THE 2015 Aboriginal Power Cup was officially launched today at Alberton with the key theme of reconciliation the focus of this year’s program.

The Aboriginal Power Cup, a joint partnership between the Port Adelaide Football Club and SAASTA, first commenced in 2008 and since that time has grown exponentially from 133 students at six schools to 392 students from 32 schools in 2014.

This eighth Aboriginal Power Cup will reach even more schools and engage more students in 2015 under the Gandhi-inspired theme Be the change you want to see.

For the first time, the Aboriginal Power Cup will introduce a “buddy up” system whereby all participating Aboriginal students will be voluntarily partnered up with a non-Aboriginal student to educate them about Aboriginal history, culture and customs.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas says this year’s Aboriginal Power Cup will build on and compliment the club’s Reconciliation Action Plan which was enacted last July.

“Reconciliation is very much at the forefront of our Aboriginal engagement strategies and we see this year’s Aboriginal Power Cup as a great opportunity to promote that message,” Mr Thomas said.

“The buddy up system adds a new layer to a very successful program that we already have in place. The buddy up system will involve an Aboriginal Power Cup student partnering up with a non-Aboriginal student and teaching them about Aboriginal culture and custom through traditional Aboriginal artwork, food and dance.

“Not only will the non-Aboriginal student learn more about Aboriginal culture but the Aboriginal student will be more encouraged to learn more about their own culture and have the support to take ownership in sharing that knowledge. We think this will go a long way to starting to break down some of those barriers.

“The buddy up system will culminate with all participating Aboriginal Power Cup students and the non-Aboriginal students taking part in a traditional Aboriginal dance on Adelaide Oval prior to our game against the Western Bulldogs on June 6.”

The Aboriginal Power Cup will also continue to be built around 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 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.

Mr Thomas says Port Adelaide is privileged to host such a program and thanks the support of two major partners for making it such a success.

“As a club we are very proud of the success of the Aboriginal Power Cup. The Aboriginal community has historically had a strong a link to Port Adelaide and even today we have seven Aboriginal players on our list which is equal highest in the AFL,” Mr Thomas said.

“But we see ourselves as more than just a football club and look beyond what just happens on the field. Our community is at the heart of everything we do and we are proud to support the Aboriginal community through the Aboriginal Power Cup and our other Aboriginal programs.

“Football is a proven tool that engages Aboriginal boys and girls and we feel we are in a privileged position to make a difference.

“But we couldn’t have achieved what we have without the outstanding support of both the Attorney-General’s Department and Santos.

“The Attorney-General’s department have been with us every step of the way since the inception of the Aboriginal Power Cup in 2008 while Santos is now in their sixth year of being major partner of the program.

“Beyond their wonderful financial support which helps underpin the program, Santos also provides considerable in-kind support with staff donating many hours to the program across the year.

“We sincerely thank the Attorney-General’s department and Santos for their support in making the Aboriginal Power Cup the outstanding program it is today.”

“Santos places a high priority on improving and being part of communities in which we work”, explains Beth Macdonald, Manager Community & Corporate Responsibility for Santos.

“We’ve been proud to be the major supporter of the Aboriginal Power Cup because it delivers long-term positive benefits. Positive themes of participation, education, teamwork and leadership can be embraced by students not only on the field, but in their future endeavours and careers”.

In 2015 the Aboriginal Power Cup program will culminate with a two-day carnival at Alberton Oval on June 4 and 5 with a boys’ and girls’ grand final to be played at Adelaide Oval on Saturday 6 June as a curtain-raiser to the Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs clash.