As Female Football Week (FFW) 2024 wraps up around the country, Football Queensland (FQ) would like to acknowledge the clubs, teams and members across the state who took part in celebrating the influential and inspiring contributions of the women and girls in our football community.
“Female Football Week 2024 was an incredibly special celebration of all the women and girls involved in shaping and advancing our game across Queensland,” Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci said.
“Throughout the week it was exciting to see so many clubs and members from the Queensland football community coming together across the regions to participate in and deliver various programs aimed at celebrating, acknowledging, and supporting the football journeys of our female referees, coaches, volunteers, and players.
“The recent announcement of a huge 44% increase in female participation in our outdoor football programs across Queensland this year added an extra layer of significance to the week, as we celebrate the growing engagement of women and girls in our community. FQ is committed to continuing this positive trajectory through our soon to be released 2024-2026 Women & Girls Strategy, ensuring sustained support and resources for the years ahead.
“While celebrations like FFW serve as a crucial milestone in FQ’s journey towards achieving 50/50 gender parity by 2027 and helps to further reinforce our commitment to enhancing accessibility and inclusivity, our support is not confined to this week, as we remain dedicated to prioritising our female football community year-round.”
In the lead up to the week of celebration, FQ called for nominations for the annual Female Football Week Awards, a call that was enthusiastically answered by the Queensland football community, nominating local heroes who go above and beyond in their roles and demonstrate great passion for the game. The winners of the statewide awards were acknowledged on Football Queensland’s social media platforms (see table below for full list of FQ’s FFW Award winners).
In keeping with the theme of highlighting the unsung heroes of the community, FQ had the opportunity to talk with Natalie Judge, the Women & Girls Ambassador at Wulguru United Football Club, who shed light on the significant impact and benefits that dedicated initiatives like the Girls United Social League have had in growing the female football community in the Northern region.
Female Football Week saw involvement from clubs across the state, joining FQ in hosting their own activations to acknowledge the contributions of women and girls in their communities through initiatives such as Girls United and Q-League Programs, gala dinners, exhibition matches and come & try sessions, as well as numerous female-only level 4 match official and coaching courses delivered by FQ.
Girls United Social Football will continue to run at clubs across the state, find a club near you to join the action or learn more here.
During the week FQ brought the skill of our female players to our screens during the Women’s Football Round, livestreaming select FQPL Women games across the state, offering audiences a firsthand insight into the high-quality talent within Queensland’s female football competitions and pathways.
In a national celebration of acknowledgement of the women excelling in the game, Football Australia hosted three Female Football Week webinars, providing the opportunity to engage with leading female football professionals across three panels covering: Women in Coaching, Women in Refereeing and Working in Football.
As Female Football Week wraps up across the state and country, FQ encourages the community to expand their support of women’s football beyond the week, and join us in leading the change towards making women and girls the driving force behind the future of our beautiful game.
2024 Queensland Female Football Week Award Winners:
FFW Referee of the Year – Jessica Rooimans – Wide Bay
FFW Community Champion of the Year – Amy Haynes, Tenterfield Thunder FC
FFW Player of the Year – Fuschia Duncan-Cruzado, Edge Hill United FC
FFW Volunteer of the Year – Amanda Milburn, Beerwah Glasshouse United FC
FFW Coach of the Year – Jessica McLean, Crusaders Futsal Club
FFW Club of the Year – Central FC
