Northern NSW Football have officially unveiled their Sports Business Partners’ Future of Football Review Final Report and Recommendations for 2022 and beyond.
The final report reflects 10 months of comprehensive consultation with member zones, standing committees, clubs, volunteers, coaches, referees, players and staff.
Member zones, standing committee chairs and elected representatives of NNSWF Northern Inland have all received the final report for response.
The final report has also been distributed to peak sporting bodies including Football Australia, Sport Australia and NSW Office of Sport.
“Today is an important milestone and one step closer to a future with more tangible support for clubs, volunteers, coaches, referees and players,” Northern NSW Football CEO David Eland said in a statement via NNSWF.
“This implementation plan positions clubs as the agents of change. The speed at which reform occurs will ultimately be determined by clubs. NNSWF is committed to investing in the plan and building the trust and credibility required to drive change which benefits all stakeholders.”
In October 2021 NNSWF commenced a comprehensive review into the effectiveness and efficiency of the governance and administration structures which underpin the game in our region.
The review responds to Northern NSW Football’s strategic priority to lead change and improve governance throughout football to gain efficiencies which make the game better and more accessible.
The process aligns to Principle VII of Football Australia’s XI Principles for the Future of Australian Football.
Principle VII identifies transitioning towards a modern, fit for purpose governance framework for football in line with global standards and best-practice sports governance in Australia as one of the key challenges facing the game.
NNSWF’s board of directors have endorsed the final report and its recommendations, with the report to remain with members for response over the next two weeks before being released to clubs and other stakeholders.
Northern NSW Football Chair Helene O’Neill believes the recommendations will be a much-needed boost for community clubs and volunteers.
“This process has been about listening to the concerns, needs and wants of a wide range of stakeholders across our member federation,” O’Neill said via NNSWF.
“We know there are opportunities to do things better and we want to do this together with clubs and colleagues in member zones. This report is the blueprint to do it.”
Members will have two weeks to consider the recommendations and provide a response.
Following this, the final report and recommendations will be released to clubs including invitations to attend club information sessions.
