Women in Football Association looks to eliminate the 'grass ceiling'

Women in Football Association looks to eliminate the ‘grass ceiling’

June 26, 2019

A new group aimed at promoting women in football has been launched today with vision to eliminate the 'grass ceiling' in the football industry in Australia.

The Women in Football Association (WIF) is a not-for-profit national member-based association that will operate independently of Football Federation Australia (FFA), which has its own Women’s Football Council.

The new Association is backed by former Matildas head coach Alen Stajcic, controversially sacked by FFA earlier this year, who, in a post on YouTube as part of WiF's promotion material, stated “how can we open more opportunities and give more access to females in our game, whether it’s on boards, as coaches, as players, as fans, as members of clubs.

“How can we open those doors to make this game accessible to everyone in our country?"

WiF has eight committee members, including the Chief Executive of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation Lesley Podesta, former SBS newsreader George Donikian and former FFA Head of Communications Bonita Mersiades, who will be WiF's President.

Despite the potential overlap of roles between WiF and the FFA's Women’s Football Council, FFA Chairman Chris Nikou has welcomed the new body.

As part of the WiF press release, Nikou advised "from my perspective, anything that encourages and supports more women to get involved in our game, the better."

Mersiades, a critic of the FFA since she left its employment, ran for the role of independent Chair on the FFA Women’s Council late last year after Football Victoria supported her nomination.

However, her nomination wasn’t supported. Mersiades blamed politics in the game as the reason in a post on Twitter.

At today’s launch, Mersiades outlined WiF's aims, commenting “Women in Football is not about football politics.

"It’s about empowerment, inclusion, diversity, developing the talent pool, getting the best people in the right roles, and ultimately, contributing to the advancement of football in Australia."

The FFA Women’s Football Council's independent Chair is Ros Moriarty while Emma Highwood is the FFA's Head of Women’s Football and former Matildas player Sarah Walsh is FFA General Manager Participation.

For more information go to womeninfootball.org.au

Image: The achievements of Matildas star Sam Kerr is generating massive interest in female football. Courtesy of Nike.

24th June 2019 - Lack of female football facilities threatens development of future Matildas in Victoria

7th June 2019 - FFA and PFA announce move towards gender equity for W-League and A-League player payments

31st May 2019 - FFA Director Heather Reid apologises ‘unreservedly’ to sacked Matildas coach

24th May 2019 - FFA looks for significant Federal Government backing for 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup bid

16th April 2019 - Football Federation Australia backs New Leagues Working Group recommendations as negotiations continue

12th April 2019 - FFA secures funding to increase female football participation

22nd February 2019 - Football participation reaches record levels

8th February 2019 - Sport Australia’s Kate Palmer says now is the time to stop talking about ‘women’s sport’

1st December 2018 - Four-year strategy announced to drive powerful change for women and girls in sport

28th August 2018 - FFA promotes former Matilda to participation management role

23rd January 2018 - Bonita Mersiades: Why I wrote the inside story of the FIFA Way

21st December 2017 - New Women in Fitness Association attracts global interest

6th January 2016 - Breaking the glass ceiling for women in sport

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