Northern NSW Football’s 2023-24 Talented Indigenous Scholarships a rewarding pathway

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NNSWF Talented Player Scholarship
Image via Northern NSW Football

Northern NSW Football recently announced that applications for the 2023-24 Northern NSW Football Talented Indigenous Scholarships are now open.

Having opened applications on November 24, the scholarships are designed to reduce barriers by supporting and increasing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players from across northern NSW in the player development pathway.

Four scholarships will be awarded to two male Indigenous players between the ages of 13 to 16 and two female Indigenous players aged 13 to 17.

Who is eligible to apply for the Scholarship?

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Players who are registered as a player within the national Play Football registration system and who intend to register in 2024.
  • Boys turning 13 – 16 in the 2024 calendar year
  • Girls turning 13 – 17 in the 2024 calendar year

Assessment Criteria:
Applications will be assessed on merit and scored against the following criteria:

  • Current registered player
  • Playing history
  • Technical assessment if deemed necessary by NNSWF’s Technical Department
  • Letter of Support from Regional Zone or Premier Club Technical Director that confirms a position in a Premier Competition Program has or will be offered to the applicant
  • Applicants from Football Far North Coast will be required to provide a Letter of Support from their Club Technical Director or NNSWF Technical Advisor-FFNC

NNSWF Female Participation and Inclusion Officer Natalie Boyd discussed the importance of Indigenous players to have a legitimate pathway towards their football journey.

“Each recipient will be role models for future generations of Indigenous players and will hopefully inspire others from their community,” Boyd said in a Northern NSW Football statement.

“We want to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players across football while creating more opportunities for them to engage in professional development. This is a chance to identify and showcase the next generation who have the potential to achieve at the highest levels of the game.”

It is a fantastic initiative by Northern NSW Football who have focused on these scholarships in their recent strategic plan with the increasing amount of Indigenous participants over the last few years and the success of the ever popular NAIDOC Cup.

Applications close on Friday, December 22.

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Mapping the Future: GIS Innovation Takes Off in Australia

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Image credit: Global Institute of Sport

Global Institute of Sport (GIS) is expanding its influence in the Asia-Pacific, in particular, Australia where they have already made significant progress and will be opening a brand new campus.

GIS is a leader in sports education, offering innovative online and in-person courses at campuses and iconic sports venues around the world, including the likes of Wembley Stadium in London, Chase Stadium in Miami, and Melbourne’s MCG.

But it’s Australia where GIS is now focusing its attention and they’ve already made some big strides.

In episode four of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch podcast, Asia-Pacific Regional Director Ray Boggiano spoke about the progress GIS has made in Australia so far.

“We’ve had the MCG partnership since 2019, so we’ve been doing our first summit, so study tour was in January 2020, we had a couple of virtual ones in between and then we brought our students back for the last couple of years as well,” he said in the podcast.

“From last year we started doing these residentials, so we have various sites, the MCG, Darebin, our partner clubs like Preston, they’re signed off as sites that we can deliver for face-to-face teaching for our British programs.”

Additionally, Boggiano spoke about the new GIS campus opening in Australia next year.

“Our vision and something that’s very soon to be realised is to have a sports campus in Australia,” he said.

“We will be opening the doors to our Sydney campus next year so our first intake will be in January 2026.

“The partnership is with the University of Newcastle, but it’s with their Sydney CBD campus, and also in partnership with Venus NSW, so very pleased to be able to use the Allianz Stadium and the SCG as well, so we’ve got access to two incredible stadiums.”

Boggiano also added that the new campus will be taking applications as soon as this month and highlighted the importance of Australia to GIS.

“We will be starting to take applications likely from April this year and the first intake will be January 2026, so this is a major milestone for us,” he said.

“We have always had Australia central to our strategy, it is really a vibrate sports economy, sports market, and sports industry.

“Over the next ten years that’s only going in one direction with obviously the build-up Brisbane games in 2032.”

The new campus will offer a wide range of degrees and industry-focused programs designed to give students the skills they need to succeed in the global sports industry.

To hear and learn more about GIS, you can listen to the full interview with Ray Boggiano on episode four of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast, available on all major podcasting apps and here.

Football Queensland Forms Regional Partnership with McDonald’s

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Image Credit: Football Queensland Facebook

Football Queensland (FQ) is excited to announce McDonald’s as the Official Quick Service Restaurant Partner for the Far North & Gulf region.

Under the two-year regional collaboration, McDonald’s will take on naming rights to the home of football in Cairns, with Endeavour Park now officially named Macca’s Park.

The partnership also includes support for grassroots football, with McDonald’s backing local clubs and celebrating junior players across the Far North and Gulf through the weekly MiniRoos Player of the Week voucher initiative.

FQ General Manager – Northern Conference, Craig Ramage, said the partnership was a major win for the region, highlighting FQ’s continued focus on growing the game in regional Queensland.

“This is an exciting opportunity to partner with an iconic brand in McDonald’s, whose long-standing support of community football aligns strongly with our vision for the game across the state,” he said via press release.

“We’re proud to extend this relationship into the Far North & Gulf, with the support from McDonald’s set to deliver direct benefits to grassroots programs, local clubs and junior players right across the region.

“The renaming of Endeavour Park to Macca’s Park is a powerful symbol of this partnership and our shared commitment to creating vibrant and welcoming regional football hubs that inspire the next generation of participants and bring communities together.”

McDonalds Far North Queensland Marketing Manager Jill Lennox, expressed that the partnership reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting active lifestyles and local communities through sport.

“Active lives are happier and healthier lives. McDonald’s wants to deliver valuable benefits to the wider community. With the goal of helping people live a more balanced, active and enriched lifestyle, McDonald’s is passionate about its sports and community sponsorships program,” she said via press release.

“McDonald’s is very proud to be the naming rights sponsor to the home of football in Cairns now known as Macca’s Park. This partnership is our way of giving back to the community which supports us and to assist in the development of important life skills such as commitment, hard work, and friendship.

“On behalf of McDonald’s, we would like to thank all competitors, parents, organisers, volunteers and other sponsors for their incredible support of Football Far North and Gulf region and we look forward to seeing you at Macca’s Park soon.”

This alliance marks an exciting chapter for football in the Far North & Gulf, as Football Queensland and McDonald’s work together to support the growth of the game across the region.

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