Summary
On the tenth anniversary of sponsoring the Aboriginal Power Cup, Santos has committed to continue its support for this important initiative for another three years.
On the tenth anniversary of sponsoring the Aboriginal Power Cup, Santos has committed to continue its support for this important initiative for another three years. The Aboriginal Power Cup is achieving outstanding results that are directly linked to the “Close the Gap” target of year 12 attainment.
The Aboriginal Power Cup is the Port Adelaide Football Club’s flagship community program to support and develop the potential of young Aboriginal people. Established in 2008, the program has been a resounding success, hosting nearly 500 students from 70 schools in South Australia this year.
Santos Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher said the company has a proud 10-year history of supporting the Aboriginal Power Cup and is delighted to commit a further $750,000 to this worthy community program through to 2021.
“The Aboriginal Power Cup is not just about football. It is a program that is driving real social improvement for young Aboriginal people by lifting school attendance and graduation rates, and providing a great platform for success in their future education, employment and life endeavours,” Mr Gallagher said.
With a competitive football carnival as its centrepiece, the Aboriginal Power Cup focuses on engaging young people in Aboriginal culture, education, healthy lifestyle choices, teamwork, leadership and life skills.
The work completed in the program goes towards achievement of the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) in year 12. Ninety-six per cent of Aboriginal students in year 12 who complete the Aboriginal Power Cup program go on to complete their SACE. By comparison, the average SACE completion by South Australian Aboriginal students in year 12 is only 50 per cent.
Port Adelaide Chief Executive Officer Keith Thomas thanked Santos for its ongoing support.
“The Aboriginal Power Cup is our community team’s flagship education program which has been achieving some amazing results – results that could not be possible without the backing of Santos,” Mr Thomas said.
“This is the longest-running joint football and education community program for Aboriginal students in the Australian professional sports industry and Santos has been there just about every step of the way.”
Mr Thomas’ sentiments were echoed by Port Adelaide’s Director of Aboriginal Programs Paul Vandenbergh.
“We believe the Aboriginal Power Cup is industry-leading and the track record shows that,” Mr Vandenbergh said.
“We are seeing more young Aboriginal people engaged in schooling, more young Aboriginal people finishing schooling and more young Aboriginal people now going on to further education and employment.
“But our work would not be possible without the support of Santos, which shares our values of being a pioneer in its field and building a better future, including for Indigenous Australians.”
Mr Gallagher said “Santos’ commitment to the Aboriginal Power Cup is consistent with our values to build a better future.”
“What better way to do that than to support a ladder of opportunity for our first Australians,” Mr Gallagher said.
“Since 2007 Santos has invested nearly $11 million in Aboriginal employment, training and development initiatives across Australia.”
Just recently Santos announced our partnership with the University of Adelaide to offer a national Indigenous program that promotes the benefits of a career in engineering.
As part of the program, Santos and the University of Adelaide have established the Santos Karnkanthi Indigenous Engineering School, which will provide Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students in years 11 or 12 the opportunity to join a five-day interactive engineering camp in Adelaide.
