Launched to mark the International Day of the Girl and aligned with its theme, “Girls’ vision for the future,” the five-part “Talia takes on… Play Unstoppable Mentorship” series expands on LEGO’s “PLAY UNSTOPPABLE” campaign, highlighting the endless opportunities for girls when they can play freely.
This digital series, created by the award-winning production company Visual Domain, highlights opportunities for girls in Australian football, narrated through the voice and perspective of 15-year-old Talia Younis, a midfielder for the CommBank Junior Matildas and Western Sydney Wanderers FC.
Released over 15 days, each episode follows Talia as she engages with and receives mentorship from women in various roles within football, including:
- Administration – featuring Alyssar Narey, the only female CEO in the A-Leagues.
- Medical – with insight from CommBank Junior Matildas’ physiotherapist, Dr. Stella Veith.
- Media – in partnership with sports and lifestyle photographer Kelsey Zafiridis.
- Coaching – alongside Zainab Jaber, head coach for community girls’ football.
- Refereeing – mentored by Football NSW community referee Chloe Gray.
Each mentor shares her personal journey, offering Talia and the audience a deeper understanding of her career path and unique role within the game.
Girls are given the resources to begin their own football journey through online materials available on the OUR GAME website and social media, along with the chance for schools to host visits from the OUR GAME mentors for in-school sessions.
Talia Younis shared that the Play Unstoppable Mentorship provided valuable insight into the work of thousands of women who contribute to football each week, while also exploring her own journey beyond the field.
“As a player, you don’t always get the chance to see first-hand the incredible work so many people do that allows us to play the game we love,” she said via press release.
“Alyssar, Stella, Kelsey, Zainab and Chloe have shown me that there are so many more ways that I can be part of football beyond the pitch.
“From my experience during this Play Unstoppable Mentorship, I want girls to know that anything is possible for us in football. That we can be whatever we want to be with so many strong women leading the way as they make football better every day for girls like me.”
Although the number of women and girls playing football in Australia increased by 20% over the past year, women continue to lag behind in off-field roles within the sports industry, both in Australia and worldwide.
Justine McKenny, Senior Director and Head of Marketing for LEGO Australia and NZ, stated that highlighting these off-field roles is essential for empowering girls and expanding their vision for the future.
“The LEGO Group has been dedicated to inspiring and developing the builders of tomorrow through play for over 90 years and we know that the skills developed through LEGO play are equally relevant to all children,” she said via press release.
“We’re excited to partner with Football Australia to help champion and stand up for girls’ creativity. Through the new OUR GAME content series, we hope to inspire and empower girls to explore the transformative impact of their creativity both on and off field.”
It will be widely promoted through digital channels and PR, utilising the strength of the women’s sports fanbase. The series will be available on Football Australia’s Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X accounts, with the first episode launching on October 11 and the final episode airing on October 25, 2024.
