South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy- (SAASTA) Shield 2025

On Monday 8th September to Wednesday 10th September, Farley O’Brien represented Gladstone High School as part of the Port Pirie SAASTA Academy at the annual SAASTA Shield in Adelaide.

The SAASTA Shield is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait learners and participate in a two-day sports carnival.

Each year the sports changes and this year the learners had a chance to play touch football. Like the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait learners build points across the semester and compete in a round robin tournament. The overall winners are the two academies who finish with the highest combined points across the semester, including points earned at the carnival.

For the first time, our Year 12 learners had an opportunity and attended a gala celebration at the newly built Yitpi Yartapuultiku in Port Adelaide, recognising their commitment and achievements in SAASTA over the past few years.

Overall, the Shield was an excellent opportunity for our learners to challenge themselves, try new experiences, and celebrate their achievements with other mobs.

All our Aboriginal learners had a fantastic time and represented the Port Pirie Academy with pride.

Judy Crosby