Queensland's New Referee Journey
As part of Football Queensland’s 10-point Referee Plan, a new referee framework has been implemented to transform refereeing.
Designed to remove barriers this new structure is a fast, simple and flexible pathway for match officials to start at their club and when ready, progress into the FQ referee ecosystem.
How do I get started?
Referees under 18 years of age complete a 30-minute online module to get started as a Club Referee OR
complete a Junior Football Match Official Course to become an FQ Referee.
Who do I sign up with?
Referees under 18 years of age can sign up with their club OR
fast-track their journey and sign up as an FQ Referee.
Who appoints me to matches?
Referees under 18 years of age are appointed to matches by their club OR
if you become an FQ Referee, FQ will appoint you to matches.
How do I get started?
Current Club Referees and individuals just starting their referee journey, and are aged 18 and older, must complete a Junior Football Match Official course to become an FQ Referee.
Who do I sign up with?
Whether you're a current Club Referee or just starting your referee journey, if you're 18 or older you need to sign up as an FQ Referee.
What training will I receive?
FQ Referees have full access to advanced in-person and online training, opportunities to referee in advanced leagues, wear the official FQ referee kit and so much more.
fq referee pathway
The Football Queensland Referee Pathway provides match officials in Queensland with the opportunity to progress from grassroots to professional officiating.
Queensland has a long and proud history of producing some of Australia’s best referees. Members of Queensland’s football community have officiated at the top level, both domestically and internationally, including in the Isuzu Ute A-League and Liberty A-League, AFC Champions League, AFC Asian Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup and FIFA World Cup.
Whether you want to referee at the local level, remain active in the game following injury or retirement, or make a career out of refereeing, Football Queensland is dedicated to making your journey as rewarding as possible.
Officiating the world game
Looking for a new challenge within football? Or just looking for a way to earn some extra cash while staying involved in football? Refereeing is a great way to stay active and involved in the world game.
Queensland has a long and proud history of producing some of Australia’s best referees. Members of Queensland’s football community have officiated at the top level, both domestically and internationally, including in the Isuzu Ute A-League and Liberty A-League, AFC Champions League, AFC Asian Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup and FIFA World Cup.
Whether you want to referee at the local level, remain active in the game following injury or retirement, or make a career out of refereeing, Football Queensland is dedicated to making your journey as rewarding as possible.
Queensland's New Referee Journey
Who do I sign up with?
Referees aged 11 - 16 sign up with their club.
Who appoints me to matches?
Referees aged 11 - 16 are appointed to matches by their club.
What training will I receive?
Referees aged 11 - 16 can complete a 30 minute online module to get started as a Club Referee or complete a Junior Football Match Official Course to advance as an FQ Referee.
Who do I sign up with?
Referees aged 18 and over sign up with FQ.
Who appoints me to matches?
Referees under 16 are appointed to matches by their club.
What training will I receive?
Referees under 16 can complete a 30 minute online module to get started as a Club Referee or complete a Junior Football Match Official Course.
Become a referee - Key Steps
Congratulations to our 2026 Referee Award winners! 👏
These referees have demonstrated exceptional dedication, professionalism and commitment throughout the season, helping to support and elevate the game across Queensland.
𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗸𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗹 – In Support of Young Referees: Hannah Roughley
𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗸𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗹 – Emerging Elite Referee: Matthew Stehbens
𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘂 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗹 – Assistant Referee of the Year: Byron Lerch
𝗗𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 – Community Referee of the Year: Riley Muldoon
𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿: Mitchell Lawson
Join us in celebrating these outstanding individuals and their invaluable contribution to football in Queensland. 🏆
What a week at our first-ever Multicultural Youth Program (MYP) School Holiday initiative! 🙌🌏
From earning their Junior Football Match Official (Level 4) referee accreditation to experiencing a high-performance training environment, participants gained valuable insights into the many pathways available within football.
The program provided young people from diverse communities with new experiences, skills and opportunities to stay connected to the game.
Congratulations to proud Queenslander Alireza Faghani who has been appointed to referee his first Hahn @australiacup Final when South Melbourne FC face Melbourne Victory FC at AAMI Park on Saturday night!
Queenslands Night of Nights ✨
A reminder of timings ahead of an amazing week ahead the evening will commence with the Gala Reception from 5:00pm, where the FQPL 2, FQPL 1 and NPL Awards will be presented, with the exception of the NPL Coach of the Year and NPL Player of the Year awards.
The official Gala Ceremony will begin at 6:30pm, celebrating excellence across Queensland football with presentations for our Community, Service to Football, Advanced Club, Referee and Futsal Awards, as well as the prestigious NPL Coach of the Year and NPL Player of the Year honours.
📅 Saturday, 10 October
📍 Brisbane City Hall
View all award nominees via the event page.
Meet the nominees for the 2026 Dieter Klose Award! 🏅
Awarded to the Community Referee of the Year, the Dieter Klose Award recognises officials whose commitment to grassroots football continues to support the growth and success of the game throughout Queensland.
Join us at Brisbane City Hall on Saturday, 10 October for the 2026 Queensland Football Gala as we celebrate this year`s nominees and reveal the recipient of the award.
