The Power Community Limited team returned to the APY Lands with the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup for the first time in two years.

A new partnership with BankSA Foundation helped the program expand into five communities at a critical time.

Due to consecutive COVID-19 lockdowns, students in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands faced challenges in returning to school, resulting in school attendance rates dropping to below 60 per cent.

At this crucial juncture, Power Community Ltd (PCL) was awarded a BankSA Foundation Community Grant, which uses football as a catalyst to reignite students’ interest in their education and career transition.

Port Adelaide AFL players Jeremy Finlayson, Sam Powell-Pepper, Hugh Jackson and Jed McEntee joined the PCL team for the weeklong trip, which included delivering the program to five schools across the lands, attending and judging the Ernabella Dance Competition, supporting Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Education Committee (PYEC) with a round robin football carnival, and attending the SANFL APY Lands Grand Final between the Musgrave Suns and the Indulkana Tigers.

Port Adelaide’s Aboriginal programs manager Braedon Talbot said taking the program to the APY Lands was an incredibly important step forward for both the PCL team and the students.

“After a tough couple of years where communities on the lands have battled with COVID lockdowns and quarantines, there was a real need to find ways to re-engage young people with their schooling,” Talbot said.

“We have every intention of continuing to take the program to the lands every year, as we continue to work towards expanding the program into more communities in the years to come.

“When delivering the program to the five schools across the lands, it was amazing to see the high level of engagement from the students, which is something as a group we’re incredibly proud of.

“The opportunity to take the program to the APY Lands would not have been possible without the support of the BankSA Foundation, and we’re incredibly thankful for their support in helping us make a positive impact.”

BankSA Foundation has been supporting communities across South Australia for more than 80 years. Its Community Grant and Multi-Year Grant programs help local community organisations focused on creating brighter futures for children and young people in need.

BankSA Foundation CEO Sally-Anne O’Brien said “We believe that education changes the course of a child’s life”.

“It’s exciting to see sport used as a tool to connect, motivate and inspire young people to attend school. Plus, the unique opportunity for students to connect with the Port Adelaide Football Club.”

The Santos Aboriginal Power Cup will return to the APY Lands later this year.