The program aims to improve outcome for young Aboriginal men and women through a closer partnership between clubs and communities.

The Adelaide Crows have chosen the APY Lands in South Australia’s far north, while the most well known example is Essendon’s ties with the Tiwi Islands.

Former Port Power captain Gavin Wanganeen came to Ceduna on Thursday to launch the partnership and the Aboriginal Power Cup, which the South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy (SAASTA) at Ceduna Area School will be participating in again this year.

SAASTA encourages local boys and girls to stay in school until Year 12 through their interest in football.

Mr Wanganeen, who is also the state’s Ambassador for Youth Opportunity, said not everyone could make it to AFL level, so it was important they had an education to back them up.

“The better your schooling is the better opportunity you’ll have to have a career for yourselves,” he said.

“Stick at your schooling. I’d like to see many of you guys complete Year 12.

“That would be amazing.”

The final of the Aboriginal Power Cup will take place on August 29 at AAMI Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Port Power and North Melbourne clash.

To attend the cup, students have a 70 per cent attendance rate during the year.

Port Power community development coordinator Aaron Tuckfield said the fostership program would show local Aboriginal children what they could achieve, through meeting some of the seven indigenous Power players.

“It’s good for the youngsters to see their role models in person and face to face… I think by meeting them in person it’s a sense that they’re closer to what these players have achieved just by meeting them,” he said.

“It’s in the name ‘fostership’; it’s our club showing that it’s caring about the youths in these communities and helps them to achieve their goals, whatever they might be.

“What the Aboriginal Power Cup is helping them to achieve is Year 12. That will be one of the best things they do and if they’re involved in this program this helps them to stay.”