Meet Paige Morris. She’s a Year 12 student participating in her first year of the Empowering Youth program through Harbour View Campus, an external campus of Ocean View College in Taperoo.

The program, conducted over two semesters, encourages students to re-engage with their education and achieve their SACE.

As part of the Empowering Youth program, Paige undertook lessons in leadership and respect, motivation and time management, goal setting and positive decision-making, body image and self-esteem, as well as physical and mental health. 

Students were also offered tickets to a Port Adelaide football game, which presented Paige with the opportunity to step out of her comfort zone.

Jake Battifuoco, Power Community Ltd’s senior programs coordinator congratulated Paige on being a valuable contributor and applying the skills she learned throughout the program to her daily life.

“It has been rewarding to watch her grow and develop over the program, especially with her confidence and self-belief,” Jake says.

“She should be very proud of what she has achieved this semester and we look forward to continue working with her.”

Paige said the Empowering Youth program has given her confidence and a new lease on completing her education.

“Learning about body image and self-esteem really put a lot of things in perspective to me and made me want to change how I saw myself.

"Being able to get to know not only my class mates better but to understand myself better has been a big opportunity for me.

“When I started the program I had a goal in mind to get my Certificate III in June and I nearly gave up on that, but coming here every week and doing something different has given me a new outlook on completing my SACE."