Football Queensland’s Paula Robinson appointed as QAS chair

Liam Watson

Football Queensland’s newly-elected Board Director Paula Robinson has been appointed as Chair of the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS).

Established in May 1991, the QAS are a Queensland Government initiative which supports both elite and developing athletes in the state.

“On behalf of Football Queensland I’d like to congratulate Paula Robinson on her appointment as Chair of the Queensland Academy of Sport,” Football Queensland President Ben Richardson said.

“Our most recently elected Board Director, Paula is a leading sports lawyer who has worked on major sporting events including the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 Invictus Games.

“Not only is Paula highly credentialed, but she is also well respected amongst members of the Queensland sporting community, and her appointment as Chair of the QAS is fantastic news for sport in our state and credit to her achievements in her field.

“Football Queensland maintains a strong relationship with the Queensland Academy of Sport, offering a full-time training and playing program for the state’s most promising young female players with the support of the QAS.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Queensland Academy of Sport to develop elite talent from around the state in the years to come.”

Robinson was elected to Football Queensland’s Board of Directors on July 29, alongside the re-election of Richardson.

Robinson has added a wealth of experience as an award-winning lawyer with over a decade’s worth of work in that field, while she also has 13 years’ experience in areas such as executive management, marketing and business development.

Upon arriving at Football Queensland, her other roles included being Executive Director of boutique legal and corporate services firm Ailier Pty Ltd and the Vice President of Tennis Queensland.

“I’m delighted to be elected to the Football Queensland Board of Directors and look forward to joining an organisation that is committed to growing football across the state, and providing opportunities for everyone to be part of the game,” Robinson said when joining Football Queensland.

Football Queensland’s Board of Directors features Robinson, Glenn Smith, Tony Davis, Jon McKain, Jackie Knight and Amy Chapman – headed by Richardson as President.

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Blacktown District Soccer Football Association Launches Youth League and Poaching Program

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Blacktown District Soccer Football Association has outlined a package of initiatives for the 2026 season centred on youth development, coach education and the celebration of female participation, as the Western Sydney association moves to raise standards across community football and strengthen pathways into state-level competition.

The centrepiece of the association’s development agenda is the Blacktown Youth Development League, a new competition structure spanning all youth Division One competitions in the Under-13 to Under-18 age groups, including Phoenix League female competitions involving both BDSFA and GDSFA clubs. The league applies a benchmarking framework adapted from Football NSW‘s junior competition standards, with clubs encouraged to implement structured training environments including a minimum of two sessions per week where possible.

BDSFA General Manager Owen Liiv said the initiative responded to clear demand from within the football community for more substantive development environments.

“It is pretty clear that people want more and better football experiences,” Liiv said. “The measure for us is high-quality youth football competitions within Blacktown and ultimately, stronger performances in state-wide competitions such as the Football NSW State Cup or Football NSW Champion of Champions.”

The referees branch will support the league by prioritising Division One fixtures and providing three-person match control where available, an operational commitment that acknowledges the role officiating quality plays in the overall development environment.

The Managerial Infrastructure

Running alongside the youth competition is a free coach education program, with Foundation of Football courses delivered across BDSFA’s 24 member clubs by permanent association staff. With more than 1,000 registered coaches across the district, BDSFA has set a target of 85 percent achieving Foundation of Football accreditation within three years. Removing cost as a barrier to accreditation is a deliberate structural choice, reflecting growing recognition across Australian football that coaching quality at community level is inseparable from participation outcomes.

The association also launched Female Football Week with a “Cocktails on the Pitch” event at Blacktown Football Park, attended by close to 100 players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers. Former Matilda Leah Blayney addressed the gathering, speaking about her pathway from Wentworth Falls to international football. BDSFA has indicated the event is likely to become an annual fixture on the association calendar.

Taken together, the initiatives reflect an association investing deliberately in the structural conditions that determine whether community football grows sustainably rather than opportunistically.

Isabella Mossin awarded Ninja A-League Women Referee of the Year

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Image credit: Football NSW

The youngest recipient since its inception, Mossin will officially receive the award after leading the Ninja A-League Grand Final 2026 on Saturday.

 

A rapid rise

After debuting in 2023, Mossin has quickly proved quality, composure and confidence as a referee in the Ninja A-League.

As a result of the achievement, Mossin will be the appointed referee for this weekend’s Grand Final between Melbourne City FC and Wellington Phoenix.

After beginning in the North West Sydney Football Association, Mossin then honed her craft with the Football NSW Referee Academy, a journey with foundations truly embedded in youth development and grassroots football.

Thus, Mossin is not just am individual success story, but a symbol of what institutional investment and opportunities can do for young women looking for a pathway to the game.

 

Celebrating success

The plaudits, unsurprisngly, are arriving from across Australia’s football landscape, with many emphasising the incredible standards set by Mossin since her debut just three years ago.

“This award is testament to Isabella’s hard work and dedication to refereeing, and a great reflection of the next generation of referees coming through the system in Australia,” said A-Leagues CEO, Steve Rosich.

“At just 25 years of age, she has consistently demonstrated composure, leadership, strong decision-making and the ability to perform under pressure in some of the biggest matches in the competition,” highlighted Football Australia Head of Referees, Jon Moss.

“Having someone refereeing their first Ninja A-league Women’s Grand Final at the age of 25 years should inspire all girls and young women referees (and potential referees) and show them that age is not a barrier to talent being recognised within Football Australia refereeing,” said Chair of Football Australia Referee Committee, David Elleray.

Given Mossin’s reputation and experience already at the top level of women’s football in Australia, there is no doubt that she will rise to the occasion this Saturday.

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