NATIONAL WEBINAR SERIES

As part of Female Football Week, Football Australia is hosting webinars to showcase and highlight the women who make up the Australian football ecosystem.

Fans, players, volunteers, coaches, referees and anyone involved in the game are invited to come hear from some leading industry experts. These webinars hope to inspire you to further your journey in football, whilst also providing you with practical tips and insights.

The three webinars will cover the following areas:

  • Monday, 5 May 2025: Coaching
  • Wednesday, 7 May 2025: Volunteers
  • Thursday, 8 May 2025: Officiating

To register for the webinars and for more information, see below.

Coaching Webinar: Supporting High-Performing Teams Off-Field

Targeted at those in the community who are coaching, aspiring coaches or parents of players. Learn about how the environment that we create off the field impacts on field performance. Guest speakers will talk about strategies in creating safe environments to get the best out of people both on and off the field. Hosted by Samantha Lewis, from Women Onside, join us to hear from our guest speakers on their journeys in football and how the game can continue to grow.

  • Panellists: 
    - Janet Drakos - National Female Wellbeing Manager
    - Faye Chambers - Coach Education Instructor
    - Louise McColl - Coach Education Instructor
    - Lizzie Ramsay - Coach Engagement Lead - Growing Football Fund

Volunteers: Securing and Delivering a Successful Grant Project

Targeted at clubs that are looking to develop grant proposals and deliver successful grant projects. The webinar will cover themes from what makes a good grant, how to build relationships with key stakeholders to ensure success and how to design and deliver a successful grant budget and financial plan.

  • Panellists: 
    - Michaela Haley - General Manager - Growing Football Fund
    - Jess Woodroffe - Director & Secretary - Launceston City FC
    - Nikola Orgill - Senior Manager Government and Stakeholder Relations, Women's Asian Cup 2026 LOC
    - Jessica Clay - Finance Manager - Planning and Reporting

Officiating: Breaking Down Barriers for Women in Sports Officiating

Targeted at those in the community who aspire to progress their refereeing journey. Panel discussion with current female referees about how their journey in elite refereeing and how they can continue to develop environments to support the growth of women and girls in sports officiating.

  • Panellists:
    - Belinda Sharpe - Match Official and Project Coordinator - Strategy & Umpire (National Rugby League) 
    - Eloise Sheridan - International Umpire (Cricket Australia) and Learning and Development Lead - Refereeing (Football Australia)
    - Karen Hennessy - National Female Engagement Lead (Football Australia)
    - Casey Reibelt - FIFA Referee (Football Australia)