Football Australia launches new #EQUALISER campaign

Staff Writer

Football Australia today launched the #EQUALISER campaign, an initiative supporting the ‘Community Facilities’ Pillar of its Legacy 23’ Plan, to deliver adequate female-friendly facilities across the country.

It comes after a new Football Australia survey of its registered participants revealed that 65% of respondents said political commitments to fund improved football facilities in their community would influence their vote at the upcoming Federal Election.

Football is flourishing across Australia with more than two million participants and, in just over a year, more than one billion fans worldwide will be watching as Australia and New Zealand host the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023TM.

More than 6,000 people responded to the survey. Nearly two-thirds of all respondents said commitments to improve local facilities in their region, or at their club, would favourably influence their vote.

Further, as little as 8% of respondents also believe football actually receives a fair-share of government funding, compared to other sports.

A new Football Australia report has revealed that only 35% of football facilities across Australia are currently categorised as being female-friendly or gender-neutral.

To shine a spotlight on the urgent need for female-friendly facilities, and to celebrate where progress is being made, Football Australia, in partnership with its State and Territory Member Federations, has established the #EQUALISER campaign.

Several Ambassadors have joined the #EQUALISER team to advocate for change, including Stephanie Brantz and Tara Rushton.

James Johnson, Football Australia CEO explains:

“We are determined to be the centre of women’s football in the Asia-Pacific region and have achieved some significant milestones in the ‘High Performance’ and ‘Participation’ Pillars of our Legacy 23’ Plan since its launch in February 2021,” he said.

“The #EQUALISER campaign has the capacity to change female football across the nation in the lead up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023TM. Female-friendly facilities are not a privilege, they are a basic and fundamental need in offering women and girls a safe and comfortable environment in which to prepare for and recover from their sporting endeavours.

“With an anticipated 400,000 new women and girl’s targeted to play football over the next 5 years, Football Australia and the wider football community are highlighting a genuine need and looking to all governments to deliver an #EQUALISER for female football.”

The goal of #EQUALISER is for all football facilities to be equal, promoting equivalent services and access. Facilities will need to meet a minimum criterion defined by Football Australia and verified through an annual national facilities audit. Each facility will then be assigned an appropriate level of accreditation.

For the past five years, the participation of women and girls in football has been experiencing double-digit growth every year. Global experience and past trends show that by hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023TM will turbo-charge female participation in Australia. This aligns with Football Australia’s gender parity target of equal playing numbers by 2027, which in reality means the current infrastructure needs to have the capacity and capability to provide for another 400,000 new female players leading into and post the event.

Football Australia and the Member Federations have developed a list of facilities across electorates which are in urgent need of upgrades.

With the Federal Election imminent, Football Australia is calling on all sides of politics to deliver funding commitments to assist #EQUALISER in achieving its goal.

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Football QLD to team up with Restore Function Physiotherapy

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DedovStock / Shutterstock

Football Queensland announced last week it will be partnering with Restore Function Physiotherapy in a multi-year collaboration.

Elite preparation and performance

By establishing a long-term partnership with a business dedicated to supporting athletes in the region, Football Queensland are showing their commitment to supporting current and future players in their physical preparation.

Furthermore, by ensuring injuries are kept at bay through physiotherapy, strength and conditioning services, Restore Function Physiotherapy will help Football Queensland to keep their most talented players fit and firing throughout the season.

Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci, expressed his delight at establishing the alliance and what it means for Football Queensland’s football development going forward.

“Our partnership with Restore Function Physiotherapy is a key step in continuing to raise the standard of FQ Academy and State Team programs,” Cavallucci said via press release.

“Restore Function Physiotherapy will deliver a range of services across our boys’ and girls’ pathways, including training and match coverage, injury screening, rehabilitation and high performance support,” he continued.

“The experience everyone at Restore Function Physiotherapy bring from elite sport will help to further professionalise our programs and support the long-term development and wellbeing of Queensland players.”

 

Supporting long-term development

As Football Queensland looks to build a sustainable footballing future across the region, prioritising players’ health will be essential. With training partners like Restore Function Physiotherapy, clubs can help their players become elite athletes, ultimately improving the footballing standards on the pitch.

Restore Function Physiotherapy Owner and Founder, Miranda O’Hara, revealed her pride at having established an alliance with Football QLD for the upcoming season and beyond.

“We’re proud to partner with Football Queensland and support its Academy and State Team players with high quality, evidence-based physiotherapy and high performance programs,” O’Hara said via press release.

“Our role is to work closely with players and staff to deliver injury prevention, rehabilitation and S&C programs that support sustainable high performance and long-term athlete development.”

It is clear that the impact of a partnership between Football QLD and Restore Function Physiotherapy goes far beyond a mere commercial venture. It is an alliance which can help a local business, as well as nurture future talents coming through the Football QLD system.

Ultimately, by providing Queensland players with elite training and support networks, a distinct culture of excellence and professionalism is created before they step onto the pitch.

 

Read more about Restore Function Physiotherapy and the services they provide here.

 

Is the FW Regional Girls Training Camp bridging the access gap for talent?

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Image Credit: Football West

In Western Australia, the tyranny of distance has historically functioned as the primary barrier to talent identification.

For regional footballers, the logistical and financial burden of accessing elite pathways often renders the concept of “equal opportunity” a theoretical ideal rather than an operational reality. However, the recent Regional Girls Training Camp, hosted at the Sam Kerr Football Centre, suggests that Football West is moving to operationalise the structural changes announced in its 2026 academy overhaul.

Earlier this week, nearly 100 players aged 10 to 17 converged on the State Centre for Football in Cannington. The three-day camp invited participants from the previous year’s Country Week carnival, represents the first tangible application of the “real-match” and high-performance philosophy outlined by Football West Development Manager Gareth Naven late last year.

While the previous announcement of the Regional Academy model focused on the structural shift from training camps to competitive “State Carnivals,” this current initiative addresses the resource gap. For stakeholders and policymakers, the camp serves as a case study in how centralised infrastructure assets can be leveraged to service a decentralised demographic.

Infrastructure as an equity lever

A lack of high-performance environments defines the economic reality of regional football. The facility gap between metro NPL setups and regional clubs is often vast. Football West uses the Sam Kerr Football Centre to subsidise the “professional experience” for regional talent.

Sarah Carroll, Female Football & Advocacy Manager, notes the purpose extends beyond simple engagement. The curriculum fused on-pitch technical training with athlete development workshops.

Geography usually blocks access to this sport science for a 14-year-old Pilbara or Goldfields player. By centralising this education, the governing body helps standardise the player pool’s knowledge base. Naven’s alignment strategy demands closing the “knowledge gap” alongside the technical one.

The economics of the “Legacy”

Critically, the WA Government funds the camp through the Female Community Legacy Program. This highlights the Legacy Program’s ROI for the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

A stated aim to “enhance club capability” acknowledges that player development requires an ecosystem. The funding mechanism here is significant. Without state intervention, the cost per head would prohibit many families from attending.

Targeted funding bridges the gap between community participation and elite commercial viability. Regional Lead Tanya Amazzini calls these opportunities “essential” for player growth and confidence.

Strategic alignment with the 2026 pathway

Observers must view this camp alongside the Regional Academy system overhaul. The new “State Carnival” model demands players physically prepared for elite competition. This camp functions as the preparatory phase for that new competitive reality.

Football West uses elite exposure to mitigate the shock of transitioning to state programs. Furthermore, involving players from the Pilbara to the South West keeps the talent net wide. Maintaining sight on remote talent requires constant investment.

The residual challenge

However, the long-term impact warrants caution. The “re-entry” phase remains the primary challenge. Players return to clubs with significantly fewer resources than the Sam Kerr Football Centre.

Success depends on the “trickle-down” effect of the education provided. If players transfer this knowledge locally, the aggregate standard of regional football rises. If isolated, the experience may simply make the regional gap feel more pronounced.

Integrating 100 regional girls into the state’s premier facility executes the strategic plan. It signals that the Centre delivers dividends to the broader ecosystem, not just the elite.

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