2021 Annual Report released by Football Queensland

Avatar
FQ

Following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Sunday, 12 June, Football Queensland has released their 2021 Annual Report.

The state’s governing football body was able to deliver a full season of football across all Queensland competitions in 2021 and reported a 41% growth in female participation, despite having to navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

FQ’s ongoing focus on referee support and development led to the introduction of a number of new initiatives throughout the year including the appointment of seven Referee Coach and Development Officers state-wide, resulting in significant growth particularly in the number of registered female referees which increased by 55%.

A record number of coach development courses and workshops were also delivered throughout 2021, including 19 new club development sessions, as FQ recorded a 21% increase in registered coaches across the state.

In a letter addressed to the state’s football community, FQ’s Chief Executive Officer Robert Cavallucci acknowledged the efforts and successes of those essential to the growth of the world game in the state.

“I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all members of our Queensland football community for your support throughout 2021,” Cavallucci stated.

“2021 was a particularly significant year for female football as we celebrated the centenary season of the women’s game. FQ was delighted to mark this special milestone with an event at the Gabba on the 100-year anniversary of Australia’s first public women’s match which was held right here in Queensland. The release of Football Queensland’s three-year Women and Girls Strategy titled ‘Unlocking The Legacy’ and the launch of the inaugural Kappa Women’s Super Cup tournament also coincided with centenary season celebrations.

“The year also marked a major milestone in the reform journey as we turned a focus to the implementation of the Future of Football 2020+ reforms following the release of the Recommendations Paper in March. In a momentous day for football in Queensland and representing another step towards the implementation of Football Australia’s ‘One Football’ model, the Future of Football 2020+ constitutional reforms were passed with overwhelming support in August.

“A brand new level of support was delivered to clubs and volunteers across the state in 2021 as we launched the highly regarded and well supported Club Support Hub which provided a single destination for clubs to access tailored guides and accompany webinars, retention and recruitment strategies and graphic design assistance.

“On behalf of Football Queensland I’d like to acknowledge the support of Football Australia and the Local and State Governments throughout 2021, a year which marked the eighth consecutive surplus for the organisation.

“Thank you also to the members of our football community across the entire state who contribute to our beautiful game both on and off the field; I look forward to seeing many of you around the grounds in the months to come.”

The full 2021 Annual Report can be downloaded here.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Pushing for First Nations representation in the game with Football Queensland’s Murri Cup

Avatar
Image Credit: Football Queensland

Football Queensland has announced the inaugural FQ Murri Cup, a two-day tournament celebrating First Nations cultures and showcasing Indigenous football talent from across Queensland, to be held at Nudgee Recreation Reserve on November 28 and 29.

The competition, developed in close consultation with Football Australia’s National Indigenous Advisory Group and Football Australia’s General Manager of First Nations Courtney Fewquandie, will feature a Coles MiniRoos activation, a Charles Perkins XI Talent ID session and a community stallholder zone alongside the on-field competition. Expressions of interest are open now for individuals and teams across the state.

More than a tournament

The launch arrives at a moment when the structural underrepresentation of First Nations Australians in organised sport, at the administrative, coaching, and pathway levels, is under sustained scrutiny. Football, like most codes, has historically failed to build the kind of community-embedded structures that make sustained Indigenous participation possible rather than incidental.

The FQ Murri Cup is a direct response to that gap. By centering First Nations culture within the competition itself, rather than treating it as supplementary to a standard football event, the tournament signals a shift in how the game positions Indigenous participation as a community with its own relationship to the sport that deserves its own platform.

The inclusion of a Talent ID session carries specific weight. Structured pathways into elite football have not always been accessible to players from regional and remote Indigenous communities, where geography, cost and cultural barriers compound one another. Embedding that opportunity within a culturally safe environment lowers the threshold at the point where it most frequently closes.

“The FQ Murri Cup will bring together First Nations players, families and communities for a two-day celebration, providing a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of First Nations participants within our game,” said Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci.Mu

QUT’s Future of Sport Conference to Shape the Next Era of Global Sport

Avatar
Image Credit: Queensland University of Technology

As Australia accelerates toward the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is set to host a landmark event that will bring together some of the brightest minds in sport, technology, and innovation.

The Future of Sport Conference 2026, taking place on March 27 at QUT’s Gardens Point campus in Brisbane, will unite international and Australian leaders to explore how research, technology, and cross-sector collaboration are redefining the global sporting landscape.

Held as a one-day flagship event, the conference represents a critical platform for dialogue across sport, government, academia, and industry. The aim is to collaborate for a shared vision of sport’s future in a rapidly evolving world.

Driving innovation ahead of Brisbane 2032

Positioned within the broader momentum of Brisbane’s Olympic decade, the conference will examine how emerging technologies and data-driven strategies are reshaping performance, fan engagement, and sporting infrastructure.

Delivered in collaboration with global partners including the MIT Sloan School of Management and supported by major industry stakeholders such as Cisco and PMY Group, the event highlights the increasing convergence between sport and advanced technology.

Key themes include:

  • Emerging sports technologies and performance analytics
  • Mental health and wellbeing in high-performance environments
  • The business of sport and sustainable futures
  • Inclusion and social impact through sport

These focus areas reflect a broader shift within the industry towards positioning sport as a driver of social change, economic growth, and community wellbeing, not just measuring its performance.

A global lineup of industry leaders

The conference will feature an impressive roster of speakers drawn from elite sport organisations, academia, and global technology firms.

International expertise will be complemented by leading Australian voices, including executives, high-performance specialists, and researchers shaping the future of sport both domestically and abroad.

Among them are figures working across professional sport, data science, and innovation, offering attendees rare insight into the trends and strategies defining the next decade.

Collaboration at the core

Beyond keynote presentations, the conference is designed to foster meaningful collaboration. An industry roundtable and networking opportunities will allow stakeholders to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and explore practical solutions to shared challenges.

From grassroots development to elite performance systems, the emphasis on collaboration reflects a growing recognition that the future of sport will be shaped not by isolated innovation, but by connected ecosystems.

Shaping sport’s future

As sport continues to intersect with technology, health, and society, events such as the Future of Sport Conference play a vital role in aligning vision with action.

By bringing together diverse perspectives, from athletes and academics to policymakers and industry leaders, QUT is positioning itself at the forefront of global sport innovation.

With Brisbane 2032 on the horizon, the conference offers a timely and influential platform to not only discuss the future of sport but actively shape it.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend