Across The Waves Football Club (ATW) have made history as the first Central Conference regional club to achieve Football Queensland’s Tier 2 – Development Committed status, marking a major step forward for the Bundaberg-based club and the broader Wide Bay football community.
Achieving Tier 2 status under the FQ Academy Club Assessment and Quality Assurance System highlights the club’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality development opportunities for players and coaches, strengthening its academy and pathways, and aligning with best-practice standards across the sport.
“Being recognised as a Tier 2 Development Club is a really proud moment for everyone involved with Across the Waves. Our club has always had a strong history of success at senior level, but we know that to secure our future, we need to keep building from the ground up,” Across the Waves Club President Tim Roebuck said.
“Our goal is to be the club of choice for players and families in Wide Bay. We want to be a place where young footballers know they’ll be supported, challenged, and given every opportunity to reach their potential. Earning this status shows we’re heading in the right direction, and it gives our members confidence that we’re committed to doing things the right way, both now and into the future.”
Across The Waves Technical Director Rob Custers added that the club’s achievement is a formal recognition of a journey that they have undertaken to define the DNA of the club.
“For the first time, we have a complete technical blueprint, ‘The Waves Way’, that connects every player who wears our badge, and solidifies our absolute commitment to a player-first environment, ensuring a consistent culture of development, respect, and excellence is felt in every training session and every game.
“The collaborative spirit shown by FQ staff was instrumental. Their constant support and open communication showed that they truly had our backs, and we’re thrilled to continue this collaboration to nurture talent in Wide Bay.”
Football Queensland Club Development Ambassador – Wide Bay Tyler Logan, said the achievement reflects the work being done by committed people within the region to raise standards and bridge the gap between regional clubs and academy programs.
“The Tier 2 Committed Development status achieved by ATW recognises a football program that meets a strong set of standards designed to support player development. This is a significant achievement not only for ATW but for the entire Wide Bay region, as they become the first to gain this accreditation.
“Through this process, ATW are extremely well placed to develop local players in Bundaberg, aligning closely with our FQ Academy Wide Bay program and helping close the gap between club and academy delivery.
“It’s a massive step for club development in the region and I congratulate ATW on this milestone. Hopefully, ATW are the first of many to go through this process, and I look forward to continuing to support Rob, Tim and the club as they continue to raise the bar in Wide Bay.”
FQ General Manager – Central Conference Jordie Gerbes said the new accreditation is a significant moment for football in the Wide Bay region, demonstrating what’s possible when a club commits to long-term growth and invests the correct spaces.
“Not only does this accreditation provide a structured pathway for technical growth, but it also benchmarks and aligns the club with best-practice standards and ensures recognition within Football Queensland’s broader academy system.
“This achievement shows what’s possible for clubs in Wide Bay. There’s so much potential in the region, and it’s great to see the pathway continuing to strengthen. As more clubs invest in their people and their programs, we’re committed to supporting them through that journey and helping each one reach their next stage of growth.”
The Tier 2 accreditation forms part of Football Queensland’s Club Development Framework, designed to support clubs across the state in building stronger, more sustainable programs. The process assesses clubs across areas like technical performance, planning and delivery, and provides access to tailored resources, mentoring and education opportunities for coaches and players.
