Murwillumbah Football Club has been named the September Club Changer Club of the Month, recognised for its commitment to strengthening governance, developing its committee and building a leadership structure designed to support the club’s long-term future.
With participation continuing to grow, Murwillumbah FC has recognised that sustainable growth requires strong foundations behind the scenes. Over the past 12 months, the club has focused on establishing clearer policies, strengthening communication, defining responsibilities and ensuring committee members have a clear understanding of the club’s direction, values and vision.
A significant part of that work has been the development of a broader and more diverse committee. The club now has 16 committee members, with each bringing different skills, experience and perspectives to the leadership group.
Leading that committee is Jess Lee, who was appointed Director and President in March 2026, becoming the first female President in Murwillumbah FC’s history.
For Lee, the achievement is significant not only personally, but as an example to the girls and women within the club that there is a place for them in every part of football.
“Becoming the first female President in Murwillumbah FC’s history has been an enormous personal honour,” Lee said.
“More importantly, it shows our girls and women that they belong in every part of football, as players, coaches, officials, volunteers and decision-makers.”
One of the club’s key governance priorities has been moving away from a structure where too much knowledge and responsibility can sit with only one or two people. Instead, Murwillumbah FC has worked to clearly allocate responsibilities, document decisions and give committee members the opportunity to lead within their own areas.
The club has introduced clearer committee portfolios, more structured meeting agendas, the recording of actions required and increased follow-up between meetings. These changes have helped distinguish long-term governance responsibilities from day-to-day operational tasks, while giving committee members greater ownership of their individual areas.
Safeguarding, member protection, registration compliance and communication with players, parents, coaches and volunteers have also been key areas of focus.
The club has simultaneously strengthened its financial systems through the use of Xero, improved reporting, clearer account categories and more structured budgeting and approval processes.
Looking further ahead, Murwillumbah FC is developing a five-year infrastructure plan alongside committee induction and handover processes, annual governance calendars and succession planning.
The aim is to create a club where strong systems, rather than individual people, hold the knowledge required to operate successfully.
“We are building a committee in which responsibilities are clearly allocated, decisions are documented and members understand how their role contributes to the club’s broader direction,” Lee said.
“Our aim is to create a club that does not depend on individual people holding all the knowledge, but instead has strong systems that future volunteers and committees can confidently inherit.”
The Club Changer program has played an important role in supporting this work by providing Murwillumbah FC with a practical framework to review how the club operates and identify areas for improvement.
For a community club where the immediate priority is often getting teams onto the field each weekend, Club Changer has encouraged the committee to step back and consider the bigger picture.
“It has helped us turn broad goals such as improving governance into achievable actions involving policies, role clarity, safeguarding, planning, volunteer support and accountability,” Lee said.
“It has also reinforced the importance of documenting processes so that knowledge can be transferred instead of being lost whenever a committee member steps away.”
The club has also worked closely with Football Queensland throughout its Club Changer journey, with the guidance and support of Lachlan Simpkin, FQ Manager – South Coast helping the committee recognise both the progress it has made and the areas that still require attention.
For Murwillumbah FC, the Club Changer process has become more than an accreditation exercise. It has provided the committee with a shared roadmap and greater confidence that the work being undertaken now will benefit the club well into the future.
While governance has been a major focus, there have also been plenty of successes on the field during 2026.
Multiple junior and senior teams have reached finals, with the Under 13 Division 2 Boys securing a Grand Final appearance, while the Under 13 Girls and Under 16s enjoyed strong finals campaigns. The senior women’s team has also remained competitive in its first season following promotion to Division 1.
The club has also strengthened relationships with local sponsors and begun developing a sustainable partnership structure for 2027 to 2030.
For Murwillumbah FC, these achievements are part of a bigger picture.
“Our wins go beyond results,” Lee said. “They reflect the commitment of our people and the progress we are making towards a strong, inclusive club that can continue to grow and support our community.”
Looking ahead, the club’s focus remains on building strong pathways from Coles MiniRoos through junior, senior and higher-level football, while continuing to support coach and referee development and create opportunities for women and girls.
The club is also preparing for an exciting next chapter, with expressions of interest now open for its QPL team ahead of the 2027 season, with trials and pre-season beginning in October.
Off the field, the focus will remain on strengthening governance, safeguarding, compliance and financial management, while continuing to share responsibility across the broader committee, support volunteers, strengthen local partnerships and plan for future facility improvements.
For Lee, the ultimate measure of success is not simply what happens on the football field, but the club that Murwillumbah FC is building for the future.
“Murwillumbah FC is a community club with a proud history, a big heart and an exciting future,” Lee said.
“We want every person who comes to our club, whether they are four years old and kicking a ball for the first time, playing senior football, returning through an Over 35 competition, coaching, volunteering or supporting from the sidelines, to feel that they belong and they are seen.
“Our values of Community, Development and Respect guide the decisions we make and the culture we are working to build.
“We are not only trying to build successful teams. We are working together to build a club that our community is proud of today and that future generations will be proud to inherit.”
If your club is interested in learning more about the Club Changer program, please contact our Club Changer State Program Manager, Sean Kelly, at community@footballqueensland.com.au
