Building Our Game through improved grassroots infrastructure to ensure equitable female facilities to meet surging demand.
Together we can help remove the barriers to female participation to enable growth at all levels of our game and create positive, thriving communities across Australia.
National Facilities Audit
In May 2022 Football Australia conducted a National Facilities Audit that has reviewed the current state of 1,891 facilities across the country, including over 4,270 fields. The objective of the audit, to better understand our game’s current capacity and capability in respect to infrastructure, to inform decision-making and strategic activities in line with Legacy ’23.
The scope of this audit included both on and off-field components such as changerooms, lights, drainage, accessibility, and irrigation. A full report will be published later this year.
2022 Key Programs & Initiatives
In line with the National Facilities Audit, Football Australia launched the #Equaliser campaign in April 2022, in support of the ‘Community Facilities’ pillar, to advocate for more adequate female-friendly facilities across the country.
Since launch, #Equaliser events have been held across the country, with a combined total of $7.75m secured in funding for Community Facilities across four States.
The NSW Football Legacy Fund (‘the Fund’) is an initiative established by the NSW Government, Football NSW (FNSW) and Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) as a result of NSW hosting FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ matches in Sydney.
The Fund can be used for upgrading existing or constructing new football facilities that demonstrate inclusive and accessible design, maximise community participation and demonstrate provision of accessible program content. A total of $2,500,000 is available in Round 1 for infrastructure projects. Applications have since closed with successful applicants to be advised from December 2022 onwards. Round 2 will open in 2023.
3. FIFAWWC 2023 Infrastructure
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ will be the biggest sporting event on Australian soil since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Stadium infrastructure upgrades have been committed to further enhance the spectator experience and ensure this event delivers a world-class experience for all. Team Base Camps (TBC) and Venue Specific Training Sites (VSTS) have received further investment to ensure they meet tournament standards and deliver long-term benefits for the football community, a critical component of the Legacy ‘23 plan.
Key investments:
- New development, Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University (Victoria)
- Stadium upgrade, Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide (South Australia)
- Stadium upgrade, Perth Rectangular Stadium (Western Australia)
- Stadium upgrade, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (Victoria)