Workplace Law the exclusive partner of Melbourne City A-League Women’s team

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Workplace Law and Melbourne City
Image via Workplace Law

Melbourne City FC have recently announced that Workplace Law will be the club’s new exclusive partner of the A-League Women’s team for the 2023/24 season.

Since 2003, Workplace Law has operated as a specialist law firm focused on providing advice to employers in all aspects of employment law and workplace relations.

Workplace Law also have experience in sport, working with clubs, sporting associations and leagues in both the community and national level.

Workplace Law are very passionate about growing and developing the Women’s game in Australia as it reaches a peak in popularity following the World Cup that occurred during the winter. As a result of the partnership, the Workplace Law logo will appear on the back City’s A-League Women’s training top.

Workplace Law Managing Director and Principal Athena Koelmeyer explained the decision behind the company joining City’s corporate family.

“Our firm has always believed that sporting clubs that do the right thing when it comes to building professional pathways for female athletes deserve strong corporate support,” Athena said via Melbourne City club statement.

“Melbourne City, as part of the City Football Group, have proven their commitment to providing female footballers with the first-class resources and playing opportunities, domestically and overseas, that are necessary for players to become genuinely professional.

“Our shared organisational values and standards made this partnership a perfect fit and we are delighted to be joining the Melbourne City family.”

Melbourne City FC CEO Brad Rowse expressed the same positive sentiment after the deal was signed.

“We’re delighted to have Workplace Law partner with the Club and our A-League Women’s team ahead of the 2023/24 season,” he added via club statement.

“Melbourne City has a long-standing history of supporting the Women’s game in Australia as evident by our sustained on-field success at A-Leagues level and no fewer than 10 former City players representing our country for the Matildas at the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“We’re delighted to have a partner on board who shares our values and dedication towards providing the best platform for our Women’s team. We welcome the team on board, and we look forward to working closely together.”

Melbourne City, as part of City Football Group, have changed the way the club operates with corporate partnerships and the addition of Workplace Law solely for the Women’s team is a step in that same direction as they grow their network.

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South Canberra FC Breaks the Mold: Equity-Driven Model Earns ‘Club Changer’ Honour

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Image Credit: SCFC

South Canberra Football Club has been named Club Changer of the Month for April, in a recognition that reflects a broader shift across Australian football toward rewarding clubs that are actively dismantling the structural barriers limiting women’s access to the game.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup has just delivered record crowds and unprecedented visibility for women’s football in Australia, and the Club Changer program is now asking what comes next. Its decision to name South Canberra Football Club as Club Changer of the Month for April signals a clear shift in how the program defines contribution: away from participation numbers alone, and toward the equity frameworks that determine whether women stay in the game once they arrive.

South Canberra FC built that framework from the ground up. Established in 2021, the club set out to give women and female-identifying players a safe, inclusive environment to play football at any level. It runs entirely on volunteers, operates as a not-for-profit, and is governed by an all-female committee with 13 of its 14 coaches identifying as female.

 

Building the infrastructure of inclusion

In 2026, the club secured grant funding and put it to work immediately. Two coaches are completing their C Licence qualification, and ten coaches, players and community members have undertaken the Foundations of Football course, which directly tackles the cost and accessibility barriers that exclude women out of coaching pathways.

The club also commissioned a female-specific strength and conditioning program with sports physiotherapists ahead of the 2026 season, targeting injury prevention and explicitly supporting players returning after childbirth.

SCFC’s leadership team draws from LGBTIQ+ individuals, First Nations people and veterans, strengthening the club’s connection to the communities it was built to represent.

The Club Changer program is backing clubs that do this work- clubs that treat equity as infrastructure rather than aspiration. At a moment when Australian football is under pressure to turn its biggest-ever surge of women’s interest into something lasting, SCFC’s model offers a clear answer to the question of how.

How Husqvarna Is Helping Stadiums Cut Costs Without Cutting Quality

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Image Credit: Husqvarna

At a time when operational costs are rising across global sport, stadiums and football clubs are being forced to rethink one of their most overlooked expenses: turf maintenance.

From diesel consumption to labour hours, maintaining elite playing surfaces has traditionally been both resource-intensive and environmentally taxing. But new data emerging from venues like CBUS Super Stadium suggests a smarter, more sustainable model is already taking hold.

Leading that shift is Husqvarna, whose autonomous turf technology is quietly reshaping how professional venues manage their playing surfaces. Their product delivers measurable cost savings without compromising quality.

Cutting fuel consumption costs

At CBUS Super Stadium, the introduction of Husqvarna’s CEORA™ robotic mowing system has reduced diesel usage by approximately 20–30 litres per week. Over the course of a season, those savings compound into a significant reduction in both fuel spend and carbon emissions. This is particularly efficient for stadiums hosting regular fixtures and large-scale events.

CBUS Super Stadium General Manager Kristian Blundell said the robotic mower was a game-changer for the venue:

“This technology is not replacing staff but rather giving our grounds team the ability to do what they do best by helping to improve turf management processes, better manage fatigue and decrease our environmental footprint”

But the impact goes beyond fuel.

 

Time efficiency

By automating routine mowing, Husqvarna’s technology enables grounds teams to focus on higher-value maintenance tasks, from pitch recovery to detailed surface management. The result is not only greater operational efficiency but also improved turf consistency, which is an increasingly critical factor in elite football performance.

The benefits are being mirrored beyond stadium environments. At Oatlands Golf Club, Husqvarna’s autonomous mowing has delivered savings of up to 60 litres of fuel per week while freeing up staff for precision work. Quiet, round-the-clock operation also ensures surfaces are maintained without disrupting play—an advantage that translates directly to multi-use stadium settings.

Image Credit: Husqvarna

Importantly, Husqvarna’s lightweight robotic systems reduce the wear and tear typically caused by traditional heavy machinery. This not only protects the integrity of the playing surface but also reduces the need for costly repairs over time.

Football clubs navigating tight budgets at grassroots and semi-professional levels could benefit from such cost savings.

With rising energy prices, increasing sustainability expectations, and limited staffing resources, the ability to cut costs while improving performance is no longer optional. Solutions like Husqvarna’s CEORA™ are positioning clubs to operate more efficiently today, while preparing for a more environmentally accountable future.

As the sports industry continues to evolve, one thing is becoming clear: the next competitive edge may not just come from what happens on the pitch—but how it’s maintained.

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