- Matildas’ FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 performance set to inspire the next generation of girls (and boys) and boost active participation
- An additional $2 million for the Queensland Women’s Football Legacy Fund and additional $20 million for the Inclusive Facilities Fund
- Another $15 million funding round of the Active Clubs program targeted to community sport and recreation organisations
Australia’s Matildas have inspired the nation with their FIFA Women’s World Cup success and the Queensland Government will back that in with a $37 million funding injection to support women and girls’ sport and active recreation.
The new funding will build on the extensive support already provided for grassroots sport and active recreation across the state, support inclusive participation, and boost the newly announced Queensland Women’s Football Legacy Fund.
Today’s additional announcement includes:
- Increasing the Queensland Government’s Inclusive Facilities Fund from $10 million to $30 million
- Increasing the Queensland Government’s contribution to $6 million under the Queensland Women’s Football Legacy Fund, bringing the total funding available to $10 million
- An additional $15 million round in the Activate! Queensland’s Active Clubs program to ensure a quality inclusive environment for women and girls which could include training for volunteers, purchasing of equipment and targeted programming.
Over the past five weeks more than 350,000 fans have packed into Brisbane Stadium with millions more watching and cheering from live fan sites, sporting clubs and homes around Queensland.
Today’s funding boost is aimed at turning that inspiration into participation.
In the 2023-24 State Budget, an additional $10 million has been allocated to support new and upgraded changerooms and amenities that meet universal design principles – including female facilities.
Today’s announcement triples this funding to $30 million for the Inclusive Facilities Fund – with the funding opening for applications on 27 September 2023 along with Round 2 of the $15 million Minor Infrastructure Program.
Because of the huge community response to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, last month the Premier and Football Australia Legacy ’23 Ambassador announced the $8 million Queensland Women’s Football Legacy Fund, of which the Queensland Government was contributing $4 million.
Today’s announcement adds $2 million, taking the Queensland Government’s contribution to $6 million towards the now $10 million fund.
The other funding will be leveraged through various sources including Football Australia, Football Queensland, Local Government, clubs and associations with the aim of maximising the investment and outcomes.
Since 1 January 2015, the Palaszczuk Government has approved over $43 million in funding to support grassroots participation in football and futsal across the state.
As part of hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup the Palaszczuk Government provided $17 million in upgrades at Suncorp Stadium and $2.634 million to support projects as part of the
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Legacy funding initiative.
These include upgrades to facilities in Queensland that were training sites or base camps for competing teams:
- Perry Park – $150,000 for pitch and site facility upgrades
- Spencer Park – $150,000 for pitch upgrades
- Lions Stadium, Richlands – $1 million towards universal change rooms and field irrigation
- Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex – $248,004 for pitch upgrades, viewing platform and ancillary facilities.
The Government also made a $15 million financial contribution towards the recently completed Ballymore Stadium redevelopment, which includes the newly opened National Rugby Training Centre of Excellence.
This is a game changer for women’s sport – as Ballymore provides a major boost to women’s rectangular sport in Brisbane and the home of the Wallaroos who will train here, alongside the Queensland Reds.
The Palaszczuk Government also contributed $18 million towards Brighton Homes Arena the home of AFLW Lions in Springfield, and the first dedicated women’s AFL stadium built in Australia.
The additional funding to support women and girls in sport is another example of the government’s commitment to getting more Queenslanders moving more often and to ensure participation opportunities are available for everyone.
Quotes attributable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:
“Our government is firmly committed to providing greater access for women and girls to participate in sport, having committed $161 million towards 91 female facilities.
“This has seen huge increases in participation. And we want to do more.
“We know the Matildas are inspiring more girls to take up football.
“These increases ensure more participation, more involvement in our communities and a lasting legacy from the FIFA Women’s World Cup ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Quotes attributable to Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe:
“The Matildas have captivated the imaginations of a whole generation of young Queenslanders with their inspired performances.
“We need to build on that momentum by supporting women and girls in Queensland to participate in sport and active recreation across the state.
“There’s no doubt girls and boys across Queensland aspire to one day pull on the green and gold themselves.
“The number of female players is soaring, including in traditionally male dominated codes and that’s what makes having appropriate facilities so important.”
“Investing in inclusive facilities such as female-friendly changerooms is one of the ways the Palaszczuk Government is supporting women and girls on gameday.”
Quotes attributable to Football Australia CEO James Johnson:
“In the wake of the CommBank Matildas’ remarkable journey in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, this significant contribution by the Queensland Government stands as a monumental testament to the boundless potential of football in Australia and the legacy we will create.
“Representing the dreams of over 350,000 fans who attended World Cup matches at Brisbane Stadium and the hundreds of thousands of participants in Queensland, this investment ensures the wave of enthusiasm is channelled into tangible opportunities and resources for our budding footballers for years to come.
“As the horizon of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games approaches, such commitments serve as pillars supporting football’s mission to empower, unite, and inspire. A heartfelt thank you to the Queensland Government for their generous contribution and support of Legacy ’23 to together foster a vibrant, inclusive and prosperous future for football in our nation.”
