July 20 next year will mark the opening match of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at Auckland’s Eden Park. Moreover, it will signify the beginning of a historic footballing tournament held by two nations yet to fully realise their potential with the sport on and off the pitch.
The development of facilities and infrastructure that serve to suffice the ever-growing population base and football participation rates within Australia (and New Zealand) is one thing. But to construct amenities with one eye on contributing to a progressive and inclusive Australia that encourages greater overall growth is an entirely separate concern that deserves to be prioritised.
The year leading into the Women’s World Cup will undoubtedly serve as a pivotal stretch in the collective Australian sporting psyche, and capitalising effectively on such an influential period is what Football Australia has endeavoured to do with the launch of its #EQUALISER campaign.
#EQUALISER is an initiative supporting the ‘Community Facilities’ Pillar of its Legacy 23’ Plan, with the sole purpose of delivering adequate female-friendly facilities across the country.
In a time where significant attention is being paid to the necessity of equal pay between men’s and women’s national teams – with the Socceroos and Matildas achieving an equal pay deal in 2019 and the US national teams following suit just last month – the spotlight on women’s football is bigger than it’s ever been. And subsequently, the need to sustainably nurture and foster female football participants presents itself accordingly as being crucial to the growth of the women’s game, something which can be achieved through investment into facilities and infrastructure.
As an Australian football fan, it can be mystifying to see various strategies and prospective plans announced with the intention of leading football to greater heights come and go, which often leaves us pondering how and when they are going to come to fruition. Perhaps it is due to the seemingly ever diminishing state of Australian football media coverage that these plans don’t receive the attention they deserve; the reality is however that these strategies take time to implement and to see the fruits of their labour.
Pertinently though, Football Australia’s #EQUALISER campaign has already proven to be a success.
Having conducted a survey which received more than 6,000 individual responses, Football Australia revealed in their announcement of their #EQUALISER campaign that as little as 8% of respondents believe football actually receives a fair-share of government funding, compared to other sports.
In addition, 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.
In the recent Federal Budget, the Government emphasised the importance of maximising the social, economic and sporting outcomes of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 – the single largest women’s sporting event in the world with an estimated one billion viewers set to tune in – and the unique opportunity it presents to influence substantial legacy initiatives.
Furthermore, the Australian Federal Government has announced an investment of $3.1 million over two years to encourage greater participation of women and girls in football, to expand the MiniRoos for Girls Program (for girls aged 6-12 years) and the Girls 12+ Football Your Way Engagement Experience Program.
The funding forms part of Football Australia’s ambitious Legacy ’23 plan to deliver enduring benefits as a result of co-hosting the Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023, including gender parity by 2027, which would see an additional 400,000 female participants.
Early steps are already being taken, with Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) set to welcome nine promised infrastructure upgrades from the Labor Government following the party’s win at the Federal election.
Namely, Dudley United Senior FC is set to receive $320,000 for gender neutral amenities upgrade, disability access and toilets, whilst Garden Suburbs FC will see $400,000 put towards female friendly changerooms. These commitments are a direct result of NNSWF’s strategy to lobby Federal MPs as part of its key strategic priority of Places to Play, as well as the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Legacy plan.
Within Football NSW, the sport will receive a $10 million boost from the NSW Government as a legacy of hosting matches in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Separate to this, Ryadalmere Lions FC have received $3 million for improved facilities and new female changing rooms.
In addition, the NSW Football Legacy Program will support football at all levels through the construction of new community facilities, participation initiatives, high performance, leadership and development programs as well as tourism and international engagement. With Football NSW also recently celebrating their biggest Female Football Week yet, it’s evident that the buy-in is there from aspiring female footballers.
To adequately build on hosting what is set to be the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup, Football Australia must continue to deliver on their word and on the projected plans of the #EQUALISER campaign.
