Professional Development Scholarships Program available to build craft for leadership roles

Staff Writer
Professional Development Scholarships Program
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Victorian women can build specialist skills to make their mark in the sport and active recreation sector, as part of the Change Our Game Professional Development Scholarships Program.

The program will support women throughout leadership roles in different career stages as per the following:

  • New to the workforce or returning from a career break
  • Aspiring to become a CEO or senior executive
  • Current senior executives, and
  • New or aspiring board directors

With grants available up to $5,000 and $10,000 to complete professional development courses, there is no shortage in career possibilities through four different streams.

There are four streams, each designed to teach industry skills:

Learning Stream:

  • Access specialist skill development, specific to the candidate’s paid role in the sector.

Next Generation Leaders Stream:

  • Access to a leading career coach, on an individual and group basis, to develop the pathway, skills and techniques to become a CEO or senior executive leader.

Executive Stream:

  • Access development in technical skill areas such as strategy, negotiation, change management, accounting & finance.

Governance Stream:

  • Access to a high quality governance program relevant to sporting boards

Ballarat resident Shenae Keleher took part in last year’s 2022-23 Change Our Game Professional Development Scholarships Program in the Next Generation Leaders Stream. She has since been promoted to Chief Executive Officer at FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport.

“The time spent working with my career coach has been immediately impactful, empowering and supportive, which I feel has provided me with the skills for swift professional growth. I’ve described the program to peers as ‘a psychologist for your career, a really great guiding hand’. Connecting with fellow women in our local sporting industry has been invaluable and created a supportive network,” she stated.

Since 2018, the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation has helped 553 participants through Change Our Game professional development programs, including 97 participants in last year’s first Professional Development Scholarships Program.

Individuals and organisations can go for their preferred program stream, with all applications closing at 5pm AEST on Monday 28 August 2023.

For full information and to apply, click here.

Frequently asked questions can be found here.

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Inspiring the future of women’s football: The Growing Football Community grant now open

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Image Credit: Football Australia

Grassroots football is where the game grows. It is where players find their first team, coaches develop skills, and clubs function as part of local communities. Football Australia’s Growing Football Community Grant is designed to strengthen those foundations, with a particular focus on creating more opportunities for women and girls to play, coach and stay involved in football. The 2026/27 program is now open, and eligible clubs and associations can apply for grants of up to $5,000.

What is the Growing Football Community Grant?

The grant forms part of Football Australia’s Growing Football Fund, which was established with the support of CommBank following the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 hosted in Australia. Its main goal is simple: help clubs and associations attract and retain women and girls in football. Funding can support projects that improve the experience of existing players or create new pathways into the game. It can also help clubs develop coaches and build more inclusive, safer environments.

The program is about more than getting people onto the pitch. It aims to create the conditions that encourage participants to keep coming back.

Who does it support?

The program is aimed at eligible football clubs and associations across Australia. For participants, that can mean new opportunities to play, and for coaches, it can mean better access to education and development. For clubs, it can provide practical support to remove barriers that can make participation harder.

Previous grants have supported a wide range of grassroots projects, and these have included ‘come and try’ programs, female-only football activities, subsidised registration fees, improved playing uniforms, coaching education and leadership programs. The program also has a strong regional and community focus. Football Australia says 93 of the 297 clubs supported across the first three grant rounds were from regional and remote communities.

What is the community benefit?

The biggest impact can extend beyond the individual player. A club that creates a stronger pathway for girls can help build participation across an entire community. Better coaching can improve the experience for players. More women in coaching and leadership can create new role models. Removing financial or practical barriers can also make football more accessible.

That can help clubs build stronger connections with families and their local communities. Football Australia’s stated objectives include providing quality experiences for new and returning participants, developing community coaches and helping clubs create inclusive and safe environments that support the retention of women and girls. Recent recipients show how that can work in practice. Broulee Stingrays Soccer Club is using grant funding to support a female coaching pathway in the Eurobodalla region, including subsidised coaching courses for girls from the age of 14.

How can clubs apply and key dates

Applications for the Growing Football Community grants opened on the 8th of September. The deadline is 10 pm AEDT on Tuesday the 20th of October. Clubs and associations should first review the Growing Football Community Grant guidelines and check their eligibility.

Applicants then need to develop their project and budget before completing the online application. The application asks clubs to explain how their project aligns with the program objectives, the barriers they face and how the funding will help address those barriers. Successful applications are scheduled to be announced in December, with funded projects to be delivered during 2027.

For clubs looking to grow women’s and girls’ football, the grant offers an opportunity to turn a local idea into a practical community project. The impact does not stop with one season. Stronger pathways, better coaching and more welcoming clubs can help build a football community where more women and girls can start playing, stay involved and find their place in the game.

Adelaide United renews StudyAdelaide partnership for Asian campaign

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Image Credit: AFC

Adelaide United has brought back a familiar commercial partner for its return to continental competition, with StudyAdelaide signing on as front-of-shirt sponsor for the club’s 2026/27 AFC Champions League Two campaign.

The partnership reconnects two South Australian organisations after StudyAdelaide previously featured on Adelaide United’s shirt during their 2010 AFC Champions League campaign.

Adelaide commenced their six-match group-stage campaign on Thursday at Hindmarsh, defeating Hong Kong’s Tai Po 3-0.

For StudyAdelaide, the value of the partnership extends beyond traditional football sponsorship. The organisation, a partnership between the South Australian Government and more than 50 education institutions, is using Adelaide United’s Asian competition to promote South Australia as an international study destination.

The club’s continental schedule provides exposure in several key Asian markets, with Adelaide travelling to face BG Pathum United in Thailand and Lion City Sailors in Singapore during the group stage.

StudyAdelaide chief executive Jane Johnston said the partnership would provide a great opportunity to connect with young people across Asia.

“Having StudyAdelaide featured throughout this international competition is a unique platform to connect with young people across Asia and highlight the many reasons South Australia is their best option to study, live and build a career,” Johnston said.

The deal illustrates how football’s international competitions can provide commercial value beyond traditional brand exposure, particularly for organisations looking to promote to a specific or new region.

The Reds’ ACL Two campaign continues against BG Pathum United in Thailand on October 15.

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