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YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS • JUNE/JULY 2016 PAGE
For 21 year-old Paige, traditional schooling was a daily
battle that she ultimately chose not to face.
“Due to medical issues and other problems in my life I
had no drive at school and often skipped classes,” she said.
In fact by the time she reached Year 10, school had
become unbearable for her. She felt she didn’t fit in –
so she left aged 16.
But with nothing else to go to, Paige said she was feeling
very down – and felt her life had no direction.
That is until she enrolled at Harbor View Campus in Port
Adelaide an external campus of Ocean View College in
Taperoo. Harbor View focusses on disengaged students and
doesn’t go by the traditional models of attendance. At this
school students are responsible for their own learning with
support from teachers and youth workers – a similar
model to university.
In an effort to help its students deal with their personal
challenges, the school takes part in the Port Adelaide
Football Club Empowering Youth Program – with
great results.
The six-month program is run by Port Adelaide Football
Club, with sponsorship from Medibank and Adelaide
Airport and additional funding from Port Adelaide Enfield
Council. It is implemented at Harbor View and other
schools to help students, like Paige, re-engage with their
education and achieve their Year 12 SACE.
Harbor View Teacher, Niki Pryke, helped get the
Empowering Youth program started and says it’s a
proven success.
“We do things differently and the outcomes have been
fantastic. Some of these disengaged young people had
completely given up on the education system but we’ve
seen them change their path in life as a result of the
program which allows them to learn in a way (that’s)
more suitable to them.”
Port Adelaide Football Club Community Development
Coordinator, Lisa Kennedy, said “In our classroom, lessons
are less formal than in regular school; this allows students
to be creative and express themselves whilst learning
through group work and discussion rather than textbooks.”
Alternate learning methods combine activities such as
football, with classroom sessions held at Alberton Oval.
“Classes cover practical life-skills including motivation,
goal setting, managing stress, improving confidence
and taking responsibility through good life choices,”
added Lisa.
Paige says the program has helped her to take control of
her life. “It has given me a big boost in confidence, self-
esteem and belief in myself, which has motivated me to get
an education instead of dropping out completely.
The return to school also prompted Paige to spend the past
two years volunteering at the Port Adelaide Library, where
she selects items for the home library service and helps out
with other tasks.
Paige hopes to achieve her Year 12 at the end of this year
and her volunteering has shown her a career path.
“Now I enjoy learning and want to achieve my SACE
then go on to further study to become a librarian.”
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield supports a wide range
of youth programs in our community. For more information
regarding youth programs, please contact us, on
8405 6600, or email
Port Adelaide empowering youth program
Empowering Youth Program participants