Football Victoria joins other major sports in helping at-risk teens

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Football Victoria have announced they will team up with other major sporting organisations to assist at-risk teens and encourage them to turn away from anti-social activity.

Backed by $1.4 million in government funding, the establishment of a new Sports Alliance between sporting organisations and the Victorian Government will look to focus on supporting at-risk youth through created programs.

Various initiatives will be introduced with the aim of engaging young people and helping them build community connections, a greater sense of belonging, social skills and self-confidence.

The Sports Alliance members include Peter Filopoulos (CEO, Football Victoria), Nick Honey (CEO, Basketball Victoria), Dave Donaghy (CEO, Melbourne Storm), Rosie King (CEO, Netball Victoria), Sam Graham (Head of States and Game Development, AFL) and Minister for Community Sport and Youth Ros Spence.

Football Victoria CEO Peter Filopoulos claimed the collective strength of the Sports Alliance will go a long way in driving outcomes for affected youth.

“One of the main reasons that teenagers can drift into anti-social behaviour is because of their lack of integration and connectedness – a feeling that they are not part of the broader society,” he said.

“For young people, sport is arguably one of the most effective ways to form social bonds, find support and structure and reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.”

“We have seen for a number of years how sport has been a key driver in turning many at-risk teens away from offensive behaviours that may limit them from achieving positive life outcomes. However, it is evident that there is so much more we can accomplish in this space, and by using Sports Alliance, we’ll be able to pool our resources to reach more youths than ever before.”

“I applaud the Andrews Government for leading this initiative. Thanks in particular must go to Minister Ben Carroll for bringing all these organisations together and empowering sports to do what they do best, which is bringing the community together.”

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Female Football Week kicks off across Northern NSW

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Female Football Week has officially begun across Northern NSW, with a program of gala days, networking events and awards ceremonies running until Sunday May 17, marking a ten-day celebration that organisers say reflects both the growth of women’s football in the region and the work still required to sustain it.

The national initiative, now a fixture on the football calendar, provides a dedicated period of visibility for female participants across all levels of the game from players, coaches, referees to volunteers, whose contributions have historically received less recognition than their male counterparts.

NNSWF Participation and Women’s Football Officer Serena Carter said the week offered something for everyone connected to women’s football in the region.

“Female Football Week provides a fantastic chance to highlight the dedication and skill of female players, coaches, referees and volunteers across the northern NSW community,” Carter said. “There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from grassroots participants to elite competitors.”

Women’s football in northern NSW spans remote and regional communities where clubs operate on limited resources, alongside more established metropolitan programs with clearer development pathways. Female Football Week creates a moment of shared recognition across that spectrum and acknowledges the role volunteers play, from running the canteen to progressing through the pathway.

Northern NSW Football has recorded some of its strongest participation numbers in women’s and girls’ football in recent seasons, a trend that has placed increasing pressure on clubs and facilities to keep pace. The week’s events offer clubs an opportunity to showcase their commitment to diversity and inclusion at a time when that commitment is being tested by growth.

Football NNSW Releases Infrastructure Strategies as Participation Growth Outpaces Facilities

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Northern NSW Football has unveiled bespoke infrastructure strategies for each of its seven member zones, providing an evidence-based roadmap for facility investment across the region as continued participation growth exposes critical gaps in the sporting infrastructure available to support it.

The Member Zone Infrastructure Strategies draw on data across participation rates, population growth and existing facility conditions to map what each zone has, what it needs and where investment will have the greatest impact. Identified gaps include drainage, lighting and inclusive changerooms – the foundational infrastructure that determines whether facilities are functional, safe and accessible year-round.

NNSWF Government Relations Manager Gary Fisher said the strategies represented a significant step toward smarter, more targeted investment across the region.

“By bringing together key data on participation, population growth and existing infrastructure, these strategies give us a stronger understanding of where the needs are greatest and where investment will have the most impact,” Fisher said. “Ultimately we want to create more inclusive and accessible environments for everyone involved in the game while building stronger, more sustainable clubs and communities for the future.”

Northern NSW Football has previously noted that participation across the region is at record levels and still rising, with women’s and girls’ football a significant driver of that growth. Infrastructure that was built for a smaller and less diverse participation base is increasingly unable to meet current demand, let alone accommodate future growth.

The strategies are also designed to strengthen NNSWF’s alignment with government funding priorities, providing the evidence base needed to support grant applications and long-term facility planning across all seven zones.

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