APC Milestone In Indigenous Round
The acclaimed Aboriginal Power Cup celebrates its fifth anniversary this week with the carnival to be showcased for the first time as a highlight of AFL Indigen
WATCH Gavin Wanganeen talk about what Indigenous Round means to him on PTV above. Can't view the video? Watch on YouTube here.
THE acclaimed Aboriginal Power Cup celebrates its fifth anniversary this week with the carnival to be showcased for the first time as a highlight of AFL Indigenous Round.
Almost 300 secondary students from 25 schools as far away as Ceduna will converge on Alberton Oval this Thursday and Friday, vying for places in the finals which will be held as curtain-raisers to Port Adelaide’s clash with North Melbourne at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The public is invited to see the carnival at Alberton Oval between 10.30am-4.45pm on Thursday and between 9.30am-3.45pm on Friday, with four games underway consecutively. Entry is free.
Come to the Power’s game against North Melbourne at AAMI Stadium on Saturday to see the Aboriginal Power Cup boys’ and girls’ grand finals which kick off at 11.30am ahead of the AFL game at 1.15pm.
The boys and girls nine-a-side carnival is the culmination of months of work by the students, which extends well beyond the football field.
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To qualify for the competition, participants need to complete educational tasks associated with the Aboriginal Power Cup program which also count towards their acquisition of the SA Certificate of Education.
The Aboriginal Power Cup is a joint initiative of Power Community Ltd (the community development arm of Port Adelaide Football Club), the South Australian Government in partnership with SANTOS and the South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy in the Department of Education and Child Development.
Power Community Ltd general manager Darren Adamson welcomed the opportunity to celebrate the success of the Aboriginal Power Cup nationally through AFL Indigenous Round.
“The Aboriginal Power Cup has played a significant role in advancing both the cause and aspirations of participants, along with their families and communities,” Mr Adamson said.
“It will be a fantastic opportunity for the students to take centre stage in Indigenous Round and show the football world what they have achieved.”
After the preliminary rounds at Alberton Oval, the boys and girls semi-finalists are chosen on the basis of the participants’ combined carnival and educational results, with the winners of those games then going into Saturday’s grand finals.
The event has been highly successful in achieving its objectives of encouraging Indigenous students to complete their secondary education and prepare for life after school.
“In 2011, more than 80 per cent of participants completed all the requirements of the SACE unit associated with the Aboriginal Power Cup,” Mr Adamson said.
“That’s up from 70 per cent in 2010 and demonstrates how effective the program has become in helping Indigenous students stay engaged with their education and thereby preparing them for fulfilling lives.
“Indeed, we are beginning to see the long-term benefits of what the cup has achieved with many participants going on to further study or gaining direct employment as a result of their involvement.”
