished at 5pm they go back into the Aboriginal dynamic, whether that’s with family obligation, community obligation, I try and help both the Aboriginal players deal with that transition and the non-Aboriginal people understand how important it is to allow the Aboriginal people time to deal with these obligations.

Port Adelaide currently has three Aboriginal players on its list - Danyle Pearce, Chad Wingard and Brendon Ah Chee - and Vandenbergh helps to guide them with any challenges or issues they may face.

“I mentor all three of the Aboriginal players at the Port Adelaide Football Club. It wasn’t a role that was handed to me, I just took it on and it’s happened that way.

“I love that role and together with the three Aboriginal players on our list we also have other Indigenous players that come from Fuji that seem to gravitate to us as well.

“I often talk to Brendon Ah Chee’s family and his parents to make sure they are ok and they understand what’s happening over here with their boy and they are comfortable with it and more clubs should have room more Aboriginal mentors across the AFL.

“I embrace and welcome the opportunity to work and mentor someone who is not Aboriginal -but my focus obviously is with the Aboriginal players and making sure they are ok,” he said.

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Vandenbergh is encouraging all AFL clubs to take a more proactive approach like the Port Adelaide Football Club has to ensure the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal players and staff understand each other.

“I think this program is significant step in getting people to in recognise us as the first Australians and we have been on this land for thousands of years and we are still here today.

“We have some struggles and some issues in our community and whether that’s because of lack of education, housing, but the more we can work with people and help people have an understanding of our struggles and how difficult some situations are, the better off we will be as a nation.

“It’s really critical for all AFL clubs to have these types of sessions to help them understand some of the things that Aboriginal players go through.

“Having Aboriginal staff, which is what we have here at the Port Adelaide Football Club really helps breach the gap and gives coaches, players and staff a better understanding of what it’s like to be an Aboriginal person from a different world and having different values and having to cater for that.

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“It’s also important for players to feel welcomed into the environment and have an understanding of both their culture and the western culture and that’s part of relationship building.

“We are really about reconciliation and us working together and building an ideal setting where Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people work as one.”

The Aboriginal Power Cup begins at Alberton on Thursday. More details can be found here.