The international expansion reflects the club’s long-standing commitment to the ADF. Image: PAFC.

Port Adelaide’s charity arm, Power Community Limited (PCL), is set to take its Power to Thrive program international - delivering it for the third time in Penang, Malaysia, to support the children of Australian Defence Force (ADF) families living overseas.  

The initiative was first implemented by the club’s not-for-profit in 2017 and then again in 2019, with PCL returning in mid-October supported by funding from the Department for Defence. 

The international expansion reflects the club’s long-standing commitment to the ADF and to meaningful community engagement beyond Australian borders. 

It also reinforces Port Adelaide’s year-round connection with current and former ADF members, extending far beyond the club’s annual hosting of ANZAC Round during the AFL season. 

The Power to Thrive program aims to support the children of Australian Defence Force families living overseas. Image: PAFC.

Joining the PCL team in Penang will be Port Adelaide defender Esava Ratugolea, who will help deliver the program to children from ADF families based at RMAF Base Butterworth, located on Malaysia’s northwest coast. 

Drawing on tools and lessons adapted from Port Adelaide’s high-performance environment, the Power to Thrive program helps foster a sense of identity, connection, and resilience among children who often live away from traditional support networks and move homes and schools regularly. 

The international delivery in Penang will include interactive sessions led by PCL facilitators, football clinics, and community activities designed to encourage teamwork, resilience, inclusion, while providing an important platform for connection.  

Ratugolea will also share his lived experience with the children having moved from remote Victoria to Geelong and then Adelaide to pursue his AFL career, with each experience requiring him to form new support networks away from his family and friends on two occasions. 

PCL will also deliver three standalone events, including an AFL clinic, to engage families, spouses, and ADF personnel across a one-week period.   

The international delivery in Penang will include interactive sessions led by PCL facilitators, football clinics, and community activities. Image: PAFC.

General Manager of Power Community Limited, Jake Battifuoco, said taking the program abroad was an important reflection of the club’s dedication to the ADF.  

“Power to Thrive is about giving kids the tools to feel confident, connected, and supported, no matter where they are in the world,” Mr Battifuoco said. 

“We know that for many ADF children and families, living overseas can bring both exciting opportunities and unique challenges.  

“We’re proud to be able to bring a little piece of the Port Adelaide community to them and help build a sense of belonging through the power of sport.  

“I’d like to thank the Department of Defence for their support in allowing us to make this expansion possible, and we look forward to building on this partnership in years to come.”