For more than eight years, teacher Jacob Ellidge has seen firsthand the impact the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup has on his students.
As he sat down with portadelaidefc.com at the annual carnival, both his passion for the program, and care for his students, was so evident it only felt fitting that we share his story during Reconciliation Week.
For the entirety of the conversation, Mr Ellidge’s warm smile told its own story of the importance of the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup program.
We quickly learned it was several powerful stories of seeing close to 100 young people reengage in their education and culture, witnessing the program help students navigating challenging circumstances get back on the right path, and how the power of sport can change lives that bought that smile on.
“Oh, it (the program) is amazing. I mean to be able to see the change in the students, and some of the ones that might not do so well in other subjects really strive in the program with both the academic aspect, and their engagement and the behaviour in class,” he said.
“There are a few young people that might go to say a maths or an English lesson, and they're running amok in the classroom, but then they come to like the program, and they’re just head down in the in the books and working really hard, and that’s evident through the quality of their schoolwork”.
To take part in the annual carnival, which is held during Sir Doug Nicholls Round each year, students must meet a series of key performance indicators (KPIs) relating to positive behaviour and schoolwork completion, an element of the program Mr Ellidge credits to helping some students find a more positive path.
“I've probably taught close to 100 First Nations students through the program over my time, but there's definitely a few that were right on the borderline of going on a bad pathway, disengaging with school, and getting up to no good out in the community as well.
“But being involved with Power Cup and the SAASTA program has seen them get on the right track, and lots of those students have gone on to now work in the community, whether it's with Aboriginal led programs or just simple things like getting a job at the supermarket.”
The power of sport, particularly AFL football, is the other aspect of the program that Mr Ellidge credits helping the students engage in their education.
“Using footy as a hook plays a massive role in giving some of those kids that little bit extra drive to want to do well at school.
“They all look forward to camps like this, where they get to come to Adelaide and hang out with Port Adelaide and see an AFL or AFLW player and play against their mates or their family.
“You see back in the classroom that some of these kids are good at footy, but they might struggle in the classroom and just having that bit of incentive that if you're going to do well in the classroom, you get to go on this amazing camp and this great opportunity. It's got a massive impact.”
Bridging Now to Next is the theme for Reconciliation Week in 2025, and reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future – a fitting moment to stop and reflect on Mr Ellidge’s firsthand experiences with the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup program.
In line with this year’s theme, Power Community Limited’s Head of Programs, Braedon Talbot reflected on the growth of the program over 18 years and the focus for the future.
“We’ve had more than 6,500 students take part in the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup program over the past 18 years, and this year marked our biggest to date with almost 700 students across the South Australia and the Northen Territory,” Mr Talbot said.
“As we look to the future, we remain committed to providing equal opportunity for as many First Nations students as possible.
“We’ve piloted the program in the Northern Territory with 28 students in 2025. It’s been so successful that the remote school in Wadeye will implement a Stage 1 subject for the first time in five years.
“They’ll also rebuild their secondary schooling around the Power Cup curriculum which is a very strong indication of the impact the program can have on students.
“Expansion and access for remote communities will continue to be a focus for us as we look to continue to drive educational outcomes for as many First Nations students as possible.”