ABOUT
WOMEN ONSIDE

Women Onside was formed in July 2017 with a clear mission to promote gender equality in Australian football. The organisation was established to ensure that FIFA’s gender equality objectives and principles would be incorporated into Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) constitution. These principles include:

• Promoting the development of women’s football

• Encouraging full participation of women at all levels of football governance

• Making football accessible and adequately resourced for everyone who wishes to participate

• Ensuring that national federations include women on their boards

 

From the outset, Women Onside engaged in strategic advocacy with FIFA, the FFA Congress Review Working Group, and the media to champion the inclusion of these vital principles in Australian football’s governing statutes. Through sustained effort and collaboration, we were instrumental in achieving significant gender reforms within the FFA constitution. One of our landmark accomplishments was the successful introduction of the 40:40:20 rule, a gender equity framework that requires football governance bodies to have at least 40% women, 40% men, and 20% flexibility, ensuring gender balance in leadership roles.

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Additionally, we played a crucial role in the establishment of the FFA Women’s Football Council, which was created to ensure that women’s voices are represented in decision-making processes at the highest levels of the sport.

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Since then, our impact has extended far beyond policy reform. Women Onside has grown into a network of passionate and capable women across all areas of the game. Women from grassroots football, professional leagues, coaching, administration, and governance have reached out to collaborate with us, sharing a common goal of advancing gender equality in football.

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This collaboration has fostered a larger, more diverse network of women dedicated to transforming Australian football. Together, we continue to drive meaningful change, building a future where women are fully supported, recognised, and celebrated at every level of the sport.