Football Victoria’s Karen Pearce: “The reality of record ticket sales allows us to break the social and cultural barriers”

Karen Pearce

Football Victoria recently held their Community in Business (CIB) event which saw women’s football and the World Cup as topics of discussion from representatives in the game.

The latest edition of the state’s burgeoning football industry provided an opportunity for Karen Pearce, Executive Manager of Growth and Inclusion at Football Victoria, to speak about the social and cultural barriers of co-hosting the upcoming World Cup, mentioning the generous support from the Victorian Government, as well as everyone else involved for providing and contributing to the opening of the Home of the Matildas facility.

The Home of Matildas at La Trobe University serves as a major step for growth in football in the country.

“We remain indebted to the Victorian Government for their generous contribution to making this vision a reality, the Federal Government, Latrobe University, Football Australia and all the individuals involved for allowing us to provide such an incredible facility for all of us to enjoy,” Karen Pearce said.

“This state-of-the-art precinct will change perceptions and accelerate profile and development for women’s and girl’s football by welcoming, inspiring and enabling our women and girls to know that they are strong, capable, worthy, determined and resilient are traits that can lead them to pursue any dream they aspire to.

“Less than two weeks until the Women’s World Cup where a record 32 qualified nations will compete for glory, where the reality of record ticket sales allows us to break the social and cultural barriers, where the worlds best teams will showcase their athleticism, grit and determination to strive to become the number one in the world, where the eyes of the world will be firmly focused on what playing like a girl does mean.”

Football Victoria still maintains the lofty goal of achieving 50/50 gender balance by 2027. Pearce praised the clubs who are doing their bit to make this possible.

“To our clubs who are tackling entrenched inequality through programs such as Change Makers and Club Changer and committed to creating a new norm, we thank you,” she said.

“The Women’s World Cup celebrates the power of women and that equity is not just a dream, but normalising it can be a reality.”

Football Australia Chairman Chris Nikou was the main who back in 2018 decided that this country is worthy of launching a bid for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. As a CIB guest, Nikou quickly spoke about what happens to Victorian and Australian football and if the Matildas do go all the way and win the competition.

“We have had great progress in the infrastructure but there’s more to be done – we really need to ride the wave from a physical infrastructure and participation perspective,” he said.

“There are opportunities for everyone, boys and girls, men and women, and all aspects whether it’s an administrator, player, coach or whatever you desire to do, we need to create pathways for people to achieve those outcomes.”

The Matildas commence their campaign on the opening day of the tournament, July 20, at Stadium Australia commencing 8pm.

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Australia’s Urban Sporting Landscape changing with smart surfaces

At the National Sports & Physical Activity Convention (NSC25) innovations in synthetic, natural, acrylic, and hybrid sports surfaces will be central in response to tackling pressing environmental and health concerns.

The convention is set to kick off on June 25-26, 2025 at Melbourne’s Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The event is dedicated to Sports Surfaces and it highlights it will showcase how cutting-edge surface technologies are revolutionising public spaces, creating durable, safe, inclusive and sustainable environments that get communities moving.

Some innovations on show include Polytan, which has unveiled eco-friendly long pile turf solutions engineered for intensive use whilst slashing environmental impact through sugar cane-based polymers rather than traditional petroleum derivatives.

Hybrid systems such as POWERgrass’s approach combine natural grass with synthetic reinforcement, delivering enhanced traction, comfort, and can withstand up to 30 hours of weekly play.

Meanwhile, acrylic surfaces versatility allows multiple sports to share the same surface with exceptional durability, making them perfect for pocket parks.

Despite their advantages, synthetic surfaces face scrutiny over environmental and health implications, particularly concerning microplastics and heat retention.

The NSW Chief Scientist’s comprehensive report identified critical knowledge gaps, sparking industry-wide moves toward alternative materials.

Martin Sheppard, Managing Director of Smart Connection Consultancy and author of the ‘Smart Guide to Synthetic Sports Fields,’ emphasises the importance of evidence-based decision making.

“These surfaces will address common perceptions and challenges associated with synthetic surfaces, providing evidence-based insights into player safety, environmental impacts, and surface playability,” Sheppard explained via National Sports and physical activity convention media release.

NSC25’s keynote presentation, ‘Designing Active Urban Places,’ will explore comprehensive strategies for future-proofing cities to promote healthy, active lifestyles.

The session features Kristen Clark from the Heart Foundation, who will unveil the fourth edition of the ‘Blueprint for an Active Australia,’ alongside Professor John Cairney from the University of Queensland, discussing movement-friendly urban design principles.

The convention’s PitchFEST session will showcase practical innovations including acrylic pocket parks, multi-sport surface designs and environmentally conscious long pile turf solutions.

These initiatives address a concerning reality: only 17 per cent of Australian youth currently meet recommended physical activity guidelines.

The focus on creating opportunities for youth recreation and unstructured play reflects growing recognition that accessible, well-designed sporting infrastructure plays a crucial role in community health outcomes.

Through collaboration between government agencies, industry leaders and community stakeholders Australia is becoming a world leader in building healthier, more active communities whilst maintaining environmental stewardship.

As urban density continues to reshape our cities, these surface innovations offer hope that every Australian can access quality sporting facilities, regardless of where they call home.

AI and Tech Transforming Australian Community Sport

Community sport across Australia is undergoing rapid change, driven by artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and emerging technologies.

These innovations are changing the way community and school sports operate, connect with people, and foster more inclusive, efficient, and vibrant sporting environments nationwide.

Martin Sheppard, CEO of the National Sports & Physical Activity Convention, highlighted the magnitude of this change.

“We’re witnessing a game-changing moment where technology is not just supporting sport – it’s redefining it. From grassroots to schools, digital solutions are enabling smarter operations, deeper engagement, and more inclusive environments. At this year’s Convention, we’re bringing together the pioneers of this transformation to ensure every club, school, and community can benefit,” he said via press release.

As outlined by the ASTN, the sports technology sector in Australia is now a well-established industry worth $4.69 billion, featuring over 765 active businesses.

This development shows a strong national push to utilise innovation to solve problems, boost efficiency, and grow opportunities across community sport.

At the forefront of this transformation is the AI, Digital & Sports Tech stream at the 2025 National Sports & Physical Activity Convention (NSC), set for June 25-26 in Melbourne.

Highlighting innovations from AI-driven analytics to mobile apps and immersive virtual tools, this stream will explore how technology is reshaping community sport.

Griffith University researchers in Queensland, collaborating with VALD from Brisbane, developed a rapid test that identifies high ACL injury risk in athletes within 10 minutes, supporting coaches to implement personalised prevention.

NSC’s AI, Digital & Sports Tech stream will highlight visionary ideas and key figures shaping sport’s future.

The Impact Keynote session, ‘Embracing Technology to Impact Sport’, will feature Dawid Naude, CEO of Pathfindr.ai, and Andrew Walton, Managing Director of Sports Tech World Series, discussing how AI and machine learning empower clubs to optimise their operations and enrich member engagement.

Afterwards, the ‘Embracing AI to Be More Inclusive’ panel will consider how commercial technologies from around the world are being applied to grassroots levels, featuring insights from Martin Schlegel (ASTN), Yasmin London (Qoria), and Brent Richardson (Enrichd Group).

To learn more about the National Sports & Physical Activity Convention and the AI, Digital & Sports Tech stream, click here.

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