Queensland is set for a huge week of football action as Female Football Week kicks off from Friday, 3 May to Sunday, 12 May with a host of events and activities planned across the state as Football Queensland (FQ) brings all aspects of the women’s game into the spotlight.
Female Football Week (FFW) is a nationwide initiative to celebrate women’s football, highlighting the pivotal role women and girls play in shaping the future of the sport, and recognising the efforts of those who contribute to the game across all levels.
“Football Queensland is committed to achieving 50/50 gender parity by 2027 across all participants, which underscores our dedication to inclusivity and equity in football,” General Manager – Strategic Game Development & Referees Andy Allan said.
“Female Football Week provides us with a wonderful opportunity to showcase all the pathways available for women and girls in our sport.
“After co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ last year, we have witnessed a significant increase in interest from women and girls wanting to play football. FQ is dedicated to meeting this demand by providing accessible participation pathways statewide, with Female Football Week being another opportunity to engage more female participants.
“We look forward to seeing our clubs and members of the football community across the state join us in celebrating the contributions and achievements of women and girls in our game throughout Female Football Week.”
Football Queensland Programs
Throughout Female Football Week, FQ will deliver events and programs across the state for women and girls of all ages and skill levels to get involved in the game including:
- Girls United Social Sessions across multiple regions
- Girls United Leagues commencing in Metro North, South Coast, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast and Far North & Gulf (Cairns and Mt Isa)
- Girls United Carnivals in Wide Bay (Bundaberg and Hervey Bay)
- Girls United Come & Try sessions in schools
- Q-League Schools girls round in Metro South
Find more information about Girls United and register for a program here.
Female-Only Coaching and Referee Courses
A core pillar of FQ’s 2023-2026 One Football Strategic Plan is our commitment to developing and upskilling our female coaches and referees statewide.
During FFW, FQ will host 20 female-only Junior Match Official Courses with a course to be held in every region across the state, as well as 8 coaching courses and workshops across six regions, covering multiple formats of the game.
These initiatives help to expand the accessibility of football pathways outside of playing, enabling more women and girls to engage with and contribute to the game within an inclusive and supportive framework.
Women’s Football Round
Football Queensland’s Women’s Football Round will run across both weekends of FFW, beginning on Friday, 3 May and wrapping up on Sunday, 12 May, coinciding with Mother’s Day to help create memorable moments across the state.
During the week, FQ will highlight our women’s competitive leagues by live streaming select FQPL Women’s matches across the state, bringing the skills of Queensland’s female players directly to your screens.
Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for further information on streamed matches.
Club Events and Submissions
Football Queensland clubs are encouraged to host their own FFW events and activations, which can include barbecues, ‘come & try’ days, and other initiatives to ensure that everyone in the community has the chance to participate.
Clubs should submit details of their events to FQ to allow additional promotion and support.
Submit your club’s event here.
Find more information about registered activations near you here.
Don’t forget to post about your event on social media and use the hashtags #WeRise #YehTheGirls #FemaleFootballWeek
Award Nominations and Recognition
To help us highlight the unsung heroes of our community, Football Queensland is calling for nominations for the annual FQ Female Football Week Awards for individuals and clubs who consistently go above and beyond for the women’s game.
Winners will be recognised on FQ’s social media channels during the week and will go on to represent Queensland as our nominees in the national Female Football Week Awards.
FQ will also be recognising members of our football community who are excelling in their roles through editorial and video features on our channels, as we acknowledge the significant achievements and stories of our state’s gamechangers.
Nominate an individual or club for the Female Football Week Awards here.
Football Australia Webinar Series
As part of FFW national celebrations, Football Australia will be hosting three online webinars, offering the chance for anyone involved or interested in the game to engage with leading figures from within the Australian football ecosystem.
The webinar series will cover the following areas:
- Developing Female Football Coaches of the Future – Monday 6 May at 8:00PM AEST
Click here for more information and to register
- Refereeing Role Models and Pathways for Females in Football – Wednesday 8 May at 8:00PM AEST
Click here for more information and to register
- Working in Football – Sunday 12 May at 8:00PM AEST
Click here for more information and to register
Leading the Change
As Female Football Week action gets underway across the state, FQ encourages the community to not confine their support of women’s football to the week, and instead join us in leading the change towards making women and girls the driving force behind the future of our beautiful game.
