Football Queensland (FQ) has today released its 2024-2026 Women & Girls Strategy, outlining a clear plan to drive participation and deliver on its commitment to achieving 50/50 gender parity amongst all participants by 2027.
The release of the 2024-2026 Women & Girls Strategy is a continuation of FQ’s deliberate and ongoing investment in the women and girls’ game. With focused initiatives in place prior to, during, and after the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in 2023, this strategy will prioritise the women and girls in our game.
“We are excited to release the 2024-2026 Women & Girls Strategy which outlines Football Queensland’s plan to achieving 50/50 gender parity by 2027,” FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci said.
“Inspired by the remarkable 44% growth in outdoor female players statewide in 2024 which has been driven by FQ’s strategic initiatives and investment in the game and amplified further by the undeniable impact of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, this plan focuses on enhancing our pathways, infrastructure, and club support to ensure equitable opportunities for all female participants at every level of our game.
FQ’s key target of reaching 50/50 gender parity by 2027 is reflected in the plan’s objective to grow opportunities for players through an expanded Q-League and Girls United programs as well as the delivery of additional technical advancement programs for our coaches, referees and support staff.
“The Women & Girls Strategy will support the national target of gender parity by laying out a comprehensive plan that focuses on implementing targeted recruitment plans and accessible programs to accommodate the increased participation demand seen statewide,” General Manager – Strategic Game Development & Referees Andy Allan said.
“So far this year, we’ve already witnessed a significant 44% increase in outdoor female participation in the sport across all regions, demonstrating encouraging progress toward our aim of achieving gender parity across all aspects of the game.
“Our priority over the coming years is ensuring that we can inspire and attract the next generation through greater access to expanded pathways that lead to talent identification for elite team representation, whilst also developing flexible learning and advanced career opportunities for females within the coaching, technical director and administration disciplines.
“Through consistent evaluation and analysis of FQ clubs across all tiers of the connected football pyramid, we aim to grow our statewide female participant base to over 64,000 individuals within an ecosystem that prioritises equal access to top tier resources to build a lifelong career.
“Central to this strategy is our dedication to securing substantial investment for improved football infrastructure by which we can address the primary barrier to female participation – the lack of facilities – and ensure that our players have the necessary resources to compete at the highest level.
“Football Queensland will continue to consult and collaborate with the football community as we work together to deliver upon and witness the positive impact that the targets set out in the 2024-2026 Women & Girls Strategy will have on the future of the game.”
Download Football Queensland’s 2024-2026 Women & Girls Strategy here.