Northern NSW Football launches Indigenous Reference Group

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Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) has announced the exciting formation of its inaugural Indigenous Reference Group.

The group is made up of seven highly respected members of the football community – including former Matilda Gema Simon, Moree FC’s Darrel Smith and Mick Hugo from South Cardiff FC, as well as Casey Manton (Metford Cobras), Casey King (Italo Stars), Kaliela Thornton (Tamworth FC) and Mat Moncreif.

The group met for the first time virtually on Thursday night (February 3), with the initial meeting a success.

NNSWF Female Participation and Inclusion Officer Annelise Rosnell facilitated the meeting and was thrilled with the positive start for the group.

“It was a really good beginning. We were able to open some initial dialogue on what we want to achieve and how we want to go about it,” she said.

“We have some amazing people who have joined the group and I know given their knowledge and experience we have the ability to make some real progress in this area.

“Our aim is to work together on Indigenous football activities and how NNSWF can better engage Indigenous communities, players, coaches and referees.

“There is plenty of hard work to do but this was certainly an encouraging start.”

NNSWF’s Indigenous Reference Group will meet at least quarterly, but more frequently if needed during the season. Rosnell will report recommendations to NNSWF, which will be factored into the Member Federation’s decision-making process.

NNSWF have been taking positive steps towards connecting with the region’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.

The Member Federation launched its inaugural RTC Group Indigenous Round across its Premier Competitions last season, in conjunction with National Reconciliation Week.

NNSWF also introduced its first RTC Group NNSWF Talented Indigenous Scholarships to provide assistance to eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recipients from the Hunter Region and regional northern NSW across playing, coaching and officiating.

The scholarships will again be available in 2022, with details on how to apply made available soon.

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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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