Investment confirmed for Home of The Matildas in Victoria

Liam Watson
Football Australia and Football Victoria have welcomed the Victorian Government's investment in a world-class Home of The Matildas.

Football Australia and Football Victoria have welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement to invest in a world-class Home of The Matildas at La Trobe University in Bundoora.

After the 2020 commitment of $15 million from the Federal Government, this latest announcement will pave the way towards constructing the Home of The Matildas and Home to Football Victoria – situated in a purpose built, state-of-the-art State Football Centre, alongside a State Rugby Union Centre at La Trobe University’s Bundoora campus.

The most significant investment into a community football project in Victoria was made by Acting Premier, the Hon. James Merlino and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, the Hon. Martin Pakula, at the future site of the facility.

The precinct is expected to be ready for the Westfield Matildas before the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023.

The facility will be available year-round to provide access to elite training and match facilities for Victorians, suitable for both junior and senior players with five natural, hybrid and synthetic pitches and a purpose-built futsal court.

The announcement that is three years in the making was met with excitement by key members of Football Australia, Football Victoria and the Matildas.

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson:

“This substantial commitment from the Victorian Government, combined with the Federal Government’s earlier $15 million contribution to the project, will have a significant impact on the development of women’s football, and football overall, in Victoria and Australia for decades to come. This commitment is also a good launching pad for the Facilities and Infrastructure pillar of our ambitious Legacy ‘23 plan which was recently launched.”

“The high-performance environment that will spring to life on the La Trobe University grounds in Bundoora will feature world-class facilities and amenities that will ensure Victoria can regularly play host to the Matildas, as well as other youth and senior national teams and touring international nations and clubs.

“Crucially, The Home of The Matildas at La Trobe University will not only be a space that caters for the elite levels of the game, but the community and grassroots, too. The site will become home to Football Victoria’s Administration, ensuring consistent, year-round use by the football community through football, futsal, all-abilities, multicultural, and social programs.”

Football Australia Chairman, Chris Nikou:

“Football Australia extends its thanks to everyone that has contributed to this important project – particularly the Daniel Andrews’ Government, the Federal Government, Football Victoria, and La Trobe University. Through true collaboration and partnership, football will soon have a home to be proud of in Victoria – one that is fit for our inspiring national teams, and that our large and diverse participation base deserve.”

Westfield Matildas captain, Sam Kerr:

“This is wonderful news for the Westfield Matildas and the prospect of having a state-of-the-art facility specifically designed for our use is very exciting.”

“The team loves playing in Melbourne and we really look forward to having a dedicated base where we
can train and prepare for matches when we are in Victoria.”

FV President, Antonella Care:

“This is a milestone day for our Victorian football community. The Matildas have captured the imagination
of our nation, establishing themselves as one of Australia’s most loved teams.”

“The team are the ultimate ambassadors for our beautiful game, providing inspiration for football fans of
all ages to step off the sidelines and get in the game.

“FV and Football Australia’s target of 50/50 male/female participation by 2027 is ambitious, but this
announcement provides us with the ultimate launchpad to make that ambition a reality for Victoria.”

Football Victoria CEO, Kimon Taliadoros:

“We’re excited to provide vital infrastructure that will not only support the Matildas, but also support our entire football community, of all ages and all abilities, to follow their football dreams.

“Whether you prefer to play socially with friends, or are on a high-performance pathway, this facility will deliver the platform for all Victorians to live and love football.”

“We thank the Daniel Andrews Government, the Acting Premier of Victoria, The Hon James Merlino, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, The Hon. Martin Pakula, Minister for Women, The Hon Gabrielle Williams and Minister for Community Sport, The Hon. Ros Spence, La Trobe University Chancellor and former Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, and Vice Chancellor, John Dewar, for their ongoing commitment to this vital project. This shared vision will build an enduring legacy for football in our state.”

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NSW Football Associations Unite Behind AED Mapping Project for Statewide Safety Network

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Twelve football associations across New South Wales have joined a statewide effort to map and register Automated External Defibrillators across sporting facilities, in a project that its organisers say will significantly improve emergency response times and save lives at community sport venues.

The Heartbeat of Sport AED Mapping Project, backed by funding from the Minns Labor Government to the Heartbeat of Football Foundation, represents the first comprehensive research into AED placement across NSW sports grounds. The data collected will be provided to NSW Ambulance and its GoodSAM team to enrich the existing AED registry available to ambulance and public first responders, and will feed into NSW Health’s newly released public AED map.

The project has drawn active participation from associations spanning the breadth of the state’s football community, including Eastern Suburbs, Manly Warringah, Granville, Southern Districts, Nepean, Northern Suburbs, Football Canterbury, Bankstown, Hills, Sutherland Shire, North West Sydney Football and Football South Coast.

When seconds matter

The urgency behind the project is not theoretical. At Doyalson Wyee Football Club, a 70-year-old player survived a sudden on-field cardiac arrest because an AED was available on site. The outcome of that incident – and the many others like it that occur across community sport each year – depends entirely on whether a defibrillator is accessible, charged and registered in the systems that emergency responders rely upon.

Sudden cardiac arrest kills without warning. The survival rate drops by approximately ten percent for every minute without defibrillation. In a community sport setting, where professional medical staff are rarely present, a registered and accessible AED is the difference between a player walking off a pitch and one who does not.

The mapping project addresses a gap that has existed largely unexamined. More than 2,400 defibrillators have been deployed across NSW sports and recreation facilities through the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program, with grants of up to $3,000 available to eligible organisations. But a device that exists without being registered in emergency response systems provides significantly less value than one that is accurately mapped and immediately locatable by ambulance crews responding to a call.

By encouraging clubs to complete AED registration surveys, the twelve participating associations are ensuring that the equipment already on their grounds is activated within the broader emergency infrastructure – translating a physical asset into a functional one.

Regional communities and the equity of safety

The project’s expansion of the #HeartHealthMatters Program, which brings CPR and AED familiarisation training to sporting organisations with a particular focus on regional areas, addresses a dimension of safety preparedness that often receives less attention than equipment access alone.

Knowing a defibrillator exists on site is insufficient if the people present during an emergency do not know how to use it. Regional clubs, which frequently operate with smaller volunteer bases and less access to formal training programs, face a compounded risk – less equipment, less training, and longer ambulance response times due to geography. The program’s regional focus acknowledges that safety infrastructure, like sporting infrastructure more broadly, is not evenly distributed.

The data gathered through the mapping project will also guide future investment decisions, identifying facilities that still lack AEDs and providing the evidence base for targeted grant funding to address those gaps.

Football associations that have already contributed AED data have demonstrated, in the words of the project’s organisers, strong sector leadership and a shared commitment to safeguarding participants at every level of the game.

For a sport that involves hundreds of thousands of players, officials and volunteers across the state each week, the ambition of the Heartbeat of Sport project is straightforward – that no preventable death occurs on a football ground because the right equipment was not there, or could not be found.

Decision overturned: FIFA World Cup 2026 to return to Federation Square

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Following the announcement earlier this week that Federation Square would not return as a live site for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, Football Victoria announced yesterday that the decision has now been overturned.

Widespread support prevails

The football industry moves swiftly. Whether it’s a deadline-day transfer or cut-throat managerial changes, a lot can happen in a short time span.

And this proved true once again in Melbourne this week.

On Wednesday, Melbourne Arts Precinct announced that it will not proceed as a live site during this year’s tournament.

But following widespread backlash to the decision to not use Federation Square as a live site, the initial verdict will no longer go ahead.

“In the past 24 hours, Victorians demonstrated just how important our national teams are to the fabric of our community,” said Football Victoria CEO, Dan Birrell, via press release.

Furthermore, Birrell highlighted that support for a swift overturn also came from those outside the football landscape.

“The response extended far beyond football participants and supporters, reflecting the wider community’s recognition of the signficance of the tournament and the role these moments play in bringing people together.”

 

Community comes first

Having Federation Square as a live site during this year’s World Cup ensures that Melburnians wanting to back the Socceroos, can do so as one unit.

But even those who won’t be cheering for Australia, and will instead be adorning another nation’s colours, will still be able to unite and show their pride.

This is what live football is all about.

A variety of communities and nationalities which – despite supporting opposing sides – can come together under a shared love of the game. As Birrell continued to explain, this is a fundamental part of why the decision to overturn bares such importance.

“Football is a game that transcends age, background, language and culture.”

“It brings people together from all walks of life and creates moments of connection that are incredibly powerful, particularly uring global tournaments like the FIFA World Cup.”

The Socceroos will kick off their World Cup campaign against Turkey on June 14.

 

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