CommBank and Football Australia are extending their fruitful partnership in the form of a new community fund that aims to increase participation in women’s football across the country.
The Growing Football Fund will provide millions of dollars to help invigorate grassroots football in Australia, pledging to attract and retain 50,000 female participants over two years through the fund.
With grant recipients to be announced in February 2024, we will soon see the continuation of a legacy that the FIFA Women’s World Cup is creating.
A key part of this pledge is the provision of high-quality resources for coaches in the women’s game, ensuring that players can thrive in an inclusive and sustainable football environment.
This includes a dedicated online “coaches hub”, that will provide coaches with scholarships, resources, technical training, and state-based networking.
A key pillar of this fund, Football Australia Head of Women’s Football, Women’s World Cup Legacy & Inclusion, Sarah Walsh, believes the timing of the launch is crucial, given the high-point women’s football is experiencing in Australia right now.
“This important initiative will provide hundreds of community clubs across the country with access to funding to ensure that together we maximise the interest off the back of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023,” Walsh stated.
“Critical to sustainable growth in participation is support for our coaches of women and girls, to create greater accessibility to training, more pathways and ongoing support to foster a positive environment where all players can thrive.”
Commonwealth Bank Group Executive of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Monique Macleod, shared Walsh’s enthusiasm for the fund.
“As major supporters of women’s sport, we are delighted to extend our partnership with Football Australia with the launch of the Growing Football Fund which will help change the game in Australia,” Macleod added via media release.
“Grassroots sport empowers communities – it is where children grow up, family and friends come together, and dreams are realised. This should be strengthened and preserved for future generations.”
Further to this, Matildas Captain and CommBank Ambassador Sam Kerr believes the fund will play a crucial role in empowering women in football.
“We have seen what is possible when you invest in women and girls and provide them with the opportunity to fulfill their potential. We want this transformative experience for women and girls at all levels of football.”
With women’s football in Australia experiencing a boom like no other, the launch of the Growing Football Fund is an exciting moment that will help preserve and grow football to new, unprecedented levels.
